Is the 2025 worth the upgrade?

[4sallypat]

I was in the same spot you are, I was in love with my 21 Select, it was perfect. But the price I had to pay to get her in '21 wasn't (the pandemic car crunch was still going strong), and I knew I was overpaying for the car even though I had a zero-interest loan. So when my equity had piled up a enough and I was starting to have back to back HVJB issues that yes were covered under the warranty but still a giant PIA (Died in a covered parking garage and I got a quick master class in tow trucks) I decided to give my wallet a break and went with a 24 Premium lease. (wanted the glass roof)

It was almost identical; in fact, most people didn't realize it was a different car. I had it for three weeks, and someone smashed it, so I was back on the market, and due to great promotions Ford was running, and the tariff scares, most of the 24s were gone. Enter my 25 Premium - price is okay, not as good as the deal I had on the 24, but still less than I was paying on the 21.

IMO there are two main physical differences, the stalk shifter, which I loath, not that I was a big fan of the spinning dial, but it made more sense than the stalk as far as the positioning of the "gears". Up for reverse and down for Drive doesn't live well in my brain, and I have to focus on it to make sure I'm selecting the right direction. The dial at least had the traditional progression of a gear shift PRND, in that order. Come to think of it, I've no idea how to put the 25 in Neutral, as I haven't had to yet in the month I've had it.

The other difference is a notably smaller frunk. I really don't use mine but if you do use yours you're going to miss a lot of functionality based on the size.

Is the ride smoother? For me I give that a "Maybe." I've driven it less than 500 miles so far so hard to tell. I think any new car with new tires probably feels smoother than one that is 4 years old so hard to grade that one for me.

Things that I do like that are different in the 25 - the console is configured a little different and you have a cell phone holder kind of like a cupholder (you also have a french fry holder but we won't get into that ) Any way I find the console config more functional.

The range is greater - I don't have the extended range and didn't before but I get about 100 more miles if I remember correctly. I had 195 max on the 21 and now I sitting at 45% and my range is 137. While I've only charged it once on a DC charger it took 15 minutes to add 112 miles. The rest of the time I just plug it in at home on a level 1 and it's stayed above 50% without me really thinking about it much. But range isn't a big thing for me - see above had the car a month, odometer is at 348.

Thanks for the comparison review - very useful info!

I am looking at a '25 Rally to replace my '23 Premium.

Never liked the glass roof as it interferes with my 2 way radio antennas so I prefer steel roof.

Had to crunch the Amateur UHF and VHF aviation antennas together on the only metal surface.

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[Tampamike]

Please do yourself a favor and never use the Google AI overview for any real information. It's totally wrong 99% of the time.

I’ve found the error rate to be less than 99%, … but, greater than 0%. I sort of use it as a starting point and then try and decide if I need need to dig deeper.

 

[Mach1E]

I’ve found the error rate to be less than 99%, … but, greater than 0%. I sort of use it as a starting point and then try and decide if I need need to dig deeper.

AI search is just a case of “garbage in, garbage out.”

It’s getting its info from the internet. And you can find pretty much any bad info you like out there.

Fun google game by doctor brother taught me.

Google (fill in the blank) food cures (fill in the blank) disease. And you almost always get results.

Want to cure cancer? Eat potatoes. ?

https://www.nfcr.org/blog/cancer-fi...tatoes-root-vegetables-for-cancer-prevention/

Or tomatoes….
https://newsroom.osfhealthcare.org/cancer-fighting-power-of-tomatoes/

Or peanut butter….
https://peanut-institute.com/health/cancer/

 

[E90alex]

They blow, not suck. And it's cold air (below ambient temperature).

Source: I sat my butt in one on a hot day.

They suck air and therefore are not actively cooled.

Source: a napkin being held up by the seat ventilation

(Yes this is a Lightning but I don’t see why Ford would put a more expensive system that blows actual cooled air in a less expensive, lower margin car like the Mach-E)

 

[Mach1E]

They suck air and therefore are not actively cooled.

Source: a napkin being held up by the seat ventilation

(Yes this is a Lightning but I don’t see why Ford would put a more expensive system that blows actual cooled air in a less expensive, lower margin car like the Mach-E)

Definitive proof!

Oh wait…… that’s a different car. ?‍

 

[E90alex]

Definitive proof!

Oh wait…… that’s a different car. ?‍

Someone that owns a 2025 Premium is welcome to do the same test. I’m not going to the dealer just for that.

 

[Creaky]

Correct. https://corporate.ford.com/articles/products/ford-and-google-to-accelerate-auto-innovation.html

"As part of this new, six-year partnership—and beginning in 2023—millions of future Ford and Lincoln vehicles at all price points will be powered by Android, with Google apps and services built-in"

Yikes, good thing I just ordered a 25 model and dodged this bullet. Why anyone wants Google to know everything you do in your car is beyond me. I rather prefer a little less responsive proprietary system then an American big brother tech company keeping tabs on what music I play, which HVAC settings I like and how fast I take my corners. Let alone linking all that info to my online footprint...

 

[markboris]

There is so much opposing info on the ventilated seats here on this thread. Some say they blow, some suck, some mention a cooling system.

E90alex is correct. They suck air from the seat cushion and that is all. There is a blower motor both in the rear seat back and bottom that draws air through the perforated seat material.

From the 2025 Ford Mach-E Repair Manual:

Seat Ventilation Operation:

The seat cushion and backrest are each equipped with a blower motor assembly. Each blower motor draws air through the surface of the cushion and backrest through the foam. Once the system is activated, the DSM (driver front seat module) controls the blower speed dependant on the heated/ventilated seat settings.

The system control settings are based on the 3 indicators next to each heated/ventilated seat button. The first setting is HIGH (3 indicators), the second setting is MED (2 indicators) and the third is LOW (1 indicator) then OFF (no indicators).

 

[StevenC56]

There is so much opposing info on the ventilated seats here on this thread. Some say they blow, some suck, some mention a cooling system.

E90alex is correct. They suck air from the seat cushion and that is all. There is a blower motor both in the rear seat back and bottom that draws air through the perforated seat material.

From the 2025 Ford Repair Manual:

Seat Ventilation Operation:

The seat cushion and backrest are each equipped with a blower motor assembly. Each blower motor draws air through the surface of the cushion and backrest through the foam. Once the system is activated, the DSM (driver front seat module) controls the blower speed dependant on the heated/ventilated seat settings.

The system control settings are based on the 3 indicators next to each heated/ventilated seat button. The first setting is HIGH (3 indicators), the second setting is MED (2 indicators) and the third is LOW (1 indicator) then OFF (no indicators).

We have a 2024 Lightning Lariat with cooled seats. It's interesting how it feels cool even though it apparently just sucks instead of blows on both the seat bottom and back. Our 2017 Explorer Platinum we just sold to get the 2025 Mach E GT had ventilated seats too. Not sure if they were blowing or sucking-Always assumed they were blowing and I seem to remember seeing the AC venting on the floorboard to the seat fan?

 

[Mach1E]

We have a 2024 Lightning Lariat with cooled seats. It's interesting how it feels cool even though it apparently just sucks instead of blows on both the seat bottom and back. Our 2017 Explorer Platinum we just sold to get the 2025 Mach E GT had ventilated seats too. Not sure if they were blowing or sucking-Always assumed they were blowing and I seem to remember seeing the AC venting on the floorboard to the seat fan?

It seems like a minor difference but it’s an important one!

 

[4sallypat]

There is so much opposing info on the ventilated seats here on this thread. Some say they blow, some suck, some mention a cooling system.

E90alex is correct. They suck air from the seat cushion and that is all. There is a blower motor both in the rear seat back and bottom that draws air through the perforated seat material.

From the 2025 Ford Mach-E Repair Manual:

Seat Ventilation Operation:

The seat cushion and backrest are each equipped with a blower motor assembly. Each blower motor draws air through the surface of the cushion and backrest through the foam. Once the system is activated, the DSM (driver front seat module) controls the blower speed dependant on the heated/ventilated seat settings.

The system control settings are based on the 3 indicators next to each heated/ventilated seat button. The first setting is HIGH (3 indicators), the second setting is MED (2 indicators) and the third is LOW (1 indicator) then OFF (no indicators).

Thank you for clarifying this!

I wish it was available in other trims other than Premium.

I am looking at a '25 Rally and would love to have that option!

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