Compare the2022 Ford Mustang Mach-EVS 2021 BMW X3 xDrive30e

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Ford Mustang Mach-E are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Mustang Mach-E and X3 xDrive30e have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Mustang Mach-E has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The X3 xDrive30e’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

Both the Mustang Mach-E and the X3 xDrive30e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Mustang Mach-E the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 137 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X3 xDrive30e has not been fully tested, yet.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Mustang Mach-E 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X3 xDrive30e. Any repair needed on the motors, controllers, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X3 xDrive30e ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 9 times as many Ford dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Mustang Mach-E’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 14th in initial quality. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 20th.

The Mustang Mach-E’s standard electric motor produces 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 310) than the X3 xDrive30e’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Mustang Mach-E eAWD’s standard electric motors produce 118 lbs.-ft. more torque (428 vs. 310) than the X3 xDrive30e’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Mustang Mach-E ER’s standard electric motors produce 2 more horsepower (290 vs. 288) and 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 310) than the X3 xDrive30e’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Mustang Mach-E ER eAWD’s standard electric motors produce 58 more horsepower (346 vs. 288) and 118 lbs.-ft. more torque (428 vs. 310) than the X3 xDrive30e’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition’s optional electric motors produce 192 more horsepower (480 vs. 288) and 324 lbs.-ft. more torque (634 vs. 310) than the X3 xDrive30e’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Mustang Mach-E gets better mileage than the X3 xDrive30e running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the Mustang Mach-E gets better mileage than the X3 xDrive30e running its gasoline engine:

The Mustang Mach-E’s maximum EPA estimated driving range is 224 to 314 miles on a full charge. The X3 xDrive30e can only travel about 17 miles before it has to start its internal combustion engine.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Mustang Mach-E higher (10 out of 10) than the BMW X3 xDrive30e (7). This means the Mustang Mach-E produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X3 xDrive30e every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Mustang Mach-E’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the X3 xDrive30e:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Mustang Mach-E’s wheelbase is 4.7 inches longer than on the X3 xDrive30e (117.5 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Mustang Mach-E’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the X3 xDrive30e’s (38.1 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The Ford Mustang Mach-E may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the BMW X3 xDrive30e.

The Mustang Mach-E has 2.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X3 xDrive30e (104 vs. 101.4).

The Mustang Mach-E has 3 inches more front legroom and 1.7 inches more rear legroom than the X3 xDrive30e.

The Mustang Mach-E has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X3 xDrive30e with its rear seat up (34.4 vs. 27.2 cubic feet). The Mustang Mach-E has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X3 xDrive30e with its rear seat folded (64.4 vs. 59.4 cubic feet).

The Mustang Mach-E has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Mustang Mach-E’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Mustang Mach-E’s exterior PIN entry system. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its BMW Assist can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Mustang Mach-E has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X3 xDrive30e only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Ford Mustang Mach-E has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the X3 xDrive30e.

The Mustang Mach-E is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The X3 xDrive30e doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Ford Mustang Mach-E, based on reliability, safety and performance.