2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of Honda’s fifth generation of compact crossovers, had a design that was both familiar and fun. Its exterior featured curvy, car-like lines with a family resemblance to Honda’s sedan lineup, giving it a station wagon look rather than an SUV. Inside, the CR-V’s interior was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery in pricier models clashing with low-quality plastics. This reminded drivers that even the expensive versions were upgrades of a commodity car rather than truly premium products.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E tried to draw a connection with the traditional Mustang coupe and convertible through its exterior styling. Despite having four doors and a rear hatch, it maintained a Mustang-like appearance with thin headlights, a long hood, and a large oval grille. The taillights copied the original Mustang’s look and featured sequential turn signals. The interior was dominated by a massive infotainment touchscreen, giving it a minimalist feel similar to Tesla electric cars. However, some buyers might have been disappointed by the lack of a leather-upholstery option, even in the top trim levels.

For the 2020 model year, the Honda CR-V lineup was simplified with the introduction of a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine across all trims, replacing the previous 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. This turbo engine produced 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The CR-V’s road manners were excellent, with a car-like demeanor, nimble handling, and a firm yet comfortable chassis. Its low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its agility and fuel efficiency, with FWD models rated at 30 miles per gallon combined and AWD models at 29 mpg.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, designed to live up to the Mustang name, was RWD by default and offered decent power. The base RWD Select model produced 266 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The most potent configuration, the AWD GT Performance Edition, packed 480 hp and 634 lb-ft, reaching zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Our test car, with a lower-level AWD powertrain, delivered 346 hp, 428 lb-ft of torque, and zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. The Mach-E handled corners well, with responsive steering and a planted feel due to its low-mounted battery pack. However, the taut suspension and 19-inch wheels resulted in poor ride quality. The Mach-E offered three drive modes—Engage, Whisper, and Unbridled—with minimal differences between them.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and clever storage solutions. Its cabin was roomy, with good head- and legroom in both the driver’s seat and passenger seats. The cargo compartment was spacious, offering 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. The CR-V featured a deep center console with a sliding cover, a two-position load floor in the rear, and large door pockets, making it easy to store and access items.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, marketed as an SUV, had packaging more akin to a station wagon or hatchback. The driving position was low, and the low roofline didn’t create a feeling of spaciousness. Compared to the Tesla Model Y, the Mach-E fell short on interior space, offering less headroom and legroom. The Mach-E provided 59.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row folded and 29.7 cubic feet with the second row in place. It also had a 4.7-cubic-foot front trunk (frunk). The Mach-E featured a decent-sized storage bin between the front seats, a large area beneath the touchscreen for smartphones, and USB ports for both the first and second rows.

The 2020 Honda CR-V showed its age in terms of infotainment. The base LX trim came with a 5-inch screen, offering limited features like Bluetooth connectivity and Pandora compatibility. Higher trims had a 7-inch touchscreen, which seemed small compared to competitors. The infotainment system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available only with the larger screen, providing better navigation than Honda’s system. The CR-V EX trim and above had multiple USB ports, and the Touring trim included a wireless phone charger.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured Ford’s new Sync 4 infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and OTA software updates. The main infotainment touchscreen measured 15.5 inches, while the instrument cluster was 10.2 inches. Standard features included SiriusXM 360L with satellite radio and a six-speaker audio system, with higher trims getting a nine-speaker B&O by Bang & Olufsen sound system. The 15.5-inch touchscreen 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 2020 Honda CR-V included the “Honda Sensing” system as standard, offering forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. EX trims and above had blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring. The CR-V earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests and a Top Safety Pick designation from IIHS, with caveats for trims below Touring due to halogen headlights.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E had not yet been rated by NHTSA or IIHS. Standard driver-assist features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering. The Mach-E was set to receive Active Drive Assist, enabling automated acceleration, braking, and steering on designated highways. This feature would be available via OTA update for $600 and was standard on higher trims.