2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E

California Route 1 Review

First drive impressions — and yes, it’s as red as it sounds.

When this Mach-E came in for appraisal, it was my first real opportunity to get behind the wheel. I had seen plenty of them, admired them from a distance, even poked around a few — but never actually driven one. That changed the moment this candy apple EV rolled through the door.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was offered in five trim levels: Select, California Route 1, Premium, GT, and First Edition. This one is the California Route 1 — a range-focused trim built on the Extended Range battery with rear-wheel drive only, engineered to maximize how far you can go on a single charge. It arrives in a stunning color Ford calls “Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat.” In plain English: it’s a gorgeous, deep candy apple red, and it absolutely earns the attention it gets.

Black wheels and dark accents hit exactly the right notes against that paint. Four doors, sporty proportions, and a look that manages to feel both muscular and modern.

The door handles gave me a brief moment of confusion — there are no traditional pulls. As I got closer, I found a push-button near the beltline with a small finger hook below it for a smooth, one-motion open. Once you know it’s there, it’s intuitive. The first time, it’s a mini adventure.

Inside, I settled into a black leather seat with white stitching that nailed the sporty vibe without overdoing it. Power seat adjustments were great, and it was easy to move to a comfortable position.  The dash and center stack layout were clean and easy to navigate — I found everything I needed quickly and without consulting the manual. Pairing my phone, streaming music, and dialing in the climate controls took no effort at all. Ford did their homework here.

The gear selector (replacing the traditional shifter) is a rotary dial positioned forward of the armrest. It’s easy enough to operate — though it took me a few drives before I felt fully confident toggling between Drive, Reverse, and Park. It’s not a dealbreaker, and it works perfectly well; it’s just a mental adjustment from a traditional shifter. After a few times you will be a pro. 

Once I got the Mach-E out on the road, I was genuinely impressed. It wasn’t quite as punchy on acceleration the way some Teslas are, but it’s not far behind — and it delivers something Teslas sometimes forget to include: a sense of balance and solidity. The car feels planted and sure-footed through corners, and responsive across the board.

The regenerative braking is strong — lift off the accelerator and the car slows noticeably, almost like engine braking in a conventional car. It takes a mile or two to calibrate your right foot to it, but once you do, it becomes second nature and makes one-pedal driving quite satisfying.

Can it be faster? Absolutely. Can’t everything?

Can it be better? Probably — but “better” and “really good” aren’t mutually exclusive. This car is really good.

Is it a great value? I think so. And with fuel prices hovering around $6/gallon in California, the case for going electric keeps getting easier to make. I’m not an EV evangelist — but I do enjoy driving them, and this one reminded me why.