2025 Frunk Review! By a Frunk Lover!

[Ahlarict]

I disagree but only in how we got here. Ford did their research on heat pumps and made a marketing based design and content decision. The radiator (inclined, larger, both) was an engineering decision to resolve an issue (HVBJB?). Everything in a design is a trade off.

They couldn’t get a heat pump that didn’t impact the frunk space in time for this model year. Heat pumps are going to impact frunk space. I’ve looked at a last year of no heat pumps Model S next to a first year of heat pump Model S side by side at an EV show here. The cars are otherwise identical. The no heat pump MS has an enviable frunk. The heat pump version, not so much.

In the end though @Ahlarict, you’re correct regardless of how they got there.

Well, we can hardly expect them to invest the level of R&D needed to create a heat pump with a truly "octovalve-level" of engineering and packaging perfection for a mere mid-cycle refresh when we have other more pressing concerns such as the driver's stalks and speed indicator pixel placement to focus on! Priorities, people!

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[Kamuelaflyer]

Well, we can hardly expect them to invest the level of R&D needed to create a heat pump with a truly "octovalve-level" of engineering and packaging

Of course we can. Whether that’s a reasonable expectation is another question. Your point is also why I said current gen. We shall see what happens when (or if) there is another generation of Mach-e’s unveiled.

As for the heat pumps, it’s only a subset of owners that actually benefit from it. Those in year round temperate climates (me) or those in places with real cold (Dumfries Minnesota, Drumheller, Alberta Canada) really won’t gain a benefit. But a gain for all isn’t what the heat pump addition was all about.

 

[jgcom]

As has been reported, the frunk is significantly smaller. The traditional frunk is between 14” and 15” from the bottom to the top lip of the tub. The new frunk is, perhaps 6” deep. It’s also not as wide or as long. You are no

I apologize if someone else asked this. The old-style frunk has significant vertical clearance between the lip and the inside of most of the lid, 4–5" or so. If it is 6" deep, that means the cargo could be 10" deep in that direction. Taking this into consideration, can the new style frunk fit a carry-on roller bag on its belly?

Joe

 

[bbulkow]

Today, I stopped by my Ford dealer for state inspection and, while there, asked if they had gotten any 2025 Mustang Mach Es in yet. They JUST received their first one - a Select. I asked if I could see the frunk.

As has been reported, the frunk is significantly smaller. The traditional frunk is between 14” and 15” from the bottom to the top lip of the tub. The new frunk is, perhaps 6” deep. It’s also not as wide or as long. You are no longer going to be able to fit 3-4 bags of groceries. Frankly, you will not fit any bags of groceries in the mini-frunk. If I upgrade my car (and they were pushing HARD for me to upgrade, on the spot, showing me the GTs they have coming in), the loss of the frunk will be a huge negative. To be honest, I’m not sure what value the mini-frunk offers. Maybe you can toss smelly workout clothes or sneakers in there? Not much else though.

Other very quick thoughts:
- The updated IP graphics are very nice. I didn’t see any significant graphics updates on the Sync screen.
- The new super-mega-multi-stalk (or whatever it’s called) will take getting used to. It has inner rings that twist and turn, the outer end twists and turns - I’m sure I’d be blinding people with the high beams every time I go to wash the windshield. By comparison, the gear selector lever looks barren. Maybe it has hidden abilities Ford will unlock later.
- The fob does indeed have a frunk button now! (Of course, that functionality is pretty useless!)

I use the frunk for one thing: putting my backpack when I'm parked somewhere sketchy.

In my 3 previous hatchback / wagons, I'd take my backpack along.

A loss, but not a big one, for me. I'll take the advantages of heat pump.

 

[Jimrpa]

Ford is in a tough spot with the current-gen Mach-e, in my opinion. The market has determined that a heat pump is necessary, even if it makes little difference efficiency-wise. In addition, the changes to the radiator (larger? Inclined? Both?) added to the frunk issues. Given the other issues related to cars in general and the MME (tariffs), it might be difficult to see if the smaller frunk has a sales impact.

For me, it’s an issue. On the other hand, if a mad UPS driver flattened my MME, just what would I replace it with? Tesla? Yeah, that’s not happening even if Lightning-sized frunks suddenly became standard. Kia? It’s a shelf. BMW? “What’s a frunk?” best describes theirs. I’ve looked at the last year of no heat pumps Model S side by side with a heat pump Model S at an EV show here. The cars were otherwise identical. The no heat pump MS has an enviable frunk. The heat pump version? Not so much.

It’s quite unfortunate that a great feature has been impacted. I’d genuinely not miss auto park; I’ve used it twice in 4 years. I find the “kick to open trunk” little more than a worthless physical therapy exercise, but I actually use the frunk. Silly me.

Lucid? Rivian? Those are the only two non-Tesla viable Frunk competitors I can think of. I’m not even sure if BMW Neu Klasse will have a frunk?

 

[Jimrpa]

Ford prolly has extensive research on how many sales are lost due to heat pumps vs “shrunkenfrunken” and placed their bets accordingly

The claim was made that they’ve determined that the frunk is not used much, based on telemetry from the vehicles. Personally, I think that data was probably skewed due to issues early on with frunk accessibility, coupled with stupid decisions, such as not including a frunk release on the fob, and not offering a power open/close feature.

 

[Jimrpa]

I apologize if someone else asked this. The old-style frunk has significant vertical clearance between the lip and the inside of most of the lid, 4–5" or so. If it is 6" deep, that means the cargo could be 10" deep in that direction. Taking this into consideration, can the new style frunk fit a carry-on roller bag on its belly?

Joe

A rollaboard is definitely not happening with the new micro-frunk. A small backpack is still a possibility.

 

[Jimrpa]

I use the frunk for one thing: putting my backpack when I'm parked somewhere sketchy.

In my 3 previous hatchback / wagons, I'd take my backpack along.

A loss, but not a big one, for me. I'll take the advantages of heat pump.

I’m not sure what the climate is like in Menlo Park, CA, but in suburban Philadelphia, we will get temperatures at or below 32 degrees F, which means the heat pump isn’t going to be very efficient anyway. I’d have preferred they just toss in a slightly larger resistance heater and hold off on any heat pump until they could implement and package it properly.

 

[HuntingPudel]

This is my favorite frunk use - I hate when my car smells of takeout the next morning.

I love the irony of Ford finally adding a frunk button to the fob while simultaneously making the frunk nearly unusable.

Chillin’ is my favorite use of the frunk. If you can’t chill in it, it’s worthless. ??

 

[Ford_orr]

Chillin’ is my favorite use of the frunk. If you can’t chill in it, it’s worthless. ??

You might have to downgrade Steve ?

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Lucid? Rivian? Those are the only two non-Tesla viable Frunk competitors I can think of. I’m not even sure if BMW Neu Klasse will have a frunk?

Probably to the first two. Lord knows about BMW. I'd guess no. Maybe they'll sell a frunk subscription.

There's an additional complication unique to me. I live in the Middle of (bleep) Nowhere, Hawaii. There is no longer any mobile Tesla service on this island. Brand Elmo won't even deliver here anymore, nor will they lift a finger to assist you in shipping your Elmo mobile to another island. Rivian is finally building a service center in Honolulu, but has no plans for mobile service outside of Oahu. They make you sign an acknowledgment that you're on your own in this state and plan on continuing that for all other islands once the service center opens. 1/3 of the state lives somewhere other than Oahu with 1/2 of that 1/3 living on the Big Island. Lucid has zero presence in the state. Genesis has an ICE presence only. Polestar has no presence (Yes, there are Volvo dealers here). Audi, VW, Porsche, and Jaguar are Oahu only and don't support vehicles elsewhere. That leaves: Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Kia, Hyundai, GM/Chevrolet (NOT Cadillac), and BMW. The Ford dealer has changed its tune dramatically since it was sold and the various sales restrictions expired. So of those, Ford and Kia are the most EV committed, with Kia out in front. In my "UPS flattened my mach-e" hypothetical, I'd stick with a "small dishcloth folded correctly fits" sized frunk over a literal shelf. I'll just try not to annoy the UPS trucks for now.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

If it is 6" deep, that means the cargo could be 10" deep in that direction. Taking this into consideration, can the new style frunk fit a carry-on roller bag on its belly?

That's actually worthy of a trip to a dealer with a 2025. Or perhaps @Gloff knows, although if I were him, I'd avoid this thread.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Chillin’ is my favorite use of the frunk. If you can’t chill in it, it’s worthless. ??

First the hairless ape servant changed the start code, then he sticks me in the dog carrier with the dog, and now he tells me the new frunk won’t even hold my half days minimum requirement of iced shrimp! The indignity never stops. This planet sucks!

 

[azerik]

This is my favorite frunk use - I hate when my car smells of takeout the next morning.

I love the irony of Ford finally adding a frunk button to the fob while simultaneously making the frunk nearly unusable.

I left a ‘forbidden rice bowl’ in my frunk and went on vacation. My wife kept telling me something died in the garage. Funny enough I’d put that left over in the frunk 2 days before dropping the car at the dealer.

 

[MachhE-CT]

The only thing in my frunk is some mouse repellent sachets to keep the damn mice out of the wiring.(they ate the engine wiring harness of my Mini Cooper $$$$). It’s smaller than the prior models because Ford gave you more energy efficient heat pump heater for the cold weather rather than the prior restive heater which sucked quite a bit of power in the winter. I would happily trade a smaller frunk for the heat pump.

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