{"id":108686,"date":"2025-09-13T07:35:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-13T11:35:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/?p=108686"},"modified":"2025-09-13T07:44:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T11:44:11","slug":"a-week-with-the-2025-ford-mustang-mach-e-gt-rally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/a-week-with-the-2025-ford-mustang-mach-e-gt-rally\/","title":{"rendered":"A Week with the 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Rally"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An electric fall road trip through Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York\u2019s Finger Lakes<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(All photos \u00a9Doug Bardwell\/Bardwell Photography)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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First Impressions<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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I\u2019ve test-driven plenty of cars, but the 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Rally<\/a> 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: \u201cTake it, live with it, and see what you think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Spoiler alert: I didn\u2019t want to give it back.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The power under the hood is impressive, but you\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything you could imagine for comfortable touring<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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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\u2019t take long to settle into the perfect position for a long ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I should know. I put on 1,000 miles, driving to and around New York\u2019s Finger Lakes region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Flashback Alert! And the Mach-E is a far cry from this 1968 Mustang that began my rallying career.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I may have adjusted the seat twice during the whole trip – it was that comfortable. I\u2019m used to sitting high in an SUV, so with the driver\u2019s seat at its highest level, it matched the standard seat-to-floor height I was accustomed to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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\u2019re invited to drive \u201chands off,\u201d which I had never personally tried before. It doesn\u2019t take long to get used to that convenience, and I\u2019m going to miss it when I switch back to my personal vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the right side of the steering wheel, you\u2019ll find all the standard audio and phone controls, just a finger\u2019s reach away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rear seat passengers haven\u2019t been forgotten either. with console-mounted directional air-conditioning vents, dual USB-C ports, and a fold-down armrest with drink holders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Need more room??? You\u2019ve also got a FRUNK.  What\u2019s a frunk, you ask?  It\u2019s a front trunk where a gasoline engine normally sits. Load it with pumpkins, groceries, blankets, whatever. It\u2019s even got a drain, so it would be ideal for wet beach gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Conversations from the Passenger Seat<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t just me having fun. My son, who owns an EV himself, kept pointing out Ford features his car doesn\u2019t have. Multiple passengers commented on the size and clarity of the massive 15.5\u201d touchscreen center monitor\u2014it\u2019s not just big, it\u2019s packed with useful information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The top of the screen displays a highly detailed navigation system \u2013 with a choice of Android Auto or Ford\u2019s own Connectivity Mapping, which also shows compatible charging stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The middle of the screen shows the weather and your present audio selection.\u00a0 The bottom shows a row of frequently used apps, and the typical dashboard controls for climate control. Surprisingly, no compass. \u00a0A multi-talented analog dial can control HVAC or at the press of a button in the center, volume control for the sound system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audio is delivered by a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system that puts that other \u201cB-named\u201d audio manufacturer to shame.  I\u2019ve never enjoyed a sound system quite like this before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The audio came with another surprise: built-in Stingray Karaoke. Boys-night-out karaoke after dinner wasn\u2019t on my travel checklist, but it was a roll-down-the-window and belt-out-the-harmonics success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making Highways Feel Like Drag Strips<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most cars treat highway on-ramps as boring connectors. This Mustang turns them into mini drag strips. Every merge became an adrenaline rush\u2014instant torque, zero lag, just raw push-you-back-in-your-seat speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Range That Calms the Mind<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s BlueOval charging network (including more than 20,000 Tesla Superchargers), I was never concerned. Tip: If you\u2019re driving an EV, look for 250 to 350kW chargers \u2013 they get you back on the road in the time it takes to enjoy a cup of coffee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fun to Drive, Photo by Photo<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My goal for this trip was two-fold: to test the Mustang\u2019s capabilities and to capture some great late summer photos. My favorite subjects are waterfalls, covered bridges, lakes, and lighthouses.\u00a0 I managed to catch them all within a week on this trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lake Chautauqua Vista:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Challenging Hills:<\/strong> Dropping down the steep hills between the Finger Lakes, each hairpin turn was a reminder that this Mustang isn\u2019t just quick in a straight line – it grips with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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S-Curves by Cayuga:<\/strong> The shoreline of Cayuga Lake delivered mile after mile of winding S-curves, and RallySport mode transformed each one into a driver\u2019s playground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Passed a cool winery?:<\/strong> No problem. With a great backup camera, it\u2019s easy and nimble enough to turn around anywhere and go back. The 360\u00b0 camera is incredibly helpful when parking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Watkins Glen Historic Course:<\/strong> 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\u2019s torque would\u2019ve smoked the competition as I crested that opening hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chasing Waterfalls:<\/strong> If you\u2019re into waterfalls, the area around Ithaca, NY, is a definite destination for you.\u00a0 They have 10 renowned ones within miles of each other. This one is 30 feet taller than Niagara Falls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kinzua Bridge State Park:<\/strong>\u00a0 I\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Covered bridges:<\/strong>\u00a0 Heading back through Ohio, if covered bridges are your thing, we\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Living with the Mach-E<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n

After a week of driving primarily backroads, here\u2019s what stuck with me:<\/p>\n\n\n\n