I recently had a chance to test out the features of the Ford's first edition mustang mach-e, which includes the SYNC 4A system on a massive portrait display, and it's one of the hottest electric vehicles at the moment.
I went hands-on with the F-150 hybrid with the SYNC 4 system a few months ago, but the Mach-E has a different experience.
The Mach-E doesn't offer much in the way of hardware controls, with almost all of the vehicle's functions handled through the main screen that dominates the vehicle's interior. The only hardware control in the center stack area is a textured ring for controlling volume, which is mounted directly on the screen.
SYNC 4A is a multimedia system.
The SYNC 4A system is divided into four sections, with a narrow top bar at the top offering some high-level information on the vehicle and access to some shortcuts, a main app section, a card-based interface for changing between functions, and a climate control section.
The card-based user interface of SYNC 4A is very reliant on the ability to access features such as the radio, onboard navigation, phone, owner's manual, and more. The corresponding full app is brought to the main portion of the screen if you tap any of them. If you're using a device that has a CarPlay feature, you'll still have access to the native functions on the rest of the screen, even if you take over the primary portion of the screen.
I'm not a fan of screen-based climate controls, so that's a knock against the Mach-E. Automatic systems are getting more and more sophisticated to allow you to mostly "set it and forget it" with only the occasional temperature adjustment or shift to defrost mode. The built-in voice assistant can be used to make changes to your settings without touching the screen.
I don't like the overall look of the SYNC 4A system, as it feels bland to me, and the huge portrait display and volume ring are very futuristic looking. It's even more noticeable when you've got a device with a bland design, like a phone, with a vibrant app and icons on a portion of the screen.
It's called CarPlay.
Even if you're coming from the wired version, I still tell everyone that wireless CarPlay is a life-changing feature. It's so much easier to have CarPlay pop up on the screen without taking your phone out of your pocket. I've got CarPlay up and ready to go if I need it, even for short drives, because in the past I wouldn't have bothered digging out my phone and plugging it in.
SYNC 4A and the Mach-E come standard with wireless CarPlay, something that's becoming more and more common as car manufacturers have accelerated development on their in-car systems in response to customer demand.
The Mach-E's display is bright and vibrant, and I like that it only takes up a portion of the screen so I still have access to information and controls from the native system. I've come to appreciate the larger view of navigation apps like Apple Maps on many cars because of the fact that CarPlay is not widescreen. While not being far out of your line of sight while driving, CarPlay is well-positioned to be visible because it looks good and works well.
Ford has recently rolled out a software update that allows for more of the screen to be taken over by Apple's CarPlay, but this feature was not available on my vehicle at the time of testing. It appears to have appeared in the new GT models first before moving into other versions of the vehicle.
The Digital Cluster is a computer network.
The Mach-E is similar to the VW ID.4 in that it doesn't have much in front of the driver, but it does have a 10.2-inch display that provides all of the relevant information.
The display shows battery level and range data, current gear, speed, vehicle safety data, navigation prompts, and more, as needed, based on what's happening with the vehicle. Second-screen navigation for Apple Maps in CarPlay can be found on the driver's display, offering another way to keep you in the right direction.
There are charging and ports.
The Mach-E does not have a lot of wired options, but there are a fewUSB ports located below the center display. There are more than one set of ports for second-row passengers.
There is a wireless charging pad under a rubber mat next to the front ports. The main bin is separated into sections by a mat, and the charging area is large enough to hold a Max-sized phone. If you have a big case, it might not fit.
Wrap-up.
I haven't focused on the main features of the Mach-E such as the driving experience, but I will say it was a joy to drive with the performance you expect from an EV of this type. Thanks to my tester being a First Edition eAWD model with It's not as fast as the new GT editions, but it's a big step up from the lower-end RWD versions, which have times closer to six seconds.
I have mixed feelings about the SYNC 4A system. The large portrait display is eye-catching, but I don't like the overall look and I wish more functions were still available as hardware controls. The portrait display precludes the possibility of a widescreen layout, but I thought it worked well with the SYNC 4A system.
The wireless phone charging worked well with the tight fit on the charging mat ensuring that my phone wouldn't get stuck while I was driving. All trims have wireless phone charging and wireless CarPlay.
Ford has done a good job of making Apple Maps information fit in with the overall look of the system, and I'm glad to see support for Apple Maps coming to more and more vehicles.
