Comparing the 2024 Tesla Model Y and the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E presents a fascinating juxtaposition of New Age tech and solid brick-and-mortar conventionalism. Tesla Motors is, of course, the definition of an industry "disrupter." On the other hand, Ford Motor Company is the archetype of the traditional auto industry being disrupted. One could even make the case that Ford Motor Company established the traditional auto industry.
Perhaps most fascinating is the fact that these two very different companies have created what are, in many ways, very similar vehicles. The Tesla Model Y is a crossover that has emerged as one of the most-purchased vehicles in the world. The Mustang Mach-E is Ford's answer to the Model Y's challenge—a competitive crossover of virtually the same size and price.
Yes, the two models present some differences. Buyers can configure the Model Y to seat as many as seven. In contrast, the Mach-E is strictly a five-passenger vehicle. The Model Y takes technology in a completely unconventional direction, ignoring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and embracing Netflix and arcade games. In contrast, the Mustang Mach-E offers potential buyers the standard infotainment array.
That said, these two battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) offer very similar advantages. This detailed comparison of the Tesla Model Y and the Ford Mustang Mach-E can help you decide which route to take.
2024 Tesla Model Y
Tesla offers the 2024 Model Y in three trim levels: Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD), Long Range (LR), and Performance, the latter two with standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The RWD trim is the least expensive, with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $44,990. At the other end of the spectrum, the Performance has a suggested retail price of $53,490. Note that these prices do not include the $1,390 delivery fee, nor do they reflect the $7,500 federal tax credit. If you qualify for the credit, you can get into a new Model Y for as little as $33,890 plus fees.
For 2024, the Model Y offers roadside assistance coverage for four years or 50,000 miles but does not include complimentary maintenance. Buyers also get eight years of standard connectivity and a 30-day trial of premium connectivity.
Ford offers the 2024 Mustang Mach-E in four trims: Select, Premium, GT, and the new Rally. The RWD Select trim is the lowest-priced Mach-E with an MSRP of $39,995. At the top end, the performance-oriented Rally has a suggested base price of $59,995. Prices exclude the $1,800 destination charge. Due to changes related to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), as of January 1, 2024, the Mach-E no longer qualifies for the $7,500 federal tax credit.
The Mustang Mach-E offers roadside assistance coverage for five years or 60,000 miles, but it does not provide free scheduled maintenance. The Mach-E's connectivity system—FordPass Connect—includes a wireless data trial that begins upon AT&T activation and expires after three months or when you use 3GB of data.
Advantage: Tesla Model Y
Why? The Model Y offers more for (potentially) much less.
2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E
The Tesla Model Y is ineligible for Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and Initial Quality Study (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 does not rank among the top three Premium BEV models in the JD Power 2024 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study, which examines satisfaction among EV owners.
The 2024 Model Y offers a standard four-year or 50,000-mile warranty and a powertrain warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles (120,000 miles for Long Range and Performance trims).
The Ford Mustang Mach-E does not rank among the top three models in the Premium Midsize segment in the 2024 VDS, which assesses owner-reported problems during the third year of ownership. It also does not rank among the top three models in its segment in the 2023 IQS, which tracks problems experienced by owners during the first 90 days.
The Mustang Mach-E ranks second among Mass Market BEVs in the 2024 EVX Ownership Study.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E's basic warranty coverage extends for three years or 36,000 miles, its powertrain warranty is for five years or 60,000 miles, and its coverage for EV components and high-voltage batteries is for eight years or 100,000 miles.
Advantage: Neither
Why? The Mustang Mach-E performs well in the 2024 EVX Ownership Study, but the Model Y offers longer warranty coverage.
2024 Tesla Model Y
The 2024 Tesla Model Y offers buyers three powertrains. Tesla doesn't publish horsepower figures, but the base RWD trim features a single electric motor that is reliably estimated to deliver 295 horsepower. The mid-level LR trim offers a two-motor AWD system with 425 hp and 475 pound-feet of torque.
The Performance trim, also AWD, uses front and rear electric motors with a combined 455 hp and 487 pound-feet of torque. Tesla says the super-hot crossover will rocket from zero-to-60 mph in 3.5 seconds.
As of this writing, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has yet to publish mileage and range estimates for the 2024 Model Y. For comparison, the 2023 Long Range AWD trim has a 122-MPGe rating and an estimated range of 330 miles. The EPA rates the 2023 Performance trim at 111 MPGe with an estimated range of 303 miles.
The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E gives buyers the choice of several powertrains. The Select and Premium trims offer rear- and all-wheel-drive variations. The RWD Select and Premium with the standard-range battery pack feature a 264-hp electric motor. Buyers can also equip those trims with an extended-range 91.0-kWh battery pack and an upgrade to as much as 365 hp.
The Mach-E GT and Rally, only available with AWD, deliver 480 hp and up to 700 pound-feet of torque. Ford says the GT with the Performance Upgrade will zip to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds.
At publication time, the EPA has not published range or MPGe figures for the 2024 Mustang Mach-E, but you can expect them to be similar to the 2023 numbers. A RWD 2023 Mustang Mach-E gets the highest rating from the EPA at 103 MPGe combined. The agency rates the 2023 GT at 84 MPGe combined and the 2023 GT Performance Edition at 82 MPGe. Ford says the range on a single charge for the 2024 Mach-E varies from 250 to 320 miles.
Advantage: Tesla Model Y
Why? The Model Y offers better MPGe numbers and more range.
2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E
At this point, it is reasonable for any consumer to expect a brand-new vehicle to include the following safety features:
So, how do the Model Y and the Mustang Mach-E stack up? Let's take a look.
Tesla equips the Model Y with the most common advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), as described above. It also pushes the envelope by offering a standard Autopilot that combines adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance to steer the vehicle in its lane.
The optional Enhanced Autopilot has automatic lane-change ability, automatic parking, and on-ramp to off-ramp highway self-driving. The $15,000 Full Self-Driving Capability adds traffic-light and traffic-sign recognition. Tesla says the system will add automatic steering on urban streets in the future.
The 2024 Tesla Model Y earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) highest overall rating of 5 stars and a 2024 Top Safety Pick+ rating for the 2024 calendar year from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The 2024 Mustang Mach-E's standard Ford Co-Pilot 360 features a robust array of ADAS, plus rear brake assist, rear parking sensors, and post-collision braking. The available 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.
The Mach-E's BlueCruise hands-free system enables the vehicle to drive itself on more than 130,000 highway miles, provided the driver is alert and ready to take over at a moment's notice. With lane-change assistance, predictive speed assist, and in-lane repositioning, it is available for a 90-day free trial.
With a subscription after a free trial, FordPass Connect offers live traffic and local hazard information. A post-crash automatic alert system is standard across the lineup.
As of this writing, the NHTSA has not rated the crashworthiness of the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E. The SUV received Good scores in all IIHS crashworthiness evaluations, but the Institute stopped short of designating it a Top Safety Pick.
Advantage: Tesla Model Y
Why? The Tesla Model gets much better ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS.
2024 Tesla Model Y
The 2024 Tesla Model Y's standard infotainment system includes a 15-inch touchscreen, navigation, natural-voice recognition, and wireless device charging. Unlike the norm, it lacks AM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. However, it does offer Bluetooth connectivity, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and several arcade games. The video options are for use when the vehicle is parked. The premium audio system in the Performance trim has 13 speakers.
The navigation system uses the Model Y standard connectivity, which is free for eight years. However, additional functions—live traffic, satellite-view maps, video streaming, "Caraoke," music streaming, and an internet browser—require premium connectivity at a monthly cost.
One of the Model Y's most unusual aspects is its multi-use 15-inch touchscreen. It houses the infotainment, the vehicle's instruments, and function controls. Plus, it animates the car's surroundings in real-time as you drive.
The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E features a standard 15.5-inch vertically positioned touchscreen running the Ford Sync 4A system. It includes wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and voice recognition. The six-speaker audio system features SiriusXM with 360L free for the first 90 days, after which it requires a subscription. A 10-speaker B&O sound system by Bang and Olufsen is available on some Mach-E trims.
The Mach-E's connectivity comes via FordPass Connect. Although somewhat rudimentary, it offers remote start/stop, unlock/lock, charge level, charge station location, and phone-as-car key. An available 4G LTE in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot can connect up to 10 devices. Ford includes a three-month free trial with vehicle purchase.
The Mustang Mach-E offers an "E-Latch" system that recognizes the key fob or "phone-as-a-key" and unlocks the doors. Touching the illuminated spot opens the door; when you move away, the doors lock automatically.
Advantage: Ford Mustang Mach-E
Why? The Mach-E has a more conventional, easier-to-use infotainment system.
2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Buyers can configure the 2024 Tesla Model Y as a five- or seven-passenger vehicle, offering a third-row option. Each rear seat folds flat independently, enabling versatile combinations of seats and cargo space. While some may consider Tesla a luxury brand, its interior is minimalist. It lacks conventional gauges, and it is largely bereft of knobs and buttons. The seat upholstery is "vegan," offering the looks and durability of leather in synthetic form.
The front seats are power-adjustable, while the front and rear seats are heated. All 2024 Model Ys have an expansive glass roof with ultraviolet screening. The rear seats fold flat with electronic releases in the rear cargo area.
The Model Y has 30 cubic feet of luggage space behind the second row in the five-passenger version and somewhat less in the seven-passenger configuration. With seats folded, interior cargo space is about 72 cubic feet. The Tesla also has a front trunk or "frunk" to hold an additional 4.1 cubic feet of cargo.
The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E offers an interior that is more than ample for five adults. With the optional glass roof, the cabin is bright, and a big, portrait-oriented touchscreen dominates the dash. The Select and Premium trims feature synthetic leather seats, with perforated synthetic leather optional in the Premium. The GT and Rally offer synthetic leather seats with contrast stitching.
Power-adjustable driver's seats are standard, and heated front seats are available across the board. Unlike the Tesla Model Y, the Mustang Mach-E does not offer an optional third row.
A standard adjustable load floor with charge cord storage integrated underneath is a welcome touch in the cargo area. The Mach-E has 29.7 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats and 59.7 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded. A power hands-free liftgate is optional, and the Mach-E also features a 4.7-cubic-foot frunk.
Advantage: Tesla Model Y
Why? The Model Y offers the option of seven-passenger seating and more cargo space.
If you'd like to learn more about these crossover EVs, be sure to read our expert reviews of the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Mach-E GT and research the 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 remember that while the information in this article was accurate and valid on April 12, 2024, 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 currently hosts the Sports Byline Network program "America on the Road," available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Audacy, and other outlets.
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