Can Ford’s Rally option pack lift the Mach-E from a sensible SUV to a rally-worthy rework? Our man Al Suttie takes it for a week-long spin.

Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally

List price (BiK): £76,735 (3%)  Official range: 317 miles  Test efficiency: 245 miles

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Monday

Ford has form when it comes to rally-bred road cars. I have especially fond memories of the Escort Cosworth and its superb ability on the road. Reawakening that spirit is the Mustang Mach-E Rally, which is a pack you can add to the GT model for £2,250. The question is, does it make the Mustang Mach-E any better or this just a pure marketing exercise that fleet drivers should sidestep?

Tuesday

For the relatively modest additional sum Ford charges, the Rally Pack comes with some serious engineering effort behind it. As well as the rally-style 19-inch wheels, the MagneRide suspension has been tuned for off-road use and raised by 20mm over standard. You also get underbody shields and a bespoke RallySport driving mode, plus the cosmetic stuff such as stripes and branded seats.

Wednesday

If you don’t like lots of attention from other drivers, and particularly those in performance cars and school kids as you drive past, probably best to avoid the Grabber Yellow paint choice on the Mustang Mach-E Rally. To my eyes, it makes the car and suits its slightly daft rationale. After all, here’s an EV family SUV that shouts about its off-road and performance, so just go with it.

Thursday

Cor blimey, this Mustang is rapid. Ford claims 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds and it feels every bit as quick. The all-terrain tyres have no difficulties putting the car’s 480hp down on to the road, or unmade tracks given the opportunity, and the Mustang feels wholly in control of this. There’s no snatch or grab at the steering wheel or slithering on wet roads, just ample grip and traction.

Friday

A brief drive on a farmer friend’s track shows the Mustang lives up to the rally element. Put it in RallySport mode and the rear wheels can be made to slide enjoyably and make you feel like a WRC driver while maintaining a large margin of safety. It’s all pleasingly silly and turns the Mustang Mach-E from a somewhat sober SUV into something much more fun.

Saturday

The battery range of the Mach-E Rally has taken a bit of dip from what I would usually expect of this Ford, but that’s due to making the most of its performance. Much more impressive is the ride quality of the Rally version. The extra ride height, suspension tuning, and different tyres all combine to make it much more supple and cushioned without trading any control compared to a standard Mustang Mach-E GT.

Sunday

There’s no getting away from the fact the Mustang Mach-E in its higher-spec, bigger-battery forms is not a cheap car. However, the added cost of the Rally Pack is worth every penny in my view, not so much for the performance and fun factor but for the noticeably improved comfort. It’s no off-roader, but it is immense fun to drive and still as practical as any other Mustang Mach-E.