2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

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, reinforced the Mustang connection. Inside, the Mach-E featured a massive infotainment touchscreen suspended in the middle of the dashboard, a thin rectangular display for the instrument cluster, and a rotary gear selector on the center console, giving it a minimalist feel similar to Tesla electric cars. Interior materials were of decent quality, but the lack of a leather-upholstery option might have disappointed some buyers. The First Edition models had unique trim elements like red brake calipers and brushed aluminum pedals.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh, featuring new standard LED headlights and a hexagonal grille, giving it a more muscular aesthetic. The rear had an all-LED taillamp running the width of the model with the Chrysler wing badge at its center. The Pacifica offered six new wheel designs and the S Appearance Package, which included darkened features and black accents. Inside, the Pacifica balanced practicality and luxury, especially in the Pinnacle trim, which featured soft-touch materials, classy finishes, and a flat dashboard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Pinnacle trim also included quilted leather seats, suede center row pillows, and Beber floor mats. The Pacifica's doors had a well-weighted feel, and the minivan featured enhanced sound deadening technology for a quieter ride.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was designed to be sporty, with a default RWD configuration and 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 powerful configuration was the AWD GT Performance Edition, with 480 hp and 634 lb-ft, reaching zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Our test car had a lower-level AWD powertrain with 346 hp, 428 lb-ft of torque, and a zero to 60 mph time of 4.8 seconds. The Mach-E handled corners well, with responsive steering and a planted feel due to the 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—and allowed for one-pedal driving and conventional braking.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and a V6 hybrid engine with a dual-motor electrically variable transmission and a 16-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 260 horsepower. The base Touring and Touring L models came standard with the V6 engine, while the Limited and Pinnacle trims offered AWD or the hybrid powertrain. The AWD system activated on-demand based on driving conditions and deactivated to improve fuel efficiency when not needed. The Pacifica Hybrid had an all-electric range of over 30 miles and a total range of over 500 miles, delivering 82 MPGe and 30 mpg combined. The traditional V6 Pacifica achieved 19 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined, with slightly lower numbers for AWD models.

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 didn't create a spacious feeling, even with a panoramic glass roof. Compared to the Tesla Model Y, the Mach-E offered less headroom and legroom and lacked a three-row configuration. The Mach-E had 59.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row folded and 29.7 cubic feet with the second row in place, plus a 4.7-cubic-foot front trunk. The interior featured a decent-sized storage bin between the front seats, a large area beneath the touchscreen for smartphones, and USB ports for both rows.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and practical storage solutions. The front seats were spacious, and the center console provided ample storage. Standard features included power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, power windows, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, Stow 'n Go bucket seats, and a Stow 'n Go third-row bench seat. The second-row storage console slid outward, providing additional storage for passengers. The Pacifica's seats offered plenty of legroom, and the Stow 'n Go seats tumbled into the floor for easy loading. The cargo area was spacious, with the Pinnacle trim offering best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured the new Sync 4 infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and over-the-air 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 touchscreen's size was its most notable feature, but the text-heavy design made it difficult to navigate. The bottom of the screen replaced analog controls with touchscreen icons and sliders for climate controls.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica's Uconnect 5 infotainment system was modern and customizable, with a clean design and quick responsiveness. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but lacked a head-up display. The second-row in-seat entertainment system remained an option, with four new games added to the existing roster. A six-speaker sound system was standard, with 13-speaker Alpine and 19- and 20-speaker Harman Kardon options available. The Pinnacle trim featured FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with a rear-facing child seat view, split-view display, and zoom-to-seat feature.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or 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 trims included a 360-degree camera system. The Mach-E was also slated to get Active Drive Assist, enabling automated acceleration, braking, and steering on designated highways, with a driver-facing camera to monitor for distraction. The system would be available via OTA update for $600.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica came standard with 97 safety features, increasing to 100 in the Pinnacle trim. Key safety technologies included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, advanced brake assist, third-row lock out, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, but had not yet been rated by the IIHS.