2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E aimed to evoke the spirit of the traditional Mustang coupe and convertible through its exterior design. Despite having four doors and a rear hatch, it retained Mustang-like features such as thin headlights, a long hood, and a large, nonfunctional oval grille. The taillights mimicked the original Mustang's look with sequential turn signals, and the vibrant exterior color palette, including Grabber Blue, further reinforced the Mustang connection.

Inside, the Mach-E featured a massive infotainment touchscreen awkwardly suspended in the middle of the dashboard, a thin rectangular display for the instrument cluster, and a rotary gear selector on the center console. This minimalist design was reminiscent of Tesla's electric cars. Interior materials were of decent quality but lacked a leather-upholstery option, even in top trims. The First Edition models had unique trim elements like red brake calipers and brushed aluminum pedals, but the main benefit was being the first produced.

The 2021 Buick Enclave harkened back to Buick's glory days with its big, shiny, and impressive design. It was the largest of Buick's four SUVs, offering a commanding presence with its unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels in the Avenir trim. The Enclave's design aimed to compete with higher-priced three-row SUVs from mainstream brands and lower-priced luxury models.

Inside, the Enclave Avenir featured organic forms, a minimalist approach to instrumentation and controls, and tasteful polished accents. The seats were wrapped in soft, perforated, piped, and embroidered leather, providing a sense of luxury, although the wood trim was not genuine. The Enclave's simplicity extended to its fussy electronic transmission shifter, which became intuitive with use. The cabin was designed for comfort and quiet, with features like Active Noise Cancellation and laminated windshield glass ensuring a serene environment.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was designed to live up to the Mustang name with sporty performance. It came standard with rear-wheel drive (RWD) and offered a range of powertrain configurations. 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 powerful option was the all-wheel-drive (AWD) GT Performance Edition, boasting 480 hp and 634 lb-ft of torque, with a zero to 60 mph time of 3.5 seconds.

Our test car featured the lower-level AWD powertrain, delivering 346 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque, and a zero to 60 mph time of 4.8 seconds. This made it quicker than the Audi E-Tron and only slightly behind the Jaguar I-Pace. The Mach-E handled corners well, with responsive steering and a planted feel thanks 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. It also featured one-pedal driving and well-tuned friction brakes.

The 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine, a nine-speed automatic transmission, and a choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 generated 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 2,800 rpm, providing strong acceleration. The Enclave's maximum tow rating was 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

Our FWD test vehicle demonstrated strong acceleration and smooth shifting from the nine-speed automatic transmission. The Avenir Technology Package, which included a premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping and automatic emergency braking, enhanced the driving experience. The suspension provided a comfortable ride across various driving conditions, and the steering and brake response were well-tuned. The Enclave achieved an average fuel economy of 21.2 mpg, with a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was marketed as an SUV but had packaging more akin to a station wagon or hatchback. The driving position was low, and the low roofline did not create a spacious feeling, even with a panoramic glass roof. Compared to the Tesla Model Y, the Mach-E offered less interior space, with the Model Y providing more headroom and legroom and an optional three-row configuration.

The Mach-E had 29.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row in place and 59.7 cubic feet with the second row folded. It also featured a 4.7-cubic-foot front trunk (frunk). The interior included 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 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering ample space for six people (seven if needed). The Avenir trim featured a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support and a basic massaging function, while the front passenger seat was 10-way power-adjustable with matching massage. The seats were heated, ventilated, and wrapped in soft leather. The center console provided storage under the transmission shifter and in a bin beneath the center armrest.

The Enclave offered seven-passenger seating with second-row captain's chairs and a three-person third-row bench seat. The third-row seat was roomy and comfortable, with easy access through the large rear doors. The Enclave provided 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 97.6 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded down.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured Ford's new Sync 4 infotainment system, which included wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and over-the-air (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 Premium, GT, and First Edition models getting a nine-speaker B&O by Bang & Olufsen sound system.

The 15.5-inch touchscreen was a signature feature, but its design was cluttered with text-heavy displays. The bottom of the screen replaced analog controls with touchscreen icons and sliders for climate controls, which were less intuitive than traditional buttons.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations but fell short in screen size, smart home digital assistant integration, and high-end audio components. The Avenir's 8-inch touchscreen was the largest available, and the 10-speaker Bose sound system was underwhelming compared to competitors. The Enclave offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, connected services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and USB charging ports in all three rows.

The Enclave's rear camera mirror was a neat feature, providing a live video view of what was behind the vehicle. However, the lack of advanced features like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant integration and short free trial periods for connected services made the Enclave less competitive in the technology department.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E had not yet been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard driver-assist features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, a reverse sensing system, reverse automatic braking, adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, traffic-sign recognition, and evasive steering assist. Higher trim levels included a 360-degree camera system.

The Mach-E was also 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 certain trim levels.

The 2021 Buick Enclave needed improvement in safety systems, as many features were restricted to higher trims. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were only available on the Essence trim and above. The Driver Confidence Plus Package, standard on Premium and Avenir trims, included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and front and rear parking sensors.

Adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking was only available on the Avenir trim with the optional Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave lacked lane-centering assistance, rear automatic braking, self-parking, and Level 2 driving assistance technology. Despite these limitations, the Enclave received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and high marks from IIHS, though it did not earn a Top Safety Pick accolade due to Marginal headlight performance.