Ford Suddenly Charges Drivers Extra For Mach-E’s Signature Feature
It may not sound like it, but the Ford Mustang Mach-E has become an old powerhouse in the electric crossover segment. Ford first unveiled the ambitious EV that borrowed the controversial Mustang name in 2019 and, over the years, has given the now-familiar Mach-E minor tweaks, including the addition of an exciting, rally-focused performance model for 2024.
The latest change that Ford has given the Mach-E, however, feels like a head-scratcher or, for lack of a better word, a cash grab. It does not involve adding a new feature to the car, but rather removing one and charging buyers more if they would like to return it. For 2026, the Mustang Mach-E’s previously premium cargo area, better known as the “frunk,” is now an option that will set buyers back an extra $495.
Yes, that’s a small change in the context of a car that starts around $40,000, but removing any previously standard feature (without a commensurate price drop) and charging more for it is usually not something buyers are interested in. But Ford justifies this by arguing that few buyers were using the Mach-E’s frunk in the first place.
What’s in a frunk?
There are many valid arguments that can be used against electric vehicles compared to gas vehicles, but even the most dedicated EV critics will have to admit that frunk availability is one of the best advantages of an electric vehicle. Not all EVs on the market have a frunk, but many use their lack of an engine to turn their undercarriage into extra cargo space – as the name suggests, a front trunk.
Every Tesla currently sold has a frunk, and Ford’s F-150 Lightning has a large “Mega Power Frunk” where its engine will be located. Although not as big as the Lightning’s frunk, the Mach-E has always had more cargo space up front, and we listed this frunk as one of the 10 coolest features of the Mach-E back in 2022. Ford even stuffed the Mach-E’s bread with shrimp and buffalo wings to make it look shockingly 2020.
Adding more storage space without cluttering the closet seems to be a win-win and a popular feature. But Ford found that Mach-E buyers weren’t using their frunk nearly as much as expected. According to Ford, this prompted the decision to change the frunk from a standard feature to an independent addition on the options sheet.
Smart decision or taking money?
There would be no problem with this move if Ford simply dropped the price of the Mach-E by $495 while making the frunk a $495 option, but that’s not how Ford operates. While Ford has lowered the Mach-E’s prices slightly for 2026, adding the frunk as an option to the base RWD 2026 Mach-E makes it about $350 more expensive than the same 2025 model. In a similar move to the frunk change, Ford also removed the rear spoiler from the standard 2026 Mach-E Rally and made it an independent option.
Are these changes likely to have a significant impact on Mach-E demand on their own? Probably not, given that many consumers are already conditioned to expect car prices to rise every year. But our review showed that the Mach-E lags behind its competition in terms of price, and these pricing issues won’t help your case there.
Since the Mach-E has grown up, it was thought that this EV would be due for a new generation, or at least a significant refresh by 2026, but industry reports suggest that it may be a long time before Ford rebuilds the Mach-E. Instead, it is said that Ford will continue to operate in the current environment to reduce costs and increase profits – and this small but significant machine seems to support that pivot.
