Last updated on April 8th, 2020 at 08:01 pm
The Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y are two all-electric crossover SUVs that are set to be extremely popular come 2020. Ford's Mustang-inspired EV takes after the petrol-led Mustang 2020, while the family-sized Tesla shares around 75% of the same components as the company's most popular EV to date, the Model 3.
If you've been pondering back and forth about the two vehicles, we've got you covered. In this showdown, we'll compare everything from the vehicles' design to the price. Here's WhichEV's comparison between Ford's Mustang Mach-E and Tesla's Model Y.
Read next: Model Y vs Model 3: Which Tesla should you buy?
Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Tesla Model Y: Design
Both vehicles are inspired by the company's respective saloon-sized vehicles. Ford used the Mustang 2020 as its base, while Tesla opted for the Model 3. The SUVs have a different aura about them: the Mustang Mach-E, to us, is aggressively designed to look like the saloon-sized muscle car. Think: a middle-aged man or woman who once used to put his or her foot on the gas pedal at the lights, but now has a family wants to make the switch to an all-electric vehicle.
The Tesla Model Y, on the other hand, has soft curves with a family-friendly figure that doesn't invoke speed or aggression – if you placed your grandparents in it, they wouldn't look out-of-place. We'd imagine those who prefer the design of the Model Y are consumers who don't want to stand out, rather, blend in with other vehicles.
As for the colours, the Model Y is expected to come in black, blue, red and white. The Ford Mustang Mach-E comes in seven colours: Rapid Red, Star White, Infinite Blue, Carbonised Grey, Absolute Black, Iconic Silver and Space White; an eight colour named ‘Grabber Blue’ is reserved for ‘First Edition’ vehicles, too.
Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Tesla Model Y: Interior
Inside, the vehicles are a lot more similar. Let's start with the dashboard: both have a large touchscreen mounted at the front; the Mach-E has a 15.5″ vertical display, while the Model Y has a 15″ horizontal display, instead.
Both vehicles run on the company's own interfaces, however, the Ford supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Tesla does away with all types of integration and resorts to its own built-in system.
In the past, we'd have prefered using Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as it integrates all the key features of your smartphone onto the vehicle's infotainment system. However, with all-electrics, it's far more useful to have a system that calculates your route based on the vehicle's remaining charge and spec (driving range). Here, not only does Tesla's Route Planner display the nearest Tesla-branded charging points but it also calculates your route based on the vehicle's telematics – if you're going to make an 800-mile road trip, it'll suggest to stop off in key locations to top up your vehicle's battery and give you an accurate ETA based on how long it'll take to recharge the vehicle.
At present, Android Auto nor Apple CarPlay offer such a feature; you'll need to download a third-party app to help plan your EV journeys.
There is, however, one major advantage of owning the Tesla Model Y: it seats up to seven passengers. The Ford Mustang Mach-E seats five, only. This could be a pivotable factor for some, as if you have a larger family or regularly travel with a lot of people, you'll want those extra seats at your disposal.
It's no surprise then, that the Mach-E has up to 1,420 litres of storage space with the rear seats down, while the Tesla Model Y offers a staggering 1,869 litres. That's plenty of room for equipment or large suitcases.
In order to access the vehicle's cabin, you're going to need a key – or should we say, a smartphone. Both vehicles come with an app that's required to be installed on your phone. If you lose your smartphone, you can still unlock your vehicle; Ford has integrated a keypad on the B-pillar to gain entry to the Mustang Mach-E, while another code entered through the infotainment system is required to operate the vehicle.
Tesla provides a key card that can be used instead of the app – alternatively, for an additional cost, you can purchase a physical key fob in the shape of the vehicle. However, the fob doesn't support passive door entry, so you can't walk up to your Tesla with its fob and have the doors unlocked.
When it comes to performance, they're evenly matched. The Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range RWD boasts one of the longest driving range in the EV market (370 miles), while the Model Y Performance is among the quickest vehicles (let alone SUVs) in the world; it achieves 0-60mph in under 3.5s.
To visualise the differences, we've created a table:
| Range (miles) | 0-60mph (s) | Base Price (GBP) | |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E Standard Range AWD | 260 | 7 | £46,570 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range AWD | 335 | 7 | £56,950 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E Standard Range RWD | 280 | 8 | £40,270 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range RWD | 370 | 8 | £50,190 |
| Tesla Model Y Performance | 298 | 3.5 | £61,000 |
| Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD | 314 | 4.8 | £52,000 |
| Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD | 336 | 5.5 | £48,000 |
| Tesla Model Y Standard Range | 230 | 5.9 | £39,000 |
NB: the table above doesn't include the 2021 Mustang Mach-E GT which will achieve 0-60mph in sub-5s. Prices above do not take into account government incentives.
While the Tesla Model Y Performance might be the quickest off the line, it'll also set you back the most amount of money. One could say an apples-to-apples comparison would be the Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range AWD and the Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD. Both operate on an all-wheel-drive system, are within £5,000 of each other and 21 miles of driving range apart.
Excluding all other factors, and basing it on those few stats alone, one would take the Model Y over the Mach-E. However, that doesn't paint the entire picture, as the driving feel and handling hasn't been factored in. At the time of writing, it's too early to judge between the two vehicles as neither has officially been released. Still, WhichEV predicts the Mach-E will come out on top in this department as the company has a long-standing history of producing race cars – with the Mustang logo slapped on top it, we'd be surprised if the vehicle's handling traits were classed as poor.
Read next: Tesla Model Y price, specs and rumours: Everything you need to know on Tesla’s SUV
Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Tesla Model Y: Price
As outlined above, the vehicles come in different models: from rear-wheel-drive systems that start from £39,000 to all-wheel-drive extended range models that cost upwards of £52,000.
Both vehicles are tipped to come out in late 2020, however, it's dependent on where you live. Here in the UK, the Mach-E will be available in late 2020, while the Model Y will be hitting our shores in early 2021.
That's without taking into account the Model Y Standard Range model, which will be available to US-based customers in Spring 2021, meaning a potential release of said model in early 2022 for us in the UK. Ford also has another vehicle in the pipeline: the Mustang Mach-E GT, which is scheduled for 2021.
As for the waiting list, Tesla is renowned to have a long cue of customers, whereas Ford will be able to dispatch its vehicles a lot sooner; this is down to the scale of production from both manufacturers – Ford has a larger dealer network and much higher global production output – 6 million as opposed to Tesla's 250,000.
Truthfully, it's hard to pick a clear winner. There are a few differentiators between the two vehicles, and it all boils down to personal preference, here's WhichEV's pros and cons:
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Pros:
- Highest-rated range (Extended Range RWD model)
- Sporty exterior design
- Available in seven/eight colours
- Luxurious interior
- Has a separate instrument cluster
- Supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Access to Ford's global dealer network
Cons:
- Five-seater, only
- Smaller storage capacity
- Comparatively slow (0-60mph)
- Comparatively more expensive
- Slower charging rate
Tesla Model Y
Pros:
- Cheaper (Standard Range model)
- Among one of the fastest EVs on the market (Performance model)
- Seven-seater
- More storage space
- Inconspicuous exterior design
- Features Tesla's Route Planner
- Access to Tesla's Supercharger network
- Faster charging
Cons:
- The most expensive (Performance model)
- Longer waiting list and won't be available until 2021 outside the US
- Comes in four colours, only
- Barren interior design
- Excludes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Which one will you buy (or have bought)? Let us know in the comments section, below.