Ford is charging customers to add a 'frunk' to its 2026 Mustang – and it isn't going down well

Chants of ‘free the frunk’ echo around Reddit

28 Feb 2026, 01:00 · TechRadar

News By Leon Poultney published 28 February 2026

(Image credit: Ford)

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Ford has made the frunk a paid-for option on 2026 Mustang Mach-E
Handy stowage area will now cost customers an additional $495
The decision hasn’t been well received in some corners of the internet

Earlier this month, Ford Authority reported that a front stowage area, which has come as standard on all Ford Mustang Mach-E models since its launch in the early 2020s, was quietly shifted into the optional extras category on the updated 2026 model year.

The front trunk, or ‘frunk’ as it has become widely known among EV owners, consists of a useful stowage space that’s located underneath the hood.

Without the need for a bulky engine, many modern EVs now boast a space where these old mechanicals once resided, so manufacturers have seen fit to turn them into a spot for stashing charging cables, small bags and other items.

The humble frunk can now be found on models from Kia, Hyundai, Tesla, Polestar, Porsche and many more.

According to the Ford Authority report, any 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E trim level can be equipped with the new standalone frunk, which will cost buyers in the US an additional $495 over list price to have it installed.

While Ford isn’t removing the ability to easily open the hood, seeing as this is required to refill the wiper fluid bottle, a Reddit user has revealed that the company simply won’t provide the plastic tray insert if not paid for, instead leaving a hot mess of pipes, pumps, batteries and bottles.

Mach-E brand manager, Teddy Ankeny, said in a YouTube video posted by The Electric Duo that Ford is “learning that customers were using their frunk, but perhaps not as much as we had originally intended,"

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