2026 Mach E Order Guides - Where are they?

[StevenC56]

Anyone else notice that they just raised the price for the "Performance Upgrade" software download from $995 to $1295 and the 2024 and 2025 models? I was hoping maybe they'd drop the price down to the $500-$750 range. Looks like the only way to get it on a 2026 from the factory is with the $3495 package. Def a hell no from me to upgrade now on our 2025.

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[Mark813]

Anyone else notice that they just raised the price for the "Performance Upgrade" software download from $995 to $1295 and the 2024 and 2025 models? I was hoping maybe they'd drop the price down to the $500-$750 range. Looks like the only way to get it on a 2026 from the factory is with the $3495 package. Def a hell no from me to upgrade now on our 2025.

I've been looking at MME prices since I bought a premium in 2024 and realized I should have gotten a GT or Rally specifically for the better suspension.

If you have a 2025 GT, it is basically perfect except for the fact Ford has locked out the option to run comma dot AI blue pilot driving system.

(EVERYONE PUT DOWN YOUR KEYBOARDS!!! "Perfect" as this car is going to get - there's other threads with the laundry list of what we should have)

The performance upgrade for $1295 is only an option on the non-magneride GT - it doesn't make sense unless you like a rocket ship that rides like the Flintstones car on American potholed streets.
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Not sure there's any reason to upgrade to 2026 unless you're just looking for a new color. Not any kind of attack - just curious. But the 24 and 25 seem to be the best models or "apex" of this generation of MME depending on how big of a frunk you want.

I don't want to come off as a homer for the company. But as I see a lot of complaints about the 2026 packages I'm seeing close to the same total cost.

I priced at 2026 GT with the $3495 performance and handling upgrade and the $495 frunk and it came to $57,100.

Then I priced a 2026 Rally with nothing else but the $495 frunk which came to $57,900.

The $57K numbers above are pretty close to what I was seeing for prices on 2025 new models. Once you start adding pano roof or 7 years of Bluetooth and 7 years of connectivity packages you can get it to $60,000 if you want.

I think 2026 through 2030 or whenever they stop making the MME will pretty much be the same complaints as this thread with Ford carving up different options & moving the tetris pieces around.

[I keep talking- a little longer breakdown from here...]

But going back to 2023 as the baseline-the 2023 GT did not come with the magneride suspension.

To get magneride in the 2023 you had to get the GT PE which was better looking Wheels, the performance upgrade, and the magneride suspension.

I think it was about a $3,000 upgrade then - maybe someone who purchased a 2023 GTPE has the exact numbers.

The change in 2024 and 2025 was that the GT included magneride. (the GT was not offered without Magneride or PE version type package)

But in 2024-25 you could choose to option the better wheels for $1700 and or the performance upgrade for a $995. So add another $2700 to your GT to get a package similar to the '23 GTPE.

For 2026 it looks like they went back to having two versions of the GT model. The basic GT you just get more horsepower than the Premium AWD and better seats. I'm paraphrasing I'm sure that's not exactly the only differences.


Now add the performance and handling package to your GT and like the 2023 you get -better looking Wheels, the performance upgrade, and the magneride suspension. For $3495.

I think the magneride suspension is easily worth about $700 compared to the $2700 above- not perfect I don't have exact numbers.

It'd be interesting to see total cost comparison of those years 23 with 24-25 and now 26.

[More talking about magneride and suspensions from here...]

Separately-I don't know why after all the threads on the suspensions and upgrades that are in this forum anyone who has participated here would want a GT without magneride.

So I don't have much complaints about a $1295 performance upgrade on a non magneride MME.

If anything it would be interesting to see a Premium with a magneride option. Eliminate the Premium as it is currently let people get the Select model with Rwd or AWD with standard or extended battery.

Premium would then be all wheel drive extended range with magneride, B&O sound. Truly a "premium" model. Pano roof option and the sport option that gives you a blacked out wheels and a GT grill.

Ford - you owe me a thousand bucks for this marketing simplification!

Ford should also come here and read the thread Mark Boris has posted with all the Rally spring upgrades done from the Select through GT models.

Maybe they would readjust the suspension and put the Rally springs across their entire MME model line and then have an option to lower the GT.

Ford that's another thousand bucks!

 

[StevenC56]

We love our 2025 GT. There's nothing a 2026 offers that would make us wish we had waited. Ventilated seats is still not offered on the GT. We're on a 36 month lease, but my wife loves the car so much that she gets mad when I mention we could just turn it in at the end of the lease! I thought maybe if we buy it after the lease is up we'd go for the performance software upgrade, but for $1295 we'll pass. Anyway, the MSRP was $58,785 on our 2025. When I configure a 2026 with the same build and color it comes to $62,300, but of course that includes the Performance Software Upgrade.

 

[SmoothJ]

My lease is over in around 15 months, so I need to look for something soon. Not sure if it will be the 26 or 27 MY Rally, however I need a vehicle. I was even looking on the Chevy/Kia side since I might need a bit larger of a vehicle, but still electric.

My biggest "problem" is I don't want one off the lot, but customized to save some money. I reached out to a local Ford dealer, and he advised in 3-5 months for delivery. The Chevy dealer seemed to have too much red tape... he was talking about allocations, not having on EVs on the lot could hurt him not being able to order any, how it can only be kept for 2 weeks since it cost them money, etc. I haven't tried Kia (K9) yet, however I don't like the fact that you can't lease trade your way out of a vehicle early if you need to.

 

[devmach-e]

My lease is over in around 15 months, so I need to look for something soon. Not sure if it will be the 26 or 27 MY Rally, however I need a vehicle. I was even looking on the Chevy/Kia side since I might need a bit larger of a vehicle, but still electric.

My biggest "problem" is I don't want one off the lot, but customized to save some money. I reached out to a local Ford dealer, and he advised in 3-5 months for delivery. The Chevy dealer seemed to have too much red tape... he was talking about allocations, not having on EVs on the lot could hurt him not being able to order any, how it can only be kept for 2 weeks since it cost them money, etc. I haven't tried Kia (K9) yet, however I don't like the fact that you can't lease trade your way out of a vehicle early if you need to.

This is a next year problem, not a today problem. 15 months is a long time in the automobile industry. Not sure why you need a new vehicle now...

You can always trade a leased car in early. The remaining payments just get rolled into the new lease.

 

[Jimrpa]

You can always trade a leased car in early. The remaining payments just get rolled into the new lease.

Ewwww… leasing a car bugs me from a philosophical point already. Essentially continuing to make payments on something you no longer have the use of, in addition to the lease payment for the “new” car just multiplies the ick factor.

I know, there are people for whom leasing is a great answer. I’m just not one of them and hate debt.

 

[StevenC56]

Ewwww… leasing a car bugs me from a philosophical point already. Essentially continuing to make payments on something you no longer have the use of, in addition to the lease payment for the “new” car just multiplies the ick factor.

I know, there are people for whom leasing is a great answer. I’m just not one of them and hate debt.

We would have purchased our 25 GT had they offered 0% interest and the Federal Tax credit. We've never leased until now. But with leasing it we got the Tax Credit and if we purchase it at the end of the 36 month lease the car will have cost us over $2K less than if we had paid cash for it.

 

[Maui]

Ewwww… leasing a car bugs me from a philosophical point already. Essentially continuing to make payments on something you no longer have the use of, in addition to the lease payment for the “new” car just multiplies the ick factor.

I know, there are people for whom leasing is a great answer. I’m just not one of them and hate debt.

So it depends, if you know what you want and you are going to stick it out to make the money work then buying is better. (noting the tax advantages already mentioned)

But if you are on a 3 year horizon, because technology moves fast, standards change, company change.

In the buy scenario, the $50K is gone and in 3 years if you don't like the car (any reason) you sell it for what you can get will almost certainly be upside down on an EV.

In the second scenario, you make payments for 3 years (~20K).

Is the car worth $30K in 3 years? ??

You have choices now. Cut you loss and move on, or buy it out at a pre-determined price.

It's risk management just like insurance.

 

[Mach1E]

So it depends, if you know what you want and you are going to stick it out to make the money work then buying is better. (noting the tax advantages already mentioned)

But if you are on a 3 year horizon, because technology moves fast, standards change, company change.

In the buy scenario, the $50K is gone and in 3 years if you don't like the car (any reason) you sell it for what you can get will almost certainly be upside down on an EV.

In the second scenario, you make payments for 3 years (~20K).

Is the car worth $30K in 3 years? ??

You have choices now. Cut you loss and move on, or buy it out at a pre-determined price.

It's risk management just like insurance.

Buying a new car every 3 years is basically the most expensive way to pay for transportation.

Only time I would consider a lease is if there were crazy lease incentives that make it cheaper than financing.

One other point- you said technology moves fast.

In the car industry? It’s actually extremely slow.

I can’t think of a single time in recent history where the 3 year old model of a specific car is significantly different from a tech standpoint than the new one.

More often you get a couple different color options, a slightly changed look, and a few more horsepower. Maybe slightly updated tech. (A little more efficient, an extra screen or camera).

But the entire industry is built around incremental changes from a tech standpoint.

If you have some examples where this isn’t the case, I would be curious to hear them. But they’ll be the exception likely, not the norm. If there is a 2026 model with way better tech than the 2023 of the same car, I’d be curious to hear about it.

 

[devmach-e]

Ewwww… leasing a car bugs me from a philosophical point already. Essentially continuing to make payments on something you no longer have the use of, in addition to the lease payment for the “new” car just multiplies the ick factor.

I know, there are people for whom leasing is a great answer. I’m just not one of them and hate debt.

Yeah, leasing has never made sense for me. Perpetually renting a car.

 

[StevenC56]

I gave a situation where leasing very much made sense. I know I'm not the only one who did the math and figured out it was the best way to purchase. This was in June of last year.

 

[SmoothJ]

So it depends, if you know what you want and you are going to stick it out to make the money work then buying is better. (noting the tax advantages already mentioned)

But if you are on a 3 year horizon, because technology moves fast, standards change, company change.

In the buy scenario, the $50K is gone and in 3 years if you don't like the car (any reason) you sell it for what you can get will almost certainly be upside down on an EV.

In the second scenario, you make payments for 3 years (~20K).

Is the car worth $30K in 3 years? ??

You have choices now. Cut you loss and move on, or buy it out at a pre-determined price.

It's risk management just like insurance.

Buying a new car every 3 years is basically the most expensive way to pay for transportation.

Only time I would consider a lease is if there were crazy lease incentives that make it cheaper than financing.

One other point- you said technology moves fast.

In the car industry? It’s actually extremely slow.

I can’t think of a single time in recent history where the 3 year old model of a specific car is significantly different from a tech standpoint than the new one.

More often you get a couple different color options, a slightly changed look, and a few more horsepower. Maybe slightly updated tech. (A little more efficient, an extra screen or camera).

But the entire industry is built around incremental changes from a tech standpoint.

If you have some examples where this isn’t the case, I would be curious to hear them. But they’ll be the exception likely, not the norm. If there is a 2026 model with way better tech than the 2023 of the same car, I’d be curious to hear about it.

Yeah, leasing has never made sense for me. Perpetually renting a car.

I gave a situation where leasing very much made sense. I know I'm not the only one who did the math and figured out it was the best way to purchase. This was in June of last year.

I am leasing now since I had to get rid of my F150 Lightning, and I needed to get a car quickly. This is why I only have 15 months left at this point.

In 2027, I might still lease since I learned not to trust or keep a EV long term. My reason… I was seriously upside down on the F150L when I gave it back to the dealer. I don’t want to be in that situation again anytime soon.

 

[Mach1E]

I am leasing now since I had to get rid of my F150 Lightning, and I needed to get a car quickly. This is why I only have 15 months left at this point.

In 2027, I might still lease since I learned not to trust or keep a EV long term. My reason… I was seriously upside down on the F150L when I gave it back to the dealer. I don’t want to be in that situation again anytime soon.

There are times when leasing makes sense.

There has never been a time when I bought a new car that I knew exactly when I would want to get rid of it, and it’s never been exactly at 36 months.

I keep my cars until I find something I want better. I would hate to be stuck with a car for a specific time period.

 

[Mark813]

I do too many miles to lease +/- 20K per year - or at least the lease calculation came out close to the 0% finance payment in December '24

Someone mentioned the technology changing and someone else mentioned it didn't change that much.

Ford's tech hasn't changed that much and I think most companies EV tech has not changed that much at its core.

The biggest change I would expect see in the next 5 to 10 years is if Solid State batteries become reality.

Without solid state I would still want to see improvements in charging speeds or move to 800 volt platforms with 18 minute charging like the Kia Hyundai to trade/upgrade.

Vehicle to home tech would be nice but I do see challenges with Ford or Cadillac not actually being able to fully run a Florida home with air conditioning but could be wrong on that. Right now seems more of a good emergency stopgap to run your fridge until power comes back a day or two after our hurricanes. Even then the extra 5 to 10K for the V2H version of a home charger seems to be too much.

A few years from now you might want to be in the most recent blue cruise (hardware) but BC hasn't come near to Tesla's almost self driving.

Most auto manufacturers are basically providing a good version of adaptive cruise control with hands-free and I have a problem justifying even the $500 for it.

So I don't think the technology at its core is changing that much but do I think the lease makes sense if you want to stay within the 36 months bumper to bumper coverage for an EV. Then if you have any question about your vehicle's battery, HVJB, or general tech not lasting you might upgrade at the end of 36 months.

Having that option to buy at lease end or upgrade if the tech does change or you don't trust your current EV internal tech is nice.

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