Looking at Ford’s new Mustang Mach-E mid-size electric SUV alongside its established sports coupe namesake, there are plenty of styling cues that reference the famous internal combustion-powered Pony Car.

There’s the fastback roof line, the short rear deck, the wide hips, the flared wheel arches, and that distinctive vertical taillight array, plus the iconic galloping pony emblem.

But despite this, there are some pundits who say this can never be regarded as a real Mustang, because real Mustangs have had rumbling internal combustion engines since the original debuted back in 1964.

Ford decision to co-opt the name and the styling of what is arguably its most iconic model, and apply them to an all-new electric-powered Tesla rival, was a bold, some might say brave move. But it also appears to have been an inspired one because since its launch in the US in 2020, the Mustang Mach-E has been a runaway sales success.

Now, almost three years after its US debut, the Mustang Mach-E has arrived Down Under.

The three-variant range kicks off with the entry-level Select, costing $79,990 (MRLP), and boasting a 71kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery, and a range of 470km (WLTP).

A single rear electric motor sends 198kW/430Nm to its rear wheels, enabling a 0–100km/h sprint time of 6.6 seconds.

Standard features of the Mustang Mach-E Select include active grille shutters that open and close to maintain thermal efficiency, 19-inch alloy wheels with aero covers, a power tailgate, 360-degree camera and active park assist.

Stepping up to the mid-spec Premium brings a larger 91kWh NMC (nickel cobalt manganese) battery, up to 600km of range, and a more powerful rear motor producing 216kW/430Nm, which lowers the 0–100km/h time to 6.2 seconds.

The Mach-E Premium costs $91,665 (MRLP) and features gloss black wheel arch trims, glare-free LED projector headlamps with auto-high beam functionality, and sleek daytime running lights.

The top-spec Mach-E GT costs a hefty $107,665 and gets the same 91kWh NMC battery as the Premium, but twin motors for all-wheel drive capability, and combined outputs of 358kW/860Nm.

The combination delivers a blistering 0–100km/h sprint of just 3.7 seconds, but a lower 490km range.

The sports-oriented GT also boasts 20-inch alloys wrapped in Pirelli rubber, high-performance Brembo brakes, and MagneRide adaptive suspension system.

Charging speeds across the Mach-E range are 10.5kW AC, or up to 150kW DC, with the latter being lower than some contemporary EVs, including the Tesla Model Y which charges at 250kW DC, and the Genesis GV60 which can charge at up to 350kW DC.

Depending on the conditions, you can expect the Mach-E to recharge from 10– 80% on a 150kW DC charger in around 45 minutes.

Approaching the Mach-E for the first time you’ll notice the absence of door handles, Ford instead opting for a sleek push-button mechanism on the B- and C-pillars which it calls E-Latch.

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It’s a neat bit of design but the lack of handles means opening and closing the doors may scratch and dent the panels over time.

A concealed touch keypad on the driver’s-side B-pillar allows the car’s electronic key to be left in the vehicle, with locking and unlocking via a PIN number.

Inside, the Mach-E cabin features a portrait-orientated 15.5-inch centre infotainment screen, teamed with a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, plus a premium B&O sound system with 10 speakers including a subwoofer.

Other niceties include a heated steering wheel, heated and eight-way power adjustable Sensico artificial leather seats, wireless phone charging, plus wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

There’s ample leg and head room in the rear with air vents in the back of the console and a thermally insulated panoramic glass roof to accompany the insulated windscreen.

The cargo area offers a decent 402 litres with the rear seats in position, and there’s a washable and drainable 134-litre frunk.

Safety hasn’t been overlooked, with the Select and Premium variants having attained a five-star ANCAP rating, while the GT remains untested.

The raft of driver assistance systems includes autonomous emergency braking, intelligent adaptive cruise control, advanced speed assistance, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, evasive steer assist and much more.

On the road, the Mach-E is an enjoyable driving experience.

The ride is firm but not too firm, the steering responsive and well-weighted and the single-motor variants provide plenty of power and torque for comfortable everyday driving.

There are three selectable drive modes on the Select and Premium – Active, Whisper and Untame – with the GT offering a fourth Untame Plus mode, designed for track use.

Depending on your selection, the Mach-E will also adjust the interior sound, ambient lighting (on Premium and GT) and driving dynamics to your style.

The GT’s Untame Plus mode is designed to balance the powertrain output for lap time consistency by adjusting traction and stability control.

Unsurprisingly, with this sophisticated traction management system and its extra power and torque, it’s a very rapid and engaging drive.

Nail the accelerator and the GT gallops off the mark with a serious surge of instant torque, threatening to overwhelm the grip of the tyres.

It’s confident and stable through corners, with enough driver feedback to bring a smile to the face of any enthusiast and a noise generator device that provides subtle feedback as to what the motors are doing, without being overbearing.

Mustang Mach-E Electric key info

• RETAIL PRICE: $79,990 – $107,665 (MSRP)
• BATTERY: 71kWh – 91kWh
• MOTORS: Single 198kW/430Nm, Single 216kW/430Nm, Dual 358kW/860Nm
• RANGE: 470km – 600km (WLTP)
• SAFETY:  Five-star ANCAP rating (2021), GT untested
• PROS: Quiet and refined, high quality finish, blistering performance of GT, good range.
• CONS: More expensive than key competitors, potential panel damage due to absence of door handles.