2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

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, non-functional oval grille. The taillights mirrored the original Mustang's design, featuring sequential turn signals. The vibrant exterior colour palette, including the striking Grabber Blue, further reinforced 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 higher trims.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was introduced as a smaller sibling to the anticipated Bronco, capturing some of the same styling cues but with a more suburban focus. It featured a modern retro look reminiscent of the Land Rover lineup, with short front and rear overhangs designed for trail driving. The bold white lettering on the grille and tailgate announced its name as "BRONCO," with a smaller "SPORT" postscript. The Bronco Sport's interior was tastefully rugged, with an uncluttered design and a centre stack crowned by an 8-inch infotainment screen. The interior trim varied across models, offering a step-up from cloth seats to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was designed to live up to the Mustang name with sporty performance. It came standard with rear-wheel drive and offered a range of powertrain configurations. 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 option was the AWD GT Performance Edition, boasting 480 hp and 634 lb-ft of torque, with a zero to 100 km/h time of 3.7 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, especially with the 19-inch wheels on the test car.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices tied to trim levels. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims featured a 1.5-litre EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands model came with a 2.0-litre EcoBoost turbo four-cylinder engine, producing 245 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, along with a terrain management system with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes. The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and decent ground clearance. On-road, it had good manners, with the 2.0-litre engine better suited to its character.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was marketed as an SUV, but its packaging resembled 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, offering less headroom and legroom. The Mach-E provided 1,690 litres of cargo space with the second row folded and 840 litres with it in place. It also featured a 133-litre front trunk. The interior included a storage bin under a flip-up armrest and a large area beneath the touchscreen for smartphones, with a wireless charging pad and USB ports.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with clever features beyond the typical compact crossover. The cargo space was designed to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes, and Ford offered over 100 accessories for transporting outdoor gear. The roof could support up to 68 kilograms, and the 2.0-litre engine could tow up to 997 kilograms. The cargo area included a flip-up rear glass, an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table, and a 400-watt inverter. The front cabin had ample storage compartments, but taller drivers might have found outward visibility challenging due to the roof overhang and hood bulges.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was one of the first Ford vehicles to feature the 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 a nine-speaker B&O sound system available on higher trims. 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.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came equipped with the latest versions of Ford's infotainment systems, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with SYNC 3, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto compatibility. FordPass Connect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was standard. The base audio system included six speakers, with a Bang & Olufsen sound system available on higher trims. The Bronco Sport's terrain management system offered impressive tech with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, adjusting steering, transmission, and throttle response for different conditions. Trail control technology provided cruise-control-like assistance for off-roading. Intelligent access with push-button start was standard on all trims except the Base model.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with top ratings for crash testing but points docked for certain headlights and LATCH ease of use. Standard driver-assist features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and more. The Mach-E was set to receive Active Drive Assist, enabling automated acceleration, braking, and steering on designated highways. This feature was not activated at launch but could be added via OTA update for $600.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and more. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a voice-activated navigation system. AWD and a terrain management system with G.O.A.T. modes were standard on all models. The Bronco Sport received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.