Being so damn tall makes it hard to drive sports cars. There are some I simply can’t physically get inside. That’s one reason why I love the Ford Mustang—it easily fits my 6-foot-10 frame. So, I had to find out if the Mustang Mach-E could match its coupe counterpart’s surprising spaciousness during its stay in our stables.
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E: Squeezed in the Saddle
Key in my pocket, I walked up to the driver-side door and pushed the release button—no handles here. The door popped out so I could grab its little fin to swing it open. Like I always do, I adjusted the seat to its lowest and rearmost setting before climbing in.
The front door apertures are large, which made it easy to slide in (and later out) without knocking my noggin. So far so good. But with my rump in the seat, it became clear that the Mach-E isn’t as roomy as the Mustang coupe.
Our Premium trim test car was equipped with a panoramic glass roof, which gave me about an inch of room over my head. Alright, the Mach-E is taller than the Mustang coupe, so perhaps it’s no surprise its headroom was fine. It’s longer, too, so shouldn’t its legroom be fine, as well?
In the Mustang coupe, I can stretch out my legs almost fully, but in the Mach-E my knees were significantly bent. At that angle, I had barely any support under my thighs. That would work for a short drive, but I know I’d start to feel stiff if I was pushing the limits of the Mach-E’s range.
At least the steering wheel tilted up enough to let my knees pass underneath easily. It also telescoped out to allow a relaxed bend in my elbows. My size 14 feet fit well in the pedal box.
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E: Riding Pillion in the Electric Pony Car
Although the Mach-E’s front seats were snug, its second row proved more spacious than the coupe’s. Then again, the two-door ‘Stang’s back seats are arguably too tight for toddlers.
In the Mach E, there’s no way I’d fit behind myself; with a more normal-sized driver, I could be fine. Again, my knees were at an acute angle, and I had little under-thigh support. My feet slid easily beneath the front seat, but I wasn’t exactly sprawled out.
Headroom was predictably less in the electric SUV’s back seats; my scalp was up against the glass, but I could sit fairly upright. However, the roof”s crossmember took up space where I needed it most.
The trick roofline is designed to look rakish outside while providing adequate headroom inside. It almost works. As a result, the rear windows are several inches below the roofline, so my peripheral view was more headliner than outside world.
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E: Needs More Clydesdale
I fiddled and fidgeted but had to face a disappointing truth. The Mach-E just isn’t great for tall people. How could this Mustang SUV feel tighter than the coupe? I blame the battery pack. See, although the seats allow a low hip-point, the battery pack below pushes the floor higher. Its height inside the car is taller than what you might think from the outside looking in. That forced my heels up and made for more of a bend in my knees. Add in a roofline that Ford’s designers trimmed every possible millimeter from, and the fit was too snug to be comfortable.
At 6-foot-10, I know I’m an outlier, so if you’re not as tall as me, you’ll probably fit fine within this EV. The Mach-E is reasonably sized, offering interior measurements similar to some compact SUVs. And from how I hear it is to drive, I’d gladly fold myself up for some time behind the wheel.