2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2022 Lexus NX

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E aimed to capture the essence of the classic Mustang coupe and convertible through 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 mirrored the original Mustang's design, featuring sequential turn signals. The vibrant color palette, including the striking Grabber Blue, further emphasized the Mustang connection. Inside, the Mach-E's interior 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, but some buyers might have been disappointed by the absence of a leather-upholstery option, even in the higher trims.

The 2022 Lexus NX, redesigned for its launch in December 2021, came in four model series: NX 250, NX 350, NX 350h, and NX 450h+. The NX 350, with its turbocharged engine, was available in F Sport and Luxury trims. The NX's design was unmistakably Lexus, featuring a prominent spindle grille and refined styling details. The new model was longer, wider, and taller, offering more passenger and cargo space. The interior boasted a minimalist design, with a focus on simplicity and functionality. The NX 350 F Sport stood out with its sporty features, while the Luxury trim offered a more relaxed driving experience. The NX's interior was comfortable, with thoughtful touches like padded surfaces and a panoramic sunroof.

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 various 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. The test car featured a lower-level AWD powertrain, delivering 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 due to its low-mounted battery pack. However, the taut suspension resulted in poor ride quality. The Mach-E offered three drive modes—Engage, Whisper, and Unbridled—and allowed for one-pedal driving.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered two electrified versions: the NX 350h hybrid with 239 horsepower and the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid with 302 hp. The NX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. It came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The NX 350 F Sport added Sport S, Sport+, and Custom driving modes, along with an adaptive variable sports suspension. The F Sport felt taut and lean on winding roads, while the Luxury trim offered a softer ride. Lexus claimed a 0 to 60 mph time of 6.6 seconds for the NX 350. The turbocharged engine, while powerful, lacked the refinement of German rivals. The NX's handling impressed, but road and wind noise were more noticeable than expected.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, marketed as an SUV, had a packaging more akin to a station wagon or hatchback. Its low driving position and roofline didn't create a spacious feel, 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. The Mach-E had 29.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row in place and 59.7 cubic feet with it folded. It also featured a 4.7-cubic-foot front trunk. The interior included a storage bin under a flip-up armrest and a large area for smartphones with a wireless charging pad and USB ports.

The 2022 Lexus NX claimed to offer more interior room, but it felt cozy from the driver's seat. The NX was comfortable, especially with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The F Sport trim provided better bolstering for the front seats. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed roomy accommodations, with rear air conditioning vents and USB ports. The NX's panoramic sunroof extended over the back seat. The Luxury trim featured a Thematic Ambient Illumination system with 14 themes. Lexus reported a 14% increase in cargo space, with 22.7 cubic feet behind the back seat and 46.9 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was among the first to feature Ford's new Sync 4 infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and OTA 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 getting a nine-speaker B&O sound system. The touchscreen's size was its standout feature, but its text-heavy design made it difficult to navigate. Climate controls were handled by touchscreen icons and sliders, which some found less intuitive than traditional buttons.

The 2022 Lexus NX introduced the new Lexus Interface infotainment system, featuring large touchscreen displays, natural voice recognition, and cloud-based features. A 9.8-inch touchscreen was standard, with a 14-inch screen optional. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Voice Assistant technology, and five connected service subscription plans. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson system available. The new Voice Assistant and Intelligent Assistant systems responded to natural commands. The NX offered a complimentary three-year trial of Drive Connect service, including cloud-based navigation and Intelligent Assistant. User Profiles and digital key capability were also available. The 14-inch touchscreen collected fingerprints and reflections, and lacked a tuning knob.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E had not yet received crash-test ratings from NHTSA or IIHS. It came with standard driver-assist features like automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims included a 360-degree camera system. The Mach-E was set to receive Active Drive Assist, allowing for hands-free driving on certain highways, with a driver-facing camera for monitoring. This feature was standard on higher trims and available as an option on the Select trim.

The 2022 Lexus NX included the comprehensive Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, featuring advanced driver assistance systems. New features included Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist, Oncoming Vehicle Detection, and Curve Speed Management. The Emergency Driving Stop System brought the NX to a stop if the driver was unresponsive. The NX also had blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and Safe Exit Assist. Premium trim added rear pedestrian detection, adaptive front lighting, and semi-autonomous parking assist. A Vision Package offered additional safety features like a panoramic view monitoring system.