Compare the2023 Ford Mustang Mach-EVS 2023 Tesla Model S

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 Tesla Model S doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Mustang Mach-E has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Model S doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Mustang Mach-E has a standard Reverse Brake Assist that use rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Model S doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Mustang Mach-E offers an optional 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model S only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Mustang Mach-E’s standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Model S doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Mustang Mach-E has standard 911 Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model S doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Mustang Mach-E and the Model S 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert 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 175 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Model S does not qualify as a “Top Safety Pick.”

There are almost 20 times as many Ford dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Mustang Mach-E’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 59 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 1 place higher in reliability than Tesla.

For better stopping power the Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Model S:

The Mustang Mach-E GT handles at .92 G’s, while the Model S pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Mustang Mach-E’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the Model S’ (38.1 feet vs. 40.3 feet).

The Mustang Mach-E is 1 foot shorter than the Model S, making the Mustang Mach-E easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Mustang Mach-E has 10 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Model S (104 vs. 94).

The Mustang Mach-E has .9 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 2.6 inches more rear legroom, 2.9 inches more rear hip room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model S.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Mustang Mach-E’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Model S doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Mustang Mach-E’s entire steering wheel hub sounds the horn, facilitating hitting the horn in an emergency. The Model S has a small, single button on the steering wheel spoke that can be hard to find quickly in an emergency.

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 Model S doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Mustang Mach-E’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Model S’ cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Mustang Mach-E has a standard rear wiper. The Model S doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

Consumer Reports rated the Mustang Mach-E’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Model S’ headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Mustang Mach-E’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Model S’ headlights are rated “Poor.”

The Mustang Mach-E’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model S doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Mustang Mach-E has standard extendable sun visors. The Model S doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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

Insurance will cost less for the Mustang Mach-E owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Mustang Mach-E will cost $6410 to $12200 less than the Model S over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Mustang Mach-E will be $48497 to $74623 less than for the Tesla Model S.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its July 2021 issue and the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select 4 won out over the Tesla Model S.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Mustang Mach-E as the 2021 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Model S has never been chosen.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E outsold the Tesla Model S by 6% during 2022.