Ford has quietly made a change to the 2026 Mustang Mach-E that many electric vehicle fans may not love. The front trunk, or “frunk,” which used to come standard on the electric crossover, is now an optional feature that buyers will have to pay extra for.
Starting with the 2026 model year, buyers who want the additional storage space under the hood will need to add a $495 option to their order. Without it, the Mach-E will simply come without the extra cargo compartment that earlier versions included by default.
The move may appear minor on paper, but it highlights a broader trend in the auto industry where features once considered standard are increasingly being broken out as optional add-ons.
Lower Base Price, But Less Equipment
The 2026 Mach-E officially starts at $39,840 for the rear-wheel-drive Select trim, including destination charges. At first glance, that looks slightly cheaper than the 2025 model, which started at $39,990.
However, that lower entry price comes with a catch.
To equip the 2026 Mach-E to the same level as the 2025 version, buyers must add the $495 frunk option. Doing so brings the effective starting price to $40,335. In other words, while the advertised base price dropped slightly, the real-world price for the same equipment actually went up.
Most vehicles that reach dealer lots will likely include the option anyway, but customers ordering their own vehicle will now need to actively select it.
What Happens If You Skip the Frunk?
Ford hasn’t yet detailed what the front area looks like in Mach-Es that skip the option. The space previously used for the storage compartment still exists, but it’s unclear how it will be covered or packaged.
It may simply expose the electronics and hardware underneath the hood, or the area could be sealed off with a molded panel where the frunk tub would normally sit.
Another change to keep in mind: the frunk itself is already smaller than it used to be. When Ford introduced a heat pump in the 2025 Mach-E, the front cargo space shrank from 4.7 cubic feet to about 2.6 cubic feet.
Oddly Listed as an “Exterior Option”
Adding to the confusion, Ford’s online configurator lists the frunk under “Exterior Options.” That’s an unusual classification considering the feature is essentially a storage compartment inside the vehicle.
Regardless of how it’s categorized, it’s a feature that many EV owners have come to appreciate for groceries, charging cables, or anything they’d rather keep separate from the rear cargo area.
Mach-E Rally Also Losing Standard Features
The frunk isn’t the only item moving to the options list.
The Mach-E Rally trim is also losing its once-standard rear wing and decal package. Buyers who want the raised rear spoiler will now need to pay $995 for it.
Like the base model, the Rally’s starting price technically drops from $60,485 to $59,735 but once the spoiler and frunk are added back, the vehicle ends up costing about $1,490 more than before.
Meanwhile, the distinctive Rally decal package appears to have disappeared entirely.
A Growing Trend Among EV Makers
Ford isn’t alone in treating the frunk as an optional feature.
Dodge has taken a similar approach with the electric Charger Daytona. There, the frunk isn’t offered on its own but is included in a $4,995 “Plus Group” package that bundles several luxury upgrades.
Automakers have occasionally argued that many owners rarely use their frunks anyway. Others disagree.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe has previously suggested that the problem isn’t the concept itself it’s that some companies simply design them poorly.
For buyers who appreciate the extra storage space, the frunk remains one of the more practical benefits of electric vehicle packaging. The question now is whether customers will be happy paying extra for something that used to come standard.
