Tesla Model 3 vs. Ford Mustang Mach E: Which Is The Better EV?

So what does one get from the 2021 Mustang Mach-E, the all-electric version of the famed muscle car, other than the absence of that monstrous growling roar from its 2.3 liter, 4 cylinder Ecoboost (direct-injection turbocharged) gasoline engine? Is the answer, silence or a whistling wheeze?

The all-electric Mustang Mach-E five-door, crossover SUV is set for production in 2020 and marketing in 2021. It opened for order-taking on Sunday evening ahead of the 2019 LA Auto Show.

We can settle the "Which is better question" one of two ways. That's either by placing these two machines in a side-by-side drag race (which won't happen until 2021) or by deciding among ourselves if each of their complex technical specs is good enough for us to declare a clear winner.

The latter option's not going to happen because of hyper partisanship. Tesla fanboys and fangirls won't admit to any other electric vehicle (EV) being clearly superior to their beloved Model S, 3 and X machines.

But since the Mustang Mach-E is the new alpha male stallion out to dethrone what is its direct competitor these days, the Model 3 electric four-door sedan, it makes sense to pit these two beasts against each other.

Of course we realize the Tesla Model Y SUV is the direct competitor of the Mach-E. The first Model Y, however, won't leave the production line until the summer of 2020 if Elon Musk is to be believed. And the fact the Model Y will first be produced at the new Gigafactory Europe in Berlin, which hasn't even broken ground yet, might mean production delays for the Model Y.

Here's an interesting tidbit for those inclined to buy the Mustang Mach-E. They'll initially only be able to choose from two options in 2020: Premium and First Edition.

The First Edition model comes with the extended range battery pack and all-wheel drive standard. Buyers going for the least expensive Mach-E will have to wait until 2021 with the arrival of the base Mach-E Select.

We do, however, have a lot of specs spelling-out what those who pre-order the Mach-E can expect. For this side-by-side, we're comparing different versions of each vehicle.

Powertrain

Mach-E Standard Range variant: Comes with two lithium-ion battery pack options -- standard range and extended range. Standard Range has a 75.7 kilowatt hour (kWh) battery producing an estimated range of 210 to 230 miles. This depends on trim and if the EV has one electric motor (for rear-wheel drive) or two (all-wheel drive).

In Extended Range, the battery generates 98.8 kWh, boosting range to 235 to 300 miles, again depending on trim and powertrain layout.

Model 3 Standard Range Plus: 54 kWh battery with 250 mile range.

Tesla Model 3 Performance variant: 75 kWh battery with range of more than 300 miles. The Model 3 Long Range powertrain exceeds these specs.

Performance

Mach-E Extended Range AWD and Model 3 Standard Range: 0-to-60 mph acceleration in less than five seconds.

Mach-E GT Performance and Model 3 Performance Model: 3,473 hp output and 471 lb-ft gets to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Mach-E requires 459 hp and 612 lb-ft to get to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds.

Price

Mach-E estimated starting price: 40,000 to $50,000 range.

Tesla Model 3Standard Range Plus price starts at $39,490 and increases to $56,990 for the Performance variant.