A Week with the 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Rally

An electric fall road trip through Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York’s Finger Lakes

(All photos ©Doug Bardwell/Bardwell Photography)

I’ve test-driven plenty of cars, but the 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Rally is something different. The moment I pressed the accelerator, this 480 horsepower car pinned me to the seat in a way that felt more like an astronaut blasting into space than a family road trip. For one week, Ford handed me the keys and said: “Take it, live with it, and see what you think.”

Spoiler alert: I didn’t want to give it back.

The power under the hood is impressive, but you’ll still get more than 200 miles per charge (up to 265 max), riding in a highly responsive yet incredibly comfortable and quiet interior. Whether you’re after sport or convenience, this pony has it all.

Everything you could imagine for comfortable touring

Speed aside, the car will make the most discerning driver or passenger superbly comfortable.  With 10-way power seats for the driver and 8-way power seats for the front passenger, it doesn’t take long to settle into the perfect position for a long ride.

I should know. I put on 1,000 miles, driving to and around New York’s Finger Lakes region.

Flashback Alert! And the Mach-E is a far cry from this 1968 Mustang that began my rallying career. 

I may have adjusted the seat twice during the whole trip – it was that comfortable. I’m used to sitting high in an SUV, so with the driver’s seat at its highest level, it matched the standard seat-to-floor height I was accustomed to.

The steering wheel and column tilt and telescope with a flip of a lever. Visible through the steering wheel is the instrument cluster with your digital speedometer, odometer, battery gauge, and power gauge (similar to a tachometer), along with a pop-up message display area.

On the left side of the steering wheel are controls for cruise control and lane centering, which really amazed me with how well it worked. Even on curvy roads, the car tracked smoothly and accurately. With most of the interstate road system on their Blue Cruise network, you’re invited to drive “hands off,” which I had never personally tried before. It doesn’t take long to get used to that convenience, and I’m going to miss it when I switch back to my personal vehicle.

On the right side of the steering wheel, you’ll find all the standard audio and phone controls, just a finger’s reach away.

Dual zone auto climate control allows passenger and driver to each select their own temperatures. Other creature comfort conveniences include a heated steering wheel, passenger and driver heated seats and illuminated vanity mirrors, one-touch up/down front and rear window controls, and the coolest ambient light illuminated entry lights with the Mustang logo illuminating the ground as you unlock the doors.  

The front console area includes a wireless phone charging area and USB-A and USB-C ports, both in front and in the media storage area under the armrest.

Rear seat passengers haven’t been forgotten either. with console-mounted directional air-conditioning vents, dual USB-C ports, and a fold-down armrest with drink holders.

The rear seat backs are split so they can be folded down, making extra trunk space for longer items.  With both seats folded down, you can slide in large boxes or a bicycle. With the seats in normal position, you still have a nice big storage area, with a cover that prevents anyone from seeing your cargo.

Need more room??? You’ve also got a FRUNK.  What’s a frunk, you ask?  It’s a front trunk where a gasoline engine normally sits. Load it with pumpkins, groceries, blankets, whatever. It’s even got a drain, so it would be ideal for wet beach gear.

Conversations from the Passenger Seat

It wasn’t just me having fun. My son, who owns an EV himself, kept pointing out Ford features his car doesn’t have. Multiple passengers commented on the size and clarity of the massive 15.5” touchscreen center monitor—it’s not just big, it’s packed with useful information.

The top of the screen displays a highly detailed navigation system – with a choice of Android Auto or Ford’s own Connectivity Mapping, which also shows compatible charging stations.

The middle of the screen shows the weather and your present audio selection.  The bottom shows a row of frequently used apps, and the typical dashboard controls for climate control. Surprisingly, no compass.  A multi-talented analog dial can control HVAC or at the press of a button in the center, volume control for the sound system.

Audio is delivered by a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system that puts that other “B-named” audio manufacturer to shame.  I’ve never enjoyed a sound system quite like this before.

The audio came with another surprise: built-in Stingray Karaoke. Boys-night-out karaoke after dinner wasn’t on my travel checklist, but it was a roll-down-the-window and belt-out-the-harmonics success.

Audio choices include Sirius-XM (with a subscription plan), AM/FM radio, HD-enabled radio, Alexa-ready, and anything you have on your phone or a USB stick. The wireless charging pad on the console below the touchscreen monitor keeps your phone charged for your entire trip. 

Making Highways Feel Like Drag Strips

Most cars treat highway on-ramps as boring connectors. This Mustang turns them into mini drag strips. Every merge became an adrenaline rush—instant torque, zero lag, just raw push-you-back-in-your-seat speed.

Even better, the GT Rally is designed for cornering, not just sprinting. RallySport mode provided a tighter suspension and more precise steering, making twisting rural highways as enjoyable as the straightaways.

Long drives usually bring at least a little range anxiety, but not this time. With up to 265 miles on a charge and access to Ford’s BlueOval charging network (including more than 20,000 Tesla Superchargers), I was never concerned. Tip: If you’re driving an EV, look for 250 to 350kW chargers – they get you back on the road in the time it takes to enjoy a cup of coffee.

Bonus points for you if you find a charger near a beautiful park by a lake, like this one at Lake Seneca in New York. 

Fun to Drive, Photo by Photo

My goal for this trip was two-fold: to test the Mustang’s capabilities and to capture some great late summer photos. My favorite subjects are waterfalls, covered bridges, lakes, and lighthouses.  I managed to catch them all within a week on this trip.

Lake Chautauqua Vista: Crossing into New York, an overcast sky set the scene for my first stop at Lake Chautauqua – a reminder that even before reaching the Finger Lakes, the Mustang made the journey part of the reward.

Challenging Hills: Dropping down the steep hills between the Finger Lakes, each hairpin turn was a reminder that this Mustang isn’t just quick in a straight line – it grips with confidence.

S-Curves by Cayuga: The shoreline of Cayuga Lake delivered mile after mile of winding S-curves, and RallySport mode transformed each one into a driver’s playground.

Passed a cool winery?: No problem. With a great backup camera, it’s easy and nimble enough to turn around anywhere and go back. The 360° camera is incredibly helpful when parking.

Watkins Glen Historic Course: Rolling onto the old Watkins Glen Historic Road Course was a bucket-list thrill. Even at tame speeds, I could feel it; the Mach-E GT Rally’s torque would’ve smoked the competition as I crested that opening hill.

Chasing Waterfalls: If you’re into waterfalls, the area around Ithaca, NY, is a definite destination for you.  They have 10 renowned ones within miles of each other. This one is 30 feet taller than Niagara Falls.

Kinzua Bridge State Park:  I’ve long wanted to see the historic Kinzua Bridge. Taller than the Statue of Liberty, it once spanned the valley, carrying passenger and freight trains for more than a century. On 7/21/2003, an F1 tornado tore through, ripping 11 towers from their bases and dropping more than half of the span. Today, it has become a popular Pennsylvania State Park.

Covered bridges:  Heading back through Ohio, if covered bridges are your thing, we’ve got some of the oldest and longest in the country – Ashtabula County is a great place to start. This one is almost in our backyard, but it’s still one of my favorites.

 

After a week of driving primarily backroads, here’s what stuck with me:

• Performance: This isn’t a compromise EV. It’s a Mustang with all the speed and grip you’d expect, plus unbelievable instant electric torque.
• Comfort: Heated seats, strong climate control, and a cabin that feels upscale without being fussy.
• Technology: The oversized central monitor became everyone’s conversation piece, and I grew to love its ability to manage everything from the car’s electronics to climate control, with audio to please the most discerning audiophile.
• Practicality: Between the frunk, spacious rear cargo area, roomy interior, and simple charging, it worked just as easily for daily errands as it did on long road trips.

It’s been many years since our victory in the Sports Car Club of America Rally Championship, but I can honestly say this is the most fun I’ve had behind the wheel since then. This car’s pedigree is champion through and through. The 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Rally showed me that speed, comfort, and practicality can all coexist. It’s the kind of vehicle that makes everyday driving enjoyable, whether you’re heading to the store or chasing fall colors across state lines.

If you think EVs are just about efficiency, this Mustang will change your mind.

Disclosure: As mentioned above, Ford gave me the keys to use this Mustang for a week to complete my review. No finanancial compensation was involved, no editorial review was requested, and the opinions expressed above are and always will be strictly my own.