2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2022 Porsche Macan

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 design 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, giving it a minimalist feel similar to Tesla electric cars. The interior materials were of decent quality, but some buyers might have been disappointed by the lack of a leather-upholstery option, even in the top trim levels. 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 2022 Porsche Macan, introduced in 2015, remained nearly indistinguishable from the original despite regular updates. The 2022 model received a styling refresh, larger standard wheels, and a new center console with haptic touch controls. The Macan lineup included the base model, Macan S, and Macan GTS, with the Macan Turbo's high-output powertrain now in the GTS.

Our test vehicle, a Macan S, had an MSRP of $87,670, including nearly $20,000 in extras. It looked stunning in Volcano Gray paint and 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels. The Macan's design conveyed a taut, athletic look, emphasizing its performance-oriented mission. Inside, the Macan featured a flat and wide dashboard, a large tachometer, and a center console housing most secondary controls. The red leather, gloss black interior trim, and silver metallic accents gave the cabin an upscale, sporty appearance.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E aimed to live up to the Mustang name with sporty performance. 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 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 the lower-level AWD powertrain, delivering 346 hp, 428 lb-ft of torque, and zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. This made it quicker than the Audi E-Tron and only 0.3 seconds behind the Jaguar I-Pace. 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.

Ford provided three drive modes—Engage, Whisper, and Unbridled—with minimal differences between them. The Mach-E also offered one-pedal driving and well-tuned friction brakes for a conventional braking feel.

The 2022 Porsche Macan base model had a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 261 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The Macan GTS inherited the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 from the old Macan Turbo, producing 434 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque.

Our Macan S test car featured a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 with 375 hp and 383 lb-ft, accelerating to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package. All Macans had a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and a fully variable AWD system. The 2022 Macan S also had larger 20-inch standard wheels and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) adaptive damping suspension.

Driving the Macan S was enjoyable, with quick and responsive performance. The twin-turbo V6 provided ample power, and the dual-clutch transmission delivered perfectly timed shifts. The Macan S offered unyielding grip and stability on twisty roads, thanks to the optional 21-inch wheels, performance tires, and PASM adaptive damping. The upgraded brakes performed well under duress, and the as-tested fuel economy was 18.1 mpg, close to the EPA rating of 19 mpg.

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 fell short on interior space, with less headroom and legroom in both rows.

The Mach-E offered 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 had a 4.7-cubic-foot front trunk (frunk). The narrow space between the front seats included a decent-sized storage bin under a flip-up armrest and a large, flat area beneath the touchscreen for smartphones, with a wireless charging pad and USB ports for both rows.

The 2022 Porsche Macan was comfortable for the driver and front-seat passenger, especially with the optional Premium Package's 14-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. However, the rear seats were cramped, and longer-limbed passengers would need to splay their legs around the front seatback. The redesigned center console with haptic touch controls offered more storage space but required looking away from the road to use.

Cargo space in the Macan measured 17.2 cubic feet behind the back seat, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The Macan's new steering wheels, modeled after the 911 sports car, felt a bit thin and uncomfortable after extended driving.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured the 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. Premium, GT, and First Edition models had a nine-speaker B&O by Bang & Olufsen sound system.

The 15.5-inch touchscreen displayed almost everything at once, making for a text-heavy and unattractive design. The bottom of the screen replaced analog controls with touchscreen icons and sliders for climate controls, which were less convenient than physical buttons.

The 2022 Porsche Macan came with a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system called Porsche Communication Management (PCM). It included wireless Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and connected services. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with optional upgrades to a Bose premium surround-sound system or a high-end Burmester audio system.

The PCM system had touch-sensing virtual buttons and proximity sensing, making the user experience intuitive. However, the voice recognition system was less reliable than those in BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, or Volvo. Fortunately, frequently adjusted features like stereo volume and climate control were separate from the touchscreen.

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 trim levels had 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. This feature would be available via OTA update for $600 and was standard on higher trim levels.

The 2022 Porsche Macan included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a reversing camera. Blind-spot monitoring was optional and included in the Premium Package, but lane-keeping assist was not available.

The Macan's safety technologies performed as expected, with no issues in accuracy or refinement. Optional features included a surround-view camera and Park Assist system, which could steer the vehicle into parking spaces. However, the Macan lacked more advanced driving assistance tech found in other vehicles.