Comparing the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E and the 2023 Tesla Model Y is a fascinating exercise. The Mustang Mach-E is manufactured by the company that popularized the automobile over a century ago. Before Henry Ford's Model T, the motor car was largely the province of the rich.
A hundred years later, Tesla has begun doing the same for the electric car: making it affordable and appealing to a broad section of the buying public. The Tesla Model Y is currently the best-selling electric vehicle (EV) in the United States by a large margin. And Ford would dearly love to cut into its lead with sales of the Mustang Mach-E.
Based on the Tesla Model 3 sedan, the Model Y burst onto the American market as a 2020 model. Introduced as a 2021 model, the Mustang Mach-E boasts pony car-like styling and the iconic Mustang name, but it shares nothing else with its internal combustion engine-powered namesake. The Mach-E is a 5-passenger crossover SUV. The Model Y offers 5- and 7-passenger versions. In terms of overall length, the Mustang Mach-E and Model Y are within an inch of each other.
Logical battery-electric competitors include the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Nissan Ariya. Many call Tesla a luxury brand, but in this comparison, the Model Y trim levels are often less expensive than their Mustang Mach-E counterparts. Luxury-brand models that are similar include the Audi Q4 E-tron, BMW iX, Cadillac Lyriq, Genesis Electrified GV70, Jaguar I-Pace, Mercedes-Benz EQB, and Rivian R1S.
2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
For 2023, Ford offers the Mustang Mach-E in four trims: Select, Premium, California Route 1, and GT. The rear-wheel-drive (RWD) Select trim is the lowest-priced 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $44,795, including the $1,800 destination charge. All-wheel drive (AWD) adds $3,000 to the MSRP. The AWD-only California Route 1 Edition has a suggested starting price of $58,795. The AWD GT trim has a suggested retail base price of $62,440, including destination charge and acquisition fee. Choosing the GT Performance Edition costs an additional $5,000. The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E qualifies its buyers for a $3,750 federal income tax credit.
The Mustang Mach-E's connectivity system—FordPass Connect—includes a wireless data trial that begins upon AT&T activation and expires at the end of three months or when you use 3GB of data.
The 2023 Tesla Model Y offers three trims: All-Wheel Drive (AWD), Long Range (LR), and Performance. The base 2023 Tesla Model Y—the AWD trim—has an MSRP of $49,380, including the $1,390 destination fee and $250 order fee. The mid-level LR ($52,130) has a larger battery capacity to deliver an EPA-estimated 330 miles of range versus the 279-mile range of the base model.
According to Tesla, the Model Y Performance trim has a startling zero-to-60-mph time of 3.5 seconds, a 303-mile range, and a suggested retail price of $56,130 with fees. The Tesla Model Y qualifies for the federal $7,500 tax credit subject to restrictions on the overall purchase price and buyer's income.
The 2023 Tesla Model Y offers standard connectivity for eight years and premium connectivity in a complimentary 30-day trial.
Advantage: Tesla Model Y
2023 Tesla Model Y
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 Y 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 Y ranks third among Premium BEVs in the 2023 EVX Study Ownership Study.
The 2023 Tesla Model Y comes with the following warranty coverage:
Advantage: Tesla Model Y
2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E offers its buyers an assortment of powertrains. The Select and Premium trims offer RWD and AWD variations. The California Route 1 Edition and GT are full-time AWD. The RWD Select and Premium with the standard-range battery pack feature a 266-horsepower electric motor. With the 70.0-kWh battery that is standard on those cars, the RWD variants offer 247 miles of range on a charge, while the AWD variants offer 224 miles of range. Buyers can also equip the Premium trim with an extended-range 91.0-kWh battery pack that kicks up the horsepower to 290 in RWD format and 346 in AWD versions. The range in the RWD extended-range Premium trim is a solid 306 miles, while the AWD extended-range Premium claims 290 miles.
The California Route 1 Edition boasts a 346-hp AWD powertrain. Available only in extended-range form, it has an EPA-estimated range of 312 miles. The AWD-only Mach-E GT pounds the pavement with 480 hp and 600 pound-feet of torque. It has a range of 270 miles (260 miles with the added Performance Edition equipment.) The Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition is startlingly fast, with a claimed zero-to-60-mph time of 3.5 seconds. Ford says the California Route 1 will zip from a standing start to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds.
At a public DC fast charger, a standard-range Mach-E can charge its battery from 10 to 80 percent in as little as 38 minutes. According to Ford, extended-range Mach-Es will require 45 minutes or so to go from a 10-percent charge to 80 percent. These charge times are longer than those of some recently introduced EVs. A RWD Mustang Mach-E gets the highest fuel-economy equivalent numbers from the EPA: 103 MPGe combined. The EPA rates the two-motor California Route 1 Edition at 98 MPGe combined and the GT Performance Edition at 82 MPGe.
All three 2023 Tesla Model Y trims use dual-motor AWD systems. Tesla equips the emission-free EV crossover with a less powerful motor on the front axles, while a more potent electric motor drives the rear wheels. The automaker doesn't publish horsepower and torque figures but instead offers zero-to-60-mph times to delineate differentiation among its trims.
According to Tesla's published figures, the base AWD Model Y will accelerate from zero-to-60 mph in 5.0 seconds. In the mid-level LR trim, Tesla claims a zero-to-60 time of 4.8 seconds. The Performance trim has a claimed zero-to-60 time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.
The EPA-estimated range for the base model is 279 miles. The range is 303 miles for the Performance model, and the LR trim is EPA-rated at 330 miles. The base Tesla Model Y AWD trim gets a 123-MPGe rating from the EPA. The LR trim is EPA-rated at 122 MPGe, and the Performance trim gets a 111-MPGe rating. With a Tesla Supercharger (using DC fast charging), the automaker says a Model Y can go from a 10- to an 80-percent charge in about 30 minutes.
Advantage: Tesla Model Y
2023 Tesla Model Y
Leading the list of the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E's advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) is its BlueCruise hands-free driving system. The system requires that the driver pay attention to the road and ensures that by monitoring the driver's eyes. BlueCruise enables the Mach-E to drive itself on more than 130,000 highway miles in North America. BlueCruise 1.2 has advanced features, including lane-change assistance, predictive speed assist that adjusts vehicle speed for curves, and in-lane repositioning that shifts the Mach-E's track in its lane away from vehicles in adjacent lanes.
The Mach-E's standard Ford Co-Pilot 360 features a robust array of ADAS features, including blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning, reverse brake assist, and post-collision braking. The optional Ford Co-Pilot 360 Assist 2.0 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 become well-known for pushing the envelope on the ADAS front. The Model Y's standard Tesla Autopilot system functions as adaptive cruise control and steers the vehicle within its lane. The optional Enhanced Autopilot system has automatic lane-change ability, automatic parking assist, and on-ramp to off-ramp highway self-driving. It also allows you to summon your Model Y from its parking spot.
The very pricey Full Self-Driving Capability adds traffic light and stop sign recognition and control. Tesla says the system will add automatic steering on urban streets in the future. Full-Self-Driving is a $15,000 option on the 2023 Tesla Model Y. If that is a bit expensive, Tesla equips the Model Y with most common 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 Y, but the 2022 Model Y—structurally identical to the 2023 model—earned the top overall rating of 5 stars. The 2023 Tesla Model Y received a Top Safety Pick+ rating—the Institute's highest accolade—from the IIHS for the 2023 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 Y
2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E features the well-regarded Ford Sync 4A infotainment system accessible through a standard 15.5-inch vertically positioned touchscreen. Sync 4A includes wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. Its enhanced voice recognition enables it to respond to "conversational" requests rather than requiring a limited menu of commands.
The standard 6-speaker audio system features SiriusXM satellite radio with 360L, offering listening recommendations and listener profiles. It's free for the first 90 days and then requires a subscription. A 10-speaker B&O sound system by Bang and Olufsen that offers superior audio quality is available on some Mach-E trims. All Mustang Mach-E's provide occupants with one USB-A port and one USB-C port in each row.
Conventional carmakers are catching up to Tesla in terms of screen size. Still, the brand's infotainment and technology offerings remain unlike any other in the industry. The 2023 Tesla Model Y has a 15-inch touchscreen mounted centrally on the dash, while the rest is essentially barren of controls. The big display delivers a lot of information because the Model Y doesn't have a traditional instrument panel. Instead, digital readouts on the central screen provide information like the speed of travel and state of charge. The vast majority of the interior controls are on the touchscreen.
The Model Y standard equipment list includes navigation, natural voice recognition, and wireless device charging. But the infotainment system is as notable for what it doesn't have as for what it does. There is no AM radio, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, or Android Auto. You must stream music and podcasts via Bluetooth or access them via USB.
On the other hand, the Model Y has Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and several arcade-like games. They are designed for use when the vehicle is parked, allowing entertainment during stops at Tesla Superchargers or other charging stations.
The navigation system uses the Model Y's standard connectivity, which is free for eight years. Other functions, including live traffic visualization, satellite-view maps, video streaming, "Caraoke," music streaming, and the internet browser, require premium connectivity at a monthly fee. The premium audio system in the Performance trim has 13 speakers, a subwoofer, and two amplifiers.
Advantage: Ford Mustang Mach-E
2023 Tesla Model Y
Not surprisingly, the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E is almost exactly what you'd envision if you crossed a compact crossover with a Ford Mustang coupe. Its exterior styling gives off definite pony car vibes. At the same time, it offers all the convenience and versatility of a crossover SUV. Interior space is more than ample for up to five adults with sufficient cargo space for their stuff.
In addition to the expected rear cargo area inside the cabin, the Mach-E also features a sizable "frunk" (front trunk) using some of the space occupied by an engine in a conventional crossover. The frunk offers 4.7 cubic feet of space, and, better yet, it features a drain so you can use it for chilling drinks or squirreling away wet bathing suits (but hopefully not both at the same time).
You can brighten the interior of the Mustang Mach-E with the selection of the available fixed panoramic roof. Even without it, the cabin is airy with a modern sense emphasized by its big, portrait-oriented touchscreen. The instrument panel comprises a 10.2-inch digital display with a message center and outdoor temperature display. You can change the interior lighting color and the digital instrument cluster if you'd like.
The Mustang Mach-E's center console has the obligatory cupholders, a rotary "gear" selector, and a wireless device charging pad. Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard across the lineup, and rear vents get ventilation to the 3-person back row. The cargo area features a standard adjustable load floor with charge cord storage integrated underneath.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E has 29.7 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats. The Mach-E has 59.7 feet of interior cargo space with the rear seatbacks folded. A power-operated liftgate that operates hands-free is part of an optional package.
The 2023 Tesla Model Y shares its interior with the Tesla Model 3 sedan. It's dominated by the central display screen that contains basic readouts, all the infotainment, and most of the common controls. The front bucket seats are heated, power-adjustable, and upholstered in a "softer-than-leather" vegan material.
The center console offers a deep storage bin with two front and two rear USB charging ports. Under the center armrest, the Model Y has tiered storage, equipped with a folding privacy shield to cover phones on the wireless charger. The heavily tinted panoramic roof gives the already expansive interior extra airiness.
Tesla configured many Model Ys as 5-passenger vehicles, but the crossover EV offers a third-row option to accommodate as many as seven. Each rear seat folds flat independently, enabling versatile combinations of passengers and cargo. The Model Y has 30.2 cubic feet of luggage space behind the second row in the 5-passenger versions. The 7-passenger models have 26.6 cubic feet of rear cargo space. With seats folded, the maximum cargo area is 72.1 cubic feet in the 5-passenger and 67.9 cubic feet in the 7-seat version. Like the Mustang Mach-E, the Model Y has a frunk that will hold an additional 4.1 cubic feet of cargo.
Advantage: Tesla Model Y
If you'd like to learn more about these crossover EVs, be sure to read our expert review of the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E and research the 2023 Tesla Model Y. 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 12, 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.
The Ford Transit is the automaker’s full-size cargo and passenger van offering, designed to serve a wide range of commercial and lifestyle applications. With 37 available configurations, the platform ...See More
Read the Full Article
The Chevrolet Tahoe is a full-size, three-row SUV with a standard V8 engine and available diesel power. Built on the same platform as the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup, the Tahoe benefits from its ...See More
Read the Full Article
It is the end of the line for the Ford Escape. After 25 years as a fixture of Ford’s lineup, 2026 will be the compact SUV’s last model year.
Read the Full Article
The Colorado is Chevrolet’s midsize pickup. It ranks among the segment’s most capable trucks for payload and towing, and can be configured for both work and off-road adventures. For 2026, the ...See More
Read the Full Article