Help me with Premium vs. California

[snowdog]

I'm ready to purchase a Mach-E but I was wondering if someone could explain to me in layman's terms what the difference is between the Premium and the California Route 1? I live in the Midwest so I need AWD. When I configure the Premium with AWD and extended battery, it costs about $3,000 more than the California Route 1, which only comes with AWD and extended battery.

The local dealer says he mostly sees people buying the Premium and he's only sold one California Route 1. Is there something about the weather here that would preclude it? I don't want to read too much into the name. I guess the wheels are different but I'm not sure if I would care about that.

Anyone help with which one to order?

If this is the wrong forum, I apologize.

Sponsored

 

[hybrid2bev]

Review the order guide, it describes the differences to help you decide which to order.

2023:
https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...r-guide-updated-monthly-u-s-canada-tbd.21000/

 

[JamieGeek]

You don't need AWD. I have a RWD CA Rt1 in Michigan. For the past two winters it has handled snow and ice with aplomb.

Basically with a CA Rt1 you don't have the power tailgate, the premium radio, and the fancy headlights (although I think the modern RT1's have the fancy headlights).

Personally I love the range I'm getting out of it (easily 310+ in the summer).

 

[nvabill]

I bought a California Route 1 and absolutely love it as it has the exact same driveline as the Premium with AWD and extended battery. It has the Bluecruise, same screen, same roof but you are limited to a black interior.

Some will tell you the headlights are not the best Ford has, maybe so but, they beat any other vehicle I have ever had.

The stereo isn't the top of the line but again think it is fantastic.

The liftgate is not power but again, I don't need that as I have never had it before.

Oh, and the passenger seat is manual but I don't ride on that side. LOL

Now as to the wheels I specifically bought the trim knowing I would change them out. In my opinion neither the Premium or California Route 1 wheels are not to my liking. So, I took the savings and bought the GTPE wheels and love the look!

Hope this helps a little bit.

 

[snowdog]

Review the order guide, it describes the differences to help you decide which to order.

2023:
https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...r-guide-updated-monthly-u-s-canada-tbd.21000/

Thanks. I think I have that from the dealer but it's a lot of information and I'm struggling to see the real differences.

 

[RickMachE]

You don't need AWD. I have a RWD CA Rt1 in Michigan. For the past two winters it has handled snow and ice with aplomb.

YOU don't need AWD because YOU apparently have the skills to drive in Michigan in the snow. As a Michigander, you also know that many don't have those skills (winter snow driving), or any driving skills, and COULD benefit from AWD, if they understood that it helps for accelerating, not braking.

 

[snowdog]

I bought a California Route 1 and absolutely love it as it has the exact same driveline as the Premium with AWD and extended battery. It has the Bluecruise, same screen, same roof but you are limited to a black interior.

Some will tell you the headlights are not the best Ford has, maybe so but, they beat any other vehicle I have ever had.

The stereo isn't the top of the line but again think it is fantastic.

The liftgate is not power but again, I don't need that as I have never had it before.

Oh, and the passenger seat is manual but I don't ride on that side. LOL

Now as to the wheels I specifically bought the trim knowing I would change them out. In my opinion the Premium wheels are as ugly as those on the California Route 1. So, I took the savings and bought the GTPE wheels and love the look!

Hope this helps a little bit.

This is a huge help, thanks. Exactly what I was looking for.

 

[JamieGeek]

YOU don't need AWD because YOU apparently have the skills to drive in Michigan in the snow. As a Michigander, you also know that many don't have those skills (winter snow driving), or any driving skills, and COULD benefit from AWD, if they understood that it helps for accelerating, not braking.

With the Mach-E being my 3rd EV and 4th plugin I've found the traction control on EVs to be far superior than on ICE vehicles (yeah ok my opinion).

So if you drive reasonably and not like an idiot (yeah ok sometimes we're all guilty of that) it handles things fine.

Sure I've lived all my life in Michigan and grew up navigating snowy roads so that also contributes (in various vehicles: FWD, RWD, AWD, 4x4, etc.)

 

[snowdog]

You don't need AWD. I have a RWD CA Rt1 in Michigan. For the past two winters it has handled snow and ice with aplomb.

Basically with a CA Rt1 you don't have the power tailgate, the premium radio, and the fancy headlights (although I think the modern RT1's have the fancy headlights).

Personally I love the range I'm getting out of it (easily 310+ in the summer).

Thanks very much. I'm in Chicago suburbs and I have a friend who had a Mustang 25 years ago and was driving around with sandbags in the trunk. I do understand that was with the engine in the front and the Mach-E has a much more balanced weight. But I'd still feel more comfortable with AWD.

 

[snowdog]

YOU don't need AWD because YOU apparently have the skills to drive in Michigan in the snow. As a Michigander, you also know that many don't have those skills (winter snow driving), or any driving skills, and COULD benefit from AWD, if they understood that it helps for accelerating, not braking.

I've lived my whole life in the Midwest so I know enough about driving in the snow.

 

[nvabill]

This is a huge help, thanks. Exactly what I was looking for.

Glad to help and I will add that I have zero regrets buying the Rt. 1 over a Premium.

 

[JamieGeek]

Thanks very much. I'm in Chicago suburbs and I have a friend who had a Mustang 25 years ago and was driving around with sandbags in the trunk. I do understand that was with the engine in the front and the Mach-E has a much more balanced weight. But I'd still feel more comfortable with AWD.

Actually the motor in front doesn't make that much of a difference as far as weight is concerned. The big thing is the huge battery between the wheels.

 

[snowdog]

Actually the motor in front doesn't make that much of a difference as far as weight is concerned. The big thing is the huge battery between the wheels.

Thanks. I know it's different, but not the details of how.

 

[Vulnox]

I think for the price difference, the Premium is the way to go. But it of course is down to your individual needs and expectations.

When it comes to some items, like headlights, the best available is the only option. The IIHS gave the Select/CR1 headlights a moderate rating and the Premium and above got a Good rating.

https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/ford/mustang-mach-e-4-door-suv/2021#headlights

Reflector LEDs will never be as good when you need them to be as projector. The rest of it, like the better sound system, power lift gate, power passenger seat, etc, are just a bonus. I think $3k all in is, personally, a no-brainer on an already $50k vehicle. But again to each their own and that is just how we ended up with it.

The real world mileage difference between the CR1 and Premium is negligible. I wouldn't want the CR1 wheels compared to Premium either just to have no real world advantage. Especially wouldn't spend my price difference to replace them.

The above real world result from their range test is an ER RWD CR1 vs an ER AWD Premium, but that even further shows that the CR1 isn't real world likely to gain you anything in the area some might want it for, which is range. the RWD should have a huge advantage over the AWD, Premium or not. If the AWD CR1 had a real world 30 mile advantage over an identical Premium, there may be something to say, if you were doing a lot of long distance driving. But it just isn't there. So no clear reason to pick the CR1 with its standard wheels over a Premium.

Good luck, whatever you pick it will be great. In the end we are comparing inches here as the car is fantastic in any trim.

 

[snowdog]

I think for the price difference, the Premium is the way to go. But it of course is down to your individual needs and expectations.

When it comes to some items, like headlights, the best available is the only option. The IIHS gave the Select/CR1 headlights a moderate rating and the Premium and above got a Good rating.

https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/ford/mustang-mach-e-4-door-suv/2021#headlights

Reflector LEDs will never be as good when you need them to be as projector. The rest of it, like the better sound system, power lift gate, power passenger seat, etc, are just a bonus. I think $3k all in is, personally, a no-brainer on an already $50k vehicle. But again to each their own and that is just how we ended up with it.

The real world mileage difference between the CR1 and Premium is negligible. I wouldn't want the CR1 wheels compared to Premium either just to have no real world advantage. Especially wouldn't spend my price difference to replace them.

The above real world result from their range test is an ER RWD CR1 vs an ER AWD Premium, but that even further shows that the CR1 isn't real world likely to gain you anything in the area some might want it for, which is range. the RWD should have a huge advantage over the AWD, Premium or not. If the AWD CR1 had a real world 30 mile advantage over an identical Premium, there may be something to say, if you were doing a lot of long distance driving. But it just isn't there. So no clear reason to pick the CR1 with its standard wheels over a Premium.

Good luck, whatever you pick it will be great. In the end we are comparing inches here as the car is fantastic in any trim.

Thanks so much for all of this info. I'll think it all over.

The mileage difference was one of my big things. In the summer I regularly drive 120 miles up to Wisconsin. I need to be sure that I can make it up and back without any significant charging time, if needed. Most of the time I stay overnight so I can charge but occasionally I go there and come back in the same day.

If the mileage really isn't that much different then that may change my decision.

Sponsored