2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E attempted to bridge the gap between the traditional Mustang coupe and convertible with its exterior styling. 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 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's interior 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," akin 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. First Edition models boasted unique trim elements like red brake calipers and brushed aluminum pedals, but the main allure was being among the first produced.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 stood out with its distinctive styling, diverging from the rest of the brand's lineup. It featured the brand's trademark two-line lighting signature, creating an illusion of a contiguous circle around the vehicle. The GV70's styling diverged further with six grades offered, including the Sport and Sport Plus grades with a sculpted hood aligning with the Genesis crest-shaped logo. The shoulder line traced a unique arc, and the accent lines around the side windows were exclusive to this model. Dark chrome finishes and a cross-hatched matrix pattern on the Sport grades emphasized its sporty intent. Genesis offered a wide range of exterior and interior colour combinations, with more than 100 options available. The cabin featured elliptical-themed inserts inspired by airplane wings, with genuine carbon fibre available on Sport trims. Interior surfaces were of high quality, with quilted leather seats and door panels on premium grades, although some plastic elements were present in less frequently encountered areas.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E aimed to live up to the Mustang name with its 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, reaching zero to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds. Our test car featured a lower-level AWD powertrain with 346 hp, 428 lb-ft of torque, and a zero to 100 km/h time of 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 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two engine options, with our test unit equipped with the 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine, producing 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. This engine aimed to compete with mid-level performance rivals like the BMW X3 M40i and Audi SQ5. Fuel consumption was estimated at 11.6 L/100 km combined, with real-world figures trending slightly lower. All GV70 models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, prioritizing the rear axle. The Sport Plus grade included an electronic limited-slip differential, allowing up to 100% of available torque to be sent to a single rear wheel. The GV70 offered Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes, with Sport+ delivering aggressive throttle response and partial traction control disabling. The electronically controlled suspension system balanced road feel and comfort, while the GV70's tight turning radius was advantageous in urban environments.

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 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 1,925 litres compared to the Mach-E's 1,690 litres (1,685 litres in the GT Performance Edition). The Mach-E featured an 840-litre cargo space with the second row in place and 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 for both rows.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 prioritized the driver with its interior design and ergonomics. The centre console sat tall, separating the driver from the front passenger, with intuitive button and dial controls within easy reach. The raised dial for the infotainment system was more user-friendly than the flat panel in the GV80. Climate controls were configured under a single pane, providing haptic feedback for inputs. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with ventilated front seats and heated rear seats available. The rear space featured a large panoramic sunroof and manual sunshades, but storage was limited. Cargo volume behind the second row was 819 litres, with a total of 1,610 litres available with the seats folded. The tonneau cover could be stowed under the rear load floor.

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. A six-speaker audio system was standard, with a nine-speaker B&O by Bang & Olufsen system on higher trims. The touchscreen's size was its standout feature, but the 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 2022 Genesis GV70 impressed with its technology offerings. A 14.5-inch high-definition LCD infotainment screen was standard, with high-resolution graphics and a split-screen layout. The 3D digital instrument cluster in the premium Sport Plus grade added a status symbol element, with a 12.3-inch screen displaying graphics in layers. The Blind View Monitor system projected camera views onto the instrument cluster, and a fingerprint recognition system allowed for keyless vehicle start. A nine-speaker audio system was standard, with an 18-speaker Lexicon surround sound system on top grades. USB ports were available for both rows.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with top crash test ratings and minor deductions 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. Active Drive Assist, enabling automated acceleration, braking, and steering on designated highways, was slated for future activation via OTA update.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came with ten standard safety features, including blind spot collision avoidance assist, lane departure warning, and forward collision avoidance assist. A new rear occupant alert system used radar to detect movement in the second row. The Genesis Highway Driving Assist system included lane centring and automatic lane changing functions, though it required hands-on operation. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not yet available.