In many ways, it isn't fair to compare the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E and the 2023 Tesla Model 3. The Mustang Mach-E is a crossover SUV, and the Model 3 is a sedan. It's not quite like comparing a tennis racket and a snowshoe, but it's close. At the same time, there are good reasons to compare the two cars. Both are, of course, zero-emission electric vehicles (EVs), and both cost about the same. The Mach-E and Model 3 are 5-passenger vehicles, and they are almost exactly the same length.
Of course, there are key differences, too. As mentioned, the Mach-E is a crossover, while the Model 3 is a sedan. That has substantial ramifications. And so does the fact that one of the most traditional auto manufacturers on the planet builds the Mustang Mach-E, while the Model 3 is produced by the industry's highest-profile "disrupter." Tesla introduced the Model 3 as a 2017 model. The Mustang Mach-E, meanwhile, came to market in 2021.
Perhaps amazingly, the two roads have led to essentially the same place. In terms of price, value, and overall functionality, the Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model 3 are more alike than different. But the differences are telling. For those considering these domestic-brand BEVs, here is a comparison of the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E and the 2023 Tesla Model 3.
2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT
The Ford Mustang Mach-E offers customers the choice of four trim levels for 2023: Select, Premium, California Route 1, and GT. Select and Premium trims offer rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) versions. The California Route 1 and GT are AWD-only. The lowest-priced 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E is the rear-drive Select trim, priced at $44,795, including the $1,800 destination charge. Adding AWD increases the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) by $3,000.
In the middle of the lineup, the California Route 1 has a suggested starting price of $58,795. The AWD GT bases at $62,440. A Performance Edition package that buyers can add to the GT costs an additional $5,000. The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E qualifies buyers for a $3,750 federal income tax credit.
FordPass Connect, the Mustang Mach-E's connected services app, includes a wireless data trial that begins at activation and expires after three months or when you use 3 gigabytes of data.
For 2023, Tesla offers the Model 3 in three trims: Rear Wheel Drive (RWD), Long Range (LR), and Performance. The RWD trim is the least expensive choice. It has a base MSRP of $41,880, including destination and order fees. The dual-motor LR trim has a suggested base price of $48,880 with fees. The Performance trim also features dual-motor AWD, boasting an eye-opening zero-to-60-mph time of 3.1 seconds, according to Tesla's published figures. Its starting MSRP, including the added fees, is $54,880. The 2023 Tesla Model 3 qualifies its buyers for a $7,500 tax credit if they meet the income qualifications.
Tesla includes "standard connectivity" for eight years when you buy a new Model 3. Premium connectivity is complimentary for 30 days, then available as a subscription. High data-usage functions like maps and navigation will likely require premium connectivity.
Advantage: Tesla Model 3
2023 Tesla Model 3
The Ford Mustang Mach-E does not rank among the top three models in its segment in the JD Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which assesses owner-reported problems during the third year of ownership. The Mustang Mach-E also does not rank among the top three models in its segment in the JD Power 2023 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), which tracks problems experienced by owners during the first 90 days. The Mustang Mach-E ranks third among Mass Market Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) in the JD Power 2023 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study, which examines satisfaction among EV owners.
The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E has the following warranty, roadside assistance, and scheduled maintenance coverage:
The Tesla Model 3 is ineligible for VDS and IQS awards because Tesla Motors does not allow JD Power access to owner information in the 15 states that require the automaker's permission. The Tesla Model 3 ranks second among Premium BEVs in the 2023 EVX Study Ownership Study.
The 2023 Tesla Model 3 comes with the following warranty coverage:
Advantage: Tesla Model 3
2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Ford equips the 2023 Mustang Mach-E with a dazzling and perhaps confusing array of powertrains. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the RWD versions of the Select and Premium trims with the standard-range battery pack feature a single 266-horsepower electric motor. With the 70.0-kWh battery that is standard on those models, they offer 247 miles of range on a single charge. The AWD Select and Premium trims, on the other hand, offer 224 miles of range. Buyers can equip the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium with an extended-range, 91.0-kWh battery pack that increases power to 290 hp in RWD versions and 346 hp with AWD.
The EPA says the RWD extended-range Premium can deliver 306 miles on a charge. The range falls by 16 miles when you add AWD. The California Route 1 edition boasts a 346-hp AWD powertrain. Available only with the 91.0-kWh extended-range battery, it has an EPA-estimated range of 312 miles. The Mustang Mach-E GT wags its pony car tail with 480 hp and 600 pound-feet of torque. According to Ford, with the Performance Edition add-ons, the Mustang Mach-E GT will jet from zero-to-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The tradeoff is less range: 260 miles on a charge.
At a public DC fast charger, a standard-range Mach-E can go from a 10-percent charge to 80 percent in as little as 38 minutes, according to Ford. Extended-range Mach-Es, meanwhile, will require 45 minutes to go from a 10-percent charge to 80 percent. These charge times are longer than some recently introduced EVs. Interestingly, the RWD Mustang Mach-E gets the highest fuel economy equivalent numbers from the EPA: 103 MPGe combined. At the other extreme, the GT Performance Edition has an 82-MPGe rating.
Tesla Motors takes a very idiosyncratic approach to many things. One example is that it does not publish horsepower and torque ratings for its models. So, the figures presented here are reliable estimates. The base RWD trim of the 2023 Tesla Model 3 employs a single electric motor delivering 271 hp and 310 pound-feet of torque. Tesla says it will accelerate from zero-to-60 mph in 5.8 seconds.
The mid-level LR AWD trim uses two electric motors offering a combined 425 hp and 475 pound-feet of torque. Tesla says it will accelerate from zero-to-60 mph in 4.2 seconds. The Performance trim also uses front and rear electric motors to produce AWD. Combined horsepower is 455, and torque is 487 pound-feet. With that kind of power to draw on, the Performance trim is extremely quick, with zero-to-60 mph in 3.1 seconds.
The Model 3 Long Range trim offers (surprise!) the longest range: 358 miles. The RWD trim offers 272 miles of range, and the Performance trim gets 315 miles. The Model 3 RWD gets an EPA mileage rating of 132 MPGe. The LR AWD trim is EPA-rated at 131 MPGe. In the Performance trim, MPGe drops to 113. According to the automaker, a Model 3 can go from a 10-percent charge to 80 percent in about 30 minutes with a Tesla Supercharger.
Advantage: Tesla Model 3
2023 Tesla Model 3
Ford prominently features its BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system in the 2023 Mustang Mach-E. The sophisticated system enables the car to drive itself on more than 130,000 highway miles in North America. The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E's available BlueCruise 1.2 has advanced features, including lane-change assistance, predictive speed assistance that adjusts for curves, and in-lane repositioning that shifts the Mach-E away from vehicles in adjacent lanes while maintaining its lane. The system requires the driver to pay attention to the road and ensures that by monitoring the driver's eyes.
The Mach-E's standard Ford Co-Pilot 360 gives drivers a long list of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). It includes features that are optional for many other models, such as blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning, reverse brake assist, and post-collision braking. Ford Co-Pilot 360 Assist 2.0, optional on many trims, adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, intersection turn assistance, automatic emergency steering, and traffic-sign recognition. Its integrated navigation requires a subscription after three years of service.
As of this writing, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not rated the crashworthiness of the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the 2023 Mustang Mach-E a Top Safety Pick for the 2022 calendar year.
Tesla has received criticism for the name of its Autopilot feature, with some observers suggesting the name implies capabilities the car doesn't have. But Tesla owners appear to love the brand's leading-edge features. The 2023 Tesla Model 3's standard Autopilot enables the car to steer, accelerate, and brake within its lane automatically.
Tesla also offers the options of Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. A $6,000 option, Enhanced Autopilot offers automated driving from highway on-ramp to off-ramp, including automatic lane changes. Full Self-Driving includes all the Enhanced Autopilot functions and adds traffic light and stop sign control. Tesla also promises to include self-steering on city streets in an upcoming upgrade.
The Model 3 offers optional automatic one-touch parallel and perpendicular parking and the ability to summon the car from a garage or parking spot to your current (nearby) location. Tesla equips the Model 3 with the most commonly found ADAS features, including automatic emergency braking and lane-departure warning.
As of this writing, the NHTSA has not rated the crashworthiness of the 2023 Tesla Model 3, but the 2022 Model 3—structurally identical to the 2023 model—earned the top overall rating of 5 stars. The 2023 Tesla Model 3 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating—the Institute's highest accolade—from the IIHS for the 2022 calendar year.
According to JD Power research, Tesla drivers are enthusiastic about their vehicles' ADAS. Indeed, Tesla achieves the highest Innovation Index score in the JD Power 2022 U.S. Tech Experience (TXI) Study. JD Power included the brand in the industry calculation for the first time, but the EV maker did not qualify for awards because it does not allow JD Power access to owner information in the states where that permission is required by law.
Advantage: Tesla Model 3
2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT
The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E outdoes the Tesla Model 3 with its combination of a 15.5-inch central touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital instrument display. Ford places the latter item right in front of the driver. Ford equips the Mach-E with its well-regarded Sync 4A infotainment system. It includes wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. Ford engineers upgraded its voice-recognition system to enable it to respond to plain-language requests rather than requiring a limited menu of carefully worded commands. While often frustrating in the past, its new voice-recognition system can be a very convenient way to control various functions.
The Mach-E's standard 6-speaker audio system features SiriusXM satellite radio with 360L, free for the first 90 days and then with a subscription. A 10-speaker B&O sound system by Bang and Olufsen offers superior audio quality. It's available on up-level Mach-E trims. All Mustang Mach-E's provide occupants with one USB-A and one USB-C port in each row.
When legacy manufacturers offered 6- and 7-inch displays, Tesla turned that on its head by installing a 15-inch screen in the Model 3 when it introduced the car as a 2017 model. The innovative brand shook up the norm further by having that central display screen perform myriad functions. The 2023 Tesla Model 3 doesn't have a conventional instrument display, so the central screen tells you vehicle speed and other driving-related information. It also replaces nearly every standard knob and control you'll find in a conventional vehicle.
The central screen carries the infotainment functions, but Tesla also veers from conventionality in the sphere. The Model 3 has standard Bluetooth and USB connectivity, but you'll be disappointed if you expect satellite or even AM radio. The system doesn't support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, either. Flipping the script, the Model 3 does offer the availability of Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and several arcade-like games, with the caveat that you can only use them when the vehicle is in Park. Several of these require subscriptions to individual services and a subscription to Tesla's premium connectivity. Tesla occupants can access music/podcast services, including Spotify and Slacker, using premium connectivity.
Tesla offers basic navigation with the Model 3's standard connectivity, free for eight years. But other functions require premium connectivity, free for the first month and then available as a subscription. The top-level audio system in the Performance trim has 13 speakers, a subwoofer, and two amplifiers. The Model 3 has a USB-A port in the glovebox accompanied by 128 gigabytes of portable storage.
Advantage: Ford Mustang Mach-E
2023 Tesla Model 3
Ford covers the exterior of the Mustang Mach-E with allusions to the fabled pony car. But inside, there is nothing either "Mustang" or "retro" about it. It offers the convenience and versatility of a conventional crossover SUV with a dash and cabin design that speaks to the future, not the past. Unlike the Mustang coupe, the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E's interior space is ample for up to five adults with sufficient luggage room for their stuff. The Mach-E supplements the standard-issue rear cargo area with a "frunk" (front trunk), using some of the space an engine would otherwise occupy in a conventional crossover. It offers 4.7 cubic feet of space and drains so that you can use it for wet stuff.
The Mustang Mach-E's cabin is airy with a modern sense emphasized by its big, portrait-oriented touchscreen. The instrument panel consists of a 10.2-inch digital display. A panoramic glass roof is available, and you can alter the color of the interior lighting. Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard across the lineup, and rear vents get air to the 3-person back row. The center console has cupholders, a rotary forward-reverse-park selector, and a wireless device charging pad.
Ford equips the cargo area with an adjustable load floor with charge cord storage underneath. The Ford Mustang Mach-E has 29.7 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats. With the rear seatbacks folded, 59.7 feet of interior cargo space opens up. A power-operated liftgate that operates hands-free is part of an optional package.
It is not hyperbole to say the Tesla Model 3 marked a sea change in auto interiors. Before the Model 3, virtually every car on the road had an instrument panel, a central infotainment display screen, and buttons and knobs to control heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and the audio system. The center console held a shift lever, a pair of cupholders, and a bin whose top doubled as an armrest. The Model 3 eliminated the instrument panel, the knobs and buttons, and the console-mounted shift lever when it came along. Its gear selector is a stalk sticking out of the right side of the steering column, and you access everything else through the centrally mounted 15-inch digital display.
This new paradigm allows the dash to make a streamlined sweep across the front of the light, airy, and expansive cabin. The floor of the 2023 Tesla Model 3 is flat, and the front bucket seats are well-bolstered and comfortable. The rear seats are not as pleasant with low, flat cushions, but their backs fold down, allowing access to the substantial 19.8-cubic-foot trunk. The cargo space is enormous for a sedan, but it doesn't match the space of a similar-length crossover.
Advantage: Ford Mustang Mach-E
If you'd like to learn more about these EVs, be sure to read our expert review of the Ford Mustang Mach-E and research the 2023 Tesla Model 3. To find out how people like you rate models in this segment, check out our ratings from verified vehicle owners.
Also, please keep in mind that while the information in this article was accurate and valid on July 13, 2023, it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker's website or your local dealership.
Jack R. Nerad has reviewed cars, trucks, vans, and sport utilities for over three decades. He also managed the editorial efforts of Motor Trend magazine, JD Power, and Kelley Blue Book. Jack is currently the host of the SportsMap Radio Network program America on the Road, available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Stitcher, and other outlets.
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