autoevolution
 

Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y: a Comparison (Mostly) by Numbers

Have you had enough of the Ford Mustang Mach-E vs. Tesla Model Y comparisons yet? We hope not because we have a pretty good one for you.
Jason Fenske on Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Tesla Model Y 9 photos
Photo: YouTube screenshot
Jason Fenske (Engineering Explained) on the Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Tesla Model Y rivalryJason Fenske (Engineering Explained) on the Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Tesla Model Y rivalryJason Fenske (Engineering Explained) on the Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Tesla Model Y rivalryJason Fenske (Engineering Explained) on the Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Tesla Model Y rivalryJason Fenske (Engineering Explained) on the Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Tesla Model Y rivalryJason Fenske (Engineering Explained) on the Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Tesla Model Y rivalryJason Fenske (Engineering Explained) on the Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Tesla Model Y rivalryJason Fenske (Engineering Explained) on the Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Tesla Model Y rivalry
Instead of focusing on driving feel and handling and all the other stuff car journalists tend to talk about, Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained took a much more number-driven approach to his comparison between the two. Don't worry, though, he's not a robot so you'll get his honest opinions as well.

To start things off, since it's two EVs we're talking about, you need to get the whole maximum range elephant out of the room. We all know that, at least according to the EPA, Tesla is still unbeaten here, but the Mach-E puts in a decent effort. Admittedly, it needs a much larger battery to do it - 68 or 88 kWh options, with a pretty large reserve in both cases to make sure the usable capacity doesn't modify over time.

Partly responsible for that excellent efficiency is Tesla's class-leading drag coefficient. For a crossover, the 0.285 Cd of the Mach-E isn't bad at all, but the Model Y beats it by 0.055. The truly surprising part is that Tesla somehow managed to have the same value for both the Model 3 and the larger Model Y. That can only be either witchcraft or bogus numbers.

Jason Fenske \(Engineering Explained\) on the Ford Mustang Mach\-E vs Tesla Model Y rivalry
Photo: YouTube screenshot
Then, Jason moves on to the tires, praising the Ford for its tall profiles. He's not so crazy about how narrow they are (225), though they do make the electric Mustang pretty tail-happy under the right circumstances. The Model Y AWD uses much wider 255 tires despite being slightly lighter than the Mach-E.

Here we come to what is probably Jason's biggest gripe with the Mach-E: its ground clearance. Ford sacrificed it to make room for the battery, which could be interpreted that Ford only made the Mach-E a crossover because it didn't know how to hide the battery pack without boosting the vehicle's height. To put it into numbers, the Mach-E only has 0.2 inches (5 mm) over the Model 3, and a full inch (25 mm) under the Model Y which isn't exactly off-road-ready itself.

Moving on to the interiors of the two EVs, Jason doesn't miss the chance to take a swipe at Tesla as he sits in the Ford's driver's seat: "Very nice to see a front display." We'll admit the interior of the Mustang looks good, but we're still not sold on the blue theme of its infotainment interface.

Jason Fenske \(Engineering Explained\) on the Ford Mustang Mach\-E vs Tesla Model Y rivalry
Photo: YouTube screenshot
Jason continues to dissect the two vehicles - with the occasional reference to the Model 3 as well - touching on the way they drive, with a particular mention of the Mustang Mach-E's braking system, which can blend mechanical braking and regenerative braking, unlike the Tesla. In our experience, that's a very difficult thing to do while maintaining good pedal feedback, but somebody is bound to nail it at some point.

Finally, we get a list of strong points for each of the two vehicles, according to Jason. For the Ford, he lists its styling, the wireless CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, the heated steering wheel, the front driver display, the price (tax credit still available), and the Ford service network.

For the Y, the list contains the usual suspects: more spacious interior and cargo space, better maximum range, better efficiency, higher ground clearance, and rated towing capacity (3,500 lbs/1,587 kg). To that, we would add the existing Supercharging network and the ability to charge faster (250 kW) than the 150 kW of the Ford.

Comparing the two lists, you will notice the Mach-E's contains mostly little conveniences, whereas the Model Y has all the things that matter. However, the thing with Ford's first actual EV is that it's not far behind on any of the aspects where the Tesla shines. It genuinely is a great alternative, which is not something we've had a lot of until now.

If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Vlad Mitrache
Vlad Mitrache profile photo

"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie)
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories