2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E attempted to bridge the gap between traditional Mustang styling and modern electric vehicle design. Despite its four-door configuration and rear hatch, the Mach-E retained a Mustang-like appearance with its thin headlights, elongated hood, and a prominent oval grille, albeit non-functional. The taillights mirrored the original Mustang's design, complete with sequential turn signals. The vibrant exterior colour options, such as Grabber Blue, further emphasized its Mustang heritage. Inside, the Mach-E featured a minimalist design dominated by a large infotainment touchscreen, reminiscent of Tesla's approach. 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 First Edition models offered unique trim elements, but the primary allure was their early production status.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 presented a more traditional SUV aesthetic, with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, aligning with the rest of Volvo's lineup through familiar styling cues like the "Thor’s Hammer" LED headlights. The XC40 Recharge distinguished itself with a blanked-off grille, subtle badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. It also featured a gloss black roof and mirror caps, a unique rear bumper, and an exclusive Sage Green Metallic colour. Built on Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture, the XC40 Recharge shared its platform with the Polestar 2, designed to accommodate both gasoline and electric powertrains. The interior boasted a minimalist yet premium feel, with high-quality materials like Nappa leather and Nubuck textile. The design was coherent, with elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen and air vents blending seamlessly, offering a luxury experience without compromising on design.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was designed to uphold the sporty reputation of the Mustang name. 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, with a zero to 100 km/h time of 3.7 seconds. Our test car featured a mid-level AWD powertrain, delivering 346 hp and 428 lb-ft, reaching 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 compromised ride quality. The Mach-E offered three drive modes—Engage, Whisper, and Unbridled—with minimal differences between them. It also featured one-pedal driving and well-tuned friction brakes.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge at the top. The gasoline options included a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T4 produced 187 hp and 221 lb-ft, while the T5 offered 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring dual electric motors for AWD, delivering 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. It had a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with 75 kWh usable capacity, achieving zero to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. The XC40 emphasized comfort over speed, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads. The Recharge model supported one-pedal driving and had a towing capacity of 900 kilograms.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, marketed as an SUV, had a packaging more akin to a station wagon or hatchback. The driving position was relatively low, and the low roofline did not 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 and a three-row configuration. The Mach-E had 1,690 litres of cargo space with the second row folded and 840 litres with it in place, along with a 133-litre front trunk. The interior featured a decent-sized storage bin, a flat area for smartphones with a wireless charging pad, and USB ports for both rows.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge claimed no difference in passenger or cargo space compared to gasoline models, but it was less spacious than the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. It had less legroom and headroom and a smaller cargo area. The Recharge’s frunk was also small, with much of the space occupied by powertrain hardware. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive in interior space against rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo compensated with clever storage solutions, such as a removable trash bin in the centre console, a bag hook in the glovebox, and extra-large door bins. A wireless charging pad was optional, with a single USB-C port standard, but no charging options for the second row.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured Ford’s new Sync 4 infotainment system, with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and OTA software updates. The main 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 system on higher trims. The touchscreen’s size was its standout feature, but the design was text-heavy and unattractive. The bottom of the screen replaced analog controls, with a large volume knob and touchscreen icons for climate controls, which were less intuitive than traditional buttons.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge introduced the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, featuring Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and Bluetooth, with Google features built-in. The standard setup had a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Graphics and menu layouts were high-quality, but the Google interface might not appeal to everyone. The Recharge was the first XC40 with OTA update capability, covering any software-controlled vehicle function. It lacked a start button, starting when the driver shifted out of park with the key fob present. A Digital Key feature was planned for the Polestar 2, but not confirmed for the XC40.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was rated a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, with top crash test ratings and minor deductions for certain headlights and LATCH ease of use. NHTSA ratings were not available. Standard driver-assist features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and more. Higher trims had a 360-degree camera system. The Mach-E was set to receive Active Drive Assist, enabling hands-free driving on designated highways, with a driver-facing camera for distraction monitoring. The system was not activated at launch, with a $600 OTA update planned for later in 2021.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA for gasoline models. The electric Recharge had not been tested, but Volvo expected good performance due to a safety cage around the battery and a redesigned front crash structure. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and more. A 360-degree camera and Pilot Assist were optional. The Recharge had Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advanced driver aids.