@Rene fair enough, I was looking at I5 prices to get close to retaining the features I have on mine. That puts me over the top price on scheme as I’d need an extra pack. That’s a hard No for me. The Mach E is a very nice car and the smaller battery isn’t that far behind the others, although that was one of the main reasons why I ended up with the Hyundai rather than a Ford. The Explorer is ridiculously powerful for a SUV of that size and shape, you’d expect that power to come with something streamlined but in full sport mode it’s a blast.
Yeah, the OP mentioned he was looking at the “base” N Line (i think there’s an N Line S too, at silly money), and that he gets a grand off the Tavascans (they’re actually £2500 and £3500 on the scheme), taking the prices of the cars from £1500 to £2000 to £2500.
The Mach E isn’t a bad car, don’t get me wrong (although i’m still sour about the naming, as a big Mustang fan) – but it’s just bad value on the scheme.
Given the choice between a Mach E GT and the Explorer, i’d take the Mach E – if the AP was similar to the current base Mach E. Anything else just looks silly next to the £2250 Explorer that comes with basically everything bar ventilated seats. And yeah.. It’s stupid rapid for what it is. Lifts the nose by 2 inches when you floor it, loved it. Since we have the dealership relatively close, we were able to take it on our “routine” route home (Evans Halshaw Bridgend) – a route that i usually drive in our luke warm hatch, spirited.
The Explorer is every bit as spirited to drive (i kind of drove it like it wasn’t mine). Doesn’t mean the Mach E is worse, or may be better – but i can tell that i get to my comfort-limit faster than the Explorer does, the comparatively huge 255s on the rear (235 in the front, i believe?) might be part of that.
I haven’t driven the Tavascan, i can only go by the equipment, and the fact that it’s the same platform as the Explorer – so for the same money, i’d take the Explorer. Can’t overlook all that kit for the same money, while being as much a hoot to drive (though i’d guess, even more so a hoot, since it pulls so much harder than, for example, Enyaq and Elroq which have the same powertrain).
But, as you rightfully mentioned, the Ioniq 6, while not being quite as fast or exhilarating to drive (though still very competent, just not as enticing to hoon), is definitely the best offer currently available. Even more kit than the Explorer, for £500 less – sadly it’s too large for our bay (almost 5m long), and my wife can’t get in easily, otherwise i’d just close my eyes when walking behind it (i hate the weird black spoiler thing at the back, the only thing that spoils is the otherwise fine looks) and enjoy one.
Prior: SEAT Ateca Xcellence Lux 1.5 TSI DSG MY19, VW Golf GTE PHEV DSG MY23
Current: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate
Next: we'll see what's available in 2028.