2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2020 Ford Edge

The 2020 Ford Edge, introduced in 2006, was based on the Ford Fusion sedan platform, offering a car-like ride and ample cabin space. The second generation, updated in 2019, carried over to 2020 with angular headlights and a large trapezoidal grille, giving it a crossover version of the Fusion look. Inside, the Edge showed its age with a layout unchanged since 2015, despite subtle updates. The center console had small, awkwardly arranged controls, but the rotary shifter was a contemporary design cue. The cabin quality was decent, with soft-touch materials and solid fit-and-finish, though marred by heavy use of hard plastics.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E aimed to connect with the traditional Mustang through its exterior styling, featuring thin headlights, a long hood, and a large oval grille. The taillights mimicked the original Mustang's, with sequential turn signals. The interior was dominated by a massive infotainment touchscreen, giving it a minimalist feel similar to Tesla cars. Interior materials were of decent quality, but the lack of a leather-upholstery option was a downside. The First Edition models had unique trim elements like red brake calipers and brushed aluminum pedals.

The 2020 Ford Edge came standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered solid low-end acceleration but struggled at higher speeds. The Edge ST variant featured a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine with 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, standard AWD, and sportier styling. The ST had turbo lag at low speeds but plenty of power at higher revs, with heavy steering and excellent cornering. A Sport mode enhanced throttle response and transmission mapping, and an ST Performance Brake Package was available.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, designed to be sporty, came standard with RWD and a base model producing 266 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The AWD GT Performance Edition packed 480 horsepower and 634 pound-feet of torque, reaching zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The test car had a lower-level AWD powertrain with 346 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. The Mach-E handled corners well, with responsive steering and a planted feel due to the low-mounted battery pack. It had three drive modes—Engage, Whisper, and Unbridled—and offered one-pedal driving and conventional braking options.

The 2020 Ford Edge excelled in cabin layout, offering a commanding view of the road and plenty of storage compartments. The second-row head- and legroom were ample, and the cargo space was generous, with 39.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. The SEL and Titanium trims featured a hands-free foot-activated power rear liftgate.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, marketed as an SUV, had a station wagon or hatchback-like packaging. The driving position was low, and the low roofline didn't create a spacious feel. Compared to the Tesla Model Y, the Mach-E fell short on interior space, with less headroom and legroom. The Mach-E offered 29.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 59.7 cubic feet with the seats folded, and a 4.7-cubic-foot front trunk. It had a decent-sized storage bin between the front seats and a large area beneath the touchscreen for smartphones, with a wireless charging pad and USB ports for both rows.

The 2020 Ford Edge came standard with the SYNC 3 infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto integration. The system was user-friendly, with a row of icons at the bottom and a home button for easy navigation. A voice-activated navigation system was optional on the SEL and ST, and standard on the Titanium. The Edge also had two smart-charging USB ports and an optional dual rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured the new Sync 4 infotainment system with a 15.5-inch touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The screen displayed almost everything at once, making it text-heavy and unattractive. The bottom of the screen replaced analog controls with touchscreen icons and sliders for climate controls. The Mach-E also had a 10.2-inch instrument cluster, SiriusXM 360L, and a six-speaker audio system, with higher trims getting a nine-speaker B&O sound system.

The 2020 Ford Edge came standard with front and side-impact airbags, AdvanceTrac traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Ford Co-Pilot360 safety system included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring. The SEL trim offered the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package with adaptive cruise control and active lane centering. The Edge received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E had standard driver-assist features like automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering. It was slated to get Active Drive Assist for hands-free driving on designated highways, available via OTA update. The Mach-E also had a 360-degree camera system on higher trims. Crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS were not available at launch.