2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2021 Acura RDX

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 a large, albeit non-functional, oval grille. The taillights mimicked the original Mustang's design, featuring sequential turn signals. The vibrant exterior colour palette, including the eye-catching Grabber Blue, further reinforced the Mustang connection. Inside, the Mach-E was dominated by a massive infotainment touchscreen, which hung awkwardly in the middle of the dashboard. A thin rectangular display served as the instrument cluster, displaying speed as "ground speed," similar to other Mustang models. The minimalist interior, reminiscent of Tesla's electric cars, featured decent quality materials but lacked a leather-upholstery option, even in higher trims. The First Edition models boasted unique trim elements like red brake calipers and brushed aluminum pedals, but the main appeal was being among the first produced.

The 2021 Acura RDX, particularly in the A-Spec trim, was a visually appealing SUV. Its styling changes were subtle yet effective, conveying sportiness without overpromising on performance. Acura avoided making the RDX look like an off-roader, focusing instead on daily driving and road-tripping capabilities. The A-Spec trim sat in the middle of the trim hierarchy, with a base price of $44,505, escalating to $60,371 with additional features. The interior of the A-Spec trim featured front sport seats with simulated suede inserts, a sport steering wheel, and red ambient lighting, creating a sporty atmosphere. However, the gauge cluster with red markings on a brushed silver background was difficult to read, except at night. Despite this, the RDX's interior delivered a sporty look and feel, with quality materials and a form-over-function approach to some controls.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E aimed to live up to the Mustang name with its sporty performance. It was rear-wheel drive by default and offered decent power. The base RWD Select model produced 266 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, achieving zero to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds. The most powerful configuration was the AWD GT Performance Edition, boasting 480 hp and 634 lb-ft of torque, reaching zero to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds. Our test car featured a lower-level AWD powertrain, delivering 346 hp, 428 lb-ft of torque, and zero to 100 km/h in 5.1 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 and 19-inch wheels resulted in poor ride quality. Ford offered three drive modes—Engage, Whisper, and Unbridled—with minimal differences between them. The Mach-E also allowed for one-pedal driving and featured well-tuned friction brakes.

The 2021 Acura RDX came equipped with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine, producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and the torque-vectoring SH-AWD system were standard, enhancing handling and driving enjoyment. The Integrated Dynamics System allowed drivers to choose between Snow, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ modes, adjusting powertrain response, steering effort, and suspension firmness. A-Spec models featured exclusive 20-inch alloy wheels with performance all-season tires, contributing to improved handling. However, the lack of adaptive dampers resulted in excessive body motion on uneven roads. The RDX's turbo engine, precise steering, and fade-resistant brakes made it rewarding to drive, especially in Sport+ mode, which added a more aggressive engine sound. Despite some shortcomings, the RDX A-Spec offered a fun driving experience.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was marketed as an SUV, but its packaging resembled that of a station wagon or hatchback. The driving position was low, and the low roofline didn't create a spacious feel, even with a panoramic glass roof. Compared to the Tesla Model Y, the Mach-E fell short on interior space, offering less headroom and legroom. The Model Y also provided more cargo space with the second row folded, at 1,925 litres compared to the Mach-E's 1,690 litres. However, the Mach-E offered 840 litres of cargo space with the second row in place, more than the Audi E-Tron. It also featured a 133-litre front trunk (frunk). The Mach-E's interior included 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 Acura RDX, though positioned as a compact SUV, offered remarkable passenger and cargo space. The front seats were comfortable, with Alcantara and leather upholstery in the A-Spec trim, providing 12-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. However, rear-seat comfort was compromised by a low and flat cushion, resulting in a lack of leg support. Storage space was limited, with a large tray under the centre console panel but not easily accessible while driving. The RDX's cargo volume was competitive, with 835 litres behind the rear seat and a deep storage well for organizing items. Folding the rear seats provided 1,668 litres of cargo space, though Acura quoted a maximum value of 2,260 litres based on a specific loading method. Despite this, the RDX's cargo area was accommodating for most tasks.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured Ford's new Sync 4 infotainment system, offering 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. A six-speaker audio system was standard, with higher trims receiving a nine-speaker B&O by Bang & Olufsen sound system. The touchscreen's size was its most notable feature, but its text-heavy design made it difficult to navigate. The bottom of the screen replaced analog controls, with a large volume knob and touchscreen icons for climate controls. While the icons were conveniently located, pressing buttons would have been easier for adjusting temperature.

The 2021 Acura RDX introduced the True Touchpad Interface infotainment system, featuring satellite radio, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi tethering. Instead of a touchscreen, drivers used a touch-sensing pad on the centre console. Acura's touchpad mirrored the screen, allowing for more intuitive control once users adapted to the system. However, it still required drivers to look at the screen, leading to potential distractions. The A-Spec trim included a 16-speaker Acura/ELS Studio 3D premium audio system, delivering excellent sound quality. While the TTI system represented an improvement over similar systems, it wasn't ideal, and Acura could benefit from integrating more user-friendly technology.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was rated as a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, receiving top ratings for crash testing but losing points for certain headlights and LATCH ease of use. NHTSA crash-test ratings were not yet available. Standard driver-assist features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and more. Higher trims offered a 360-degree camera system. The Mach-E was 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, with hardware included in the vehicle.

The 2021 Acura RDX came with a suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. However, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert were only available on higher trims. The RDX lacked pedestrian detection, traffic-sign recognition, and Traffic Jam Assist, which were standard on the new TLX sedan. Despite this, the RDX's safety systems were smooth and accurate, encouraging their use. The RDX earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it received four-star ratings for frontal-impact and rollover resistance.