2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E attempted to bridge the gap between the traditional Mustang coupe and convertible with its exterior design. Despite having four doors and a rear hatch, it retained a Mustang-like appearance with its thin headlights, elongated hood, and large oval grille. The taillights mimicked the original Mustang's design, featuring sequential turn signals. The vibrant exterior color palette, including the striking Grabber Blue, further emphasized the Mustang connection. Inside, the Mach-E was dominated by a massive infotainment touchscreen, giving it a minimalist feel akin to Tesla's electric cars. The interior materials were of decent quality, though some buyers might have been disappointed by the absence of a leather-upholstery option, even in higher trims.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar exuded class and elegance, a hallmark of Land Rover's luxury SUVs. Its design was a scaled-down version of the big Range Rover's tall profile, resulting in a sporty package with unmistakable Range Rover proportions. The Velar's exterior featured a sloping roof, wide shoulder crease, and flush door handles, creating a streamlined yet blocky appearance. Special details like taillight lenses with depth illusions and air ducts reminiscent of Bugatti's NACA ducts added to its allure. The interior was equally impressive, with high-quality materials and a polished black center stack. The Velar's three screens offered sharp graphics, and upper trims boasted extra leather and richer textures.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was designed to live up to the Mustang name with its 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 0 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, with a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.5 seconds. Our test car featured a lower-level AWD powertrain with 346 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque, reaching 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. The Mach-E handled corners well, with responsive steering and a planted feel, though the taut suspension affected ride quality.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar shared its chassis with the Jaguar F-Pace, resulting in improved handling and steering compared to previous Land Rovers. The base engine was a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 247 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The Velar's optional air suspension provided a plush ride and could raise the body for increased clearance. The optional 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, available in two states of tune, offered 340 hp and 354 lb-ft in base models, while the R-Dynamic HSE had 395 hp and 405 lb-ft. The mild-hybrid system helped reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was marketed as an SUV but had packaging more akin to a station wagon or hatchback. Its low driving position and roofline limited the feeling of spaciousness, even with a panoramic glass roof. Compared to the Tesla Model Y, the Mach-E offered less interior space, with 29.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 59.7 cubic feet with the seats folded. It also featured a 4.7-cubic-foot front trunk. The interior included a storage bin between the front seats, a wireless charging pad, and USB ports for both rows.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar had a tighter interior compared to midsize SUVs, with reduced headroom and limited visibility due to thick B-pillars and small rear windows. Cargo space was 16 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 49 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Velar's design sacrifices practicality for style, and it lacked a discrete parking brake control, which was replaced by a multifunctional transmission button. The Pivi Pro infotainment system improved usability with a simplified layout and faster response, while the steering wheel lost touch-sensitive controls for better functionality.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured Ford's new Sync 4 infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and over-the-air software updates. The main touchscreen measured 15.5 inches, while the instrument cluster was 10.2 inches. The system included SiriusXM 360L and a six-speaker audio system, with higher trims offering a nine-speaker B&O sound system. The touchscreen's size was its standout feature, but the text-heavy design made it difficult to navigate. Climate controls were managed through touchscreen icons and sliders, which some found less intuitive than traditional buttons.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar's Pivi Pro infotainment system exceeded expectations with its reliability and user-friendly design. It featured a logical layout with customizable options and a voice assistant activated by "Hey Land Rover." The system included a PM2.5 air filter, heated windshield, and advanced navigation features. The instrument panel offered various layouts, though the driving assist display lacked detail. Standard features included LED headlights, automatic high beams, 14-way power heated front seats, and a 12-speaker Meridian stereo.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS at launch. It came with standard driver-assist features like automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering. The Mach-E was set to receive Active Drive Assist, enabling hands-free driving on designated highways, with a driver-facing camera for monitoring distraction. This feature was standard on higher trims and available as an option on the Select trim.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar had not been rated by U.S. agencies, but a European-spec 2017 Velar scored five stars in Euro NCAP tests. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and traffic sign recognition. Optional features included 360-degree cameras and adaptive cruise control with steering assist.