It is now commonplace to see a full lot of trucks and SUVs at your local supermarket. It is commonplace to see Hybrid and Electric ones as well. Tesla has been doing this for some time now, and the market is exploding with numerous companies following suit. In my opinion, it won’t be long before the sedan/coupe are as rare and collectible as a 1963 Corvette.
All of that aside, the next contemplation has to do with cost versus reward – or in this case the worth of a Mach-E versus the aged Mustang coupe. Seems an off comparison since one is for the speed and excitement-minded and the other is for the environment-friendly parent running groceries. Yes, but I think you’ll get where I’m going.
2021 Mustang GT & Mach-E Important Specifications
| 2021 Ford Mustang GT | 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT | |
| Fuel | Gas | Electric |
| Drivetrain | FE/RWD | Electric Motor/RWD |
| Max Occupancy | Seats 4 (tightly) | Seats 5 (comfortably) |
| Range | 380mi | 230mi (approx) |
| Transmission | 6-Speed Manual | 1-Speed Auto |
| Horsepower | 460 horsepower | 480 horsepower |
| Torque | 420 lb-ft torque | 600 lb-ft torque |
| Acceleration | 0-60: 4.2 sec | 0-60: 3.8 sec |
| MSRP | $48,000 est. | $60,000+ est.= |
Everyday Life
So, obviously, from the standpoint of everyday life, the Mach-E is the vehicle of choice. It has more space, is arguably more comfortable, holds more baggage, and is nicer to the environment in your neighbors’ eyes.
No brainer, right? Well, not entirely.
The vehicle is also still a new concept with new bugs in the system, will only run for 200-220 miles on a charge, has fewer places to get that charge, and will run your household 20% more of a car payment per month.
On the flip side, the Mustang GT can seat four, can accommodate a car seat, can hold groceries, and can get reasonable gas mileage (no worse than a truck or large SUV) as well. Unless you have 3 or more kids or have one as tall as Shaq, the need for the extra in the back is arguable. Agreed, camping in the Mustang is a bit of a stretch, but we’re talking use most of the time, not like the commercials where the family is suddenly in the Alps.
Performance
Ok, so the Mach-E is the vehicle of choice for performance since electronic vehicles have been proven faster as of late. Well, not quite. Yes, the GT Performance Edition of the Mach-E GT is going to be quicker than the Mustang in a zero-to-anything contest. However, the Mach-E GT will not be faster in top speed, quicker in the slalom, or brake as well. It will also have the toughest time impressing the neighbors with a drive-away as the vehicle is dead silent. I don’t care how quick the Mach-E is, sound has been ingrained into drivers of all ages, and a silent vehicle is just a dud.
You also will be missing the feeling of one of the only manual transmissions left in the automotive world. Whether it is a stick or even paddles at this point, there is nothing that makes the drive feel responsible for the performance as gear-shifting your car.
Styling
Well, this should be an easy one for the Mustang GT then. In some ways it really is. However, there is a lot to be said for the Mach-E.
Yes, the GT coupe is more aggressive, lower, has fins and vents, and will most likely draw a crowd at a funeral. Unfortunately, the GT coupe also has trouble over speed bumps, cannot drive over anything taller than bumpy pavement, can only hold really small people in the rear seats, and is all but useless when needing to purchase something bigger than a bag of chips.
The GT is better looking in almost every way, but to be fair, the Mach-E is a very attractive SUV as well. Drawing from multiple other manufacturers, the vehicle has just enough slats and vents to be un-boring, has a rear facia harkening back to the generation-1 coupe, and will most likely have various add-ons for the performance model (stripes, spoilers, etc). No, it doesn’t look like it is headed down the Nurburgring straight, but it isn’t standing still either.
Conclusion
When it comes to coupe vs SUV, I will take the coupe every time and twice on Tuesday, so I am a bit biased. That said, the Mach-E makes a heck of a run at dethroning 55+ years of awesomeness (minus, maybe, the Mustang II years). It is attractive, faster than most of the Mustang Coupes it will encounter, can be used in the middle of the night without waking the neighbors, is environmentally friendly, and is still a deal compared to Musk’s version.
Is it worth that much more than the GT coupe? Not currently. The Mach-E still suffers from too many questionable issues and lack of charging stations. It is also difficult to fathom a mid-size Ford SUV without leather costing 60k. For me, I’ll take the growl and luggage lost anyday.
