As 2020 came to a much-needed end, the Ford Mustang Mach-E officially hit showroom floors. Almost immediately, the sporty muscle car-inspired SUVs were all snatched up in practically every country in which they were sold. Clearly and without a doubt, it is fair to say that the Mustang Mach-E was a genuine success.
For Ford, this confirmation of triumph was probably a huge relief, as the electrified Mustang variant was by no means the single occupant of the electric SUV class. Today, many of the world's top automakers have all created electric SUVs that are both capable and easy on the eyes. Because of models like that of Tesla's Model Y, Audi's E-Tron, and Volkswagen's ID 4, it has become quite clear that the Mach-E definitely has its work cut out for it.
Though each and every one of these brands arguably provides a fair competitor to the Mach-E, it is Jaguar's new and upcoming 2022 I-Pace that might really give the Mach-E a run for its money. It's fast, pretty to look at, comes with tons of tech, and it's a Jaguar. Surely, there is no way that a crossbred muscle car SUV could ever be better than an elegant and charismatic Jaguar, right?
Let's figure out whether or not electrified American muscle can really outperform voltaic British sophistication.
So, Which One Has The Most Power?
The first order of business that we'll attend to is sorting which one of these electric SUVs is the most powerful. Because both the Mach-E's GT line and the base model I-Pace cost around $60,000, it is these variants that we will be comparing throughout the remainder of the trial. Unfortunately for Jaguar, when we utilize these metrics, it does find itself immediately on the back foot when discussing power outputs.
That is because, when the I-Pace leaves the factory, it produces 395 HP and 512 lb-ft of torque. Granted, this does allow the Jaguar to go from 0-60 MPH in a respectable 4.5 seconds. However, when you get into a GT Mach-E, you have around 480 HP and 600 lb-ft of torque to play around with. Better yet, all of this extra power will get you up to 60 MPH a full second faster than that of the Jag.
How About Range And Charging?
For those of you who were expecting a back and forth fight between these cars, sadly, it's becoming increasingly likely that you might not get one. That is because once again, it is the sleek and elegant Jaguar that comes up short when we are discussing our next topic: Battery ranges. Although the I-Pace's battery technology is still rather good when compared to most electric cars in its class, it still only has a range of 234 miles to that of the Mach-E's 270-mile range.
When it comes to charging times, information can be a tad bit fuzzy when it comes to juicing up these cars. Like all-electric cars, the specific charging times depend heavily upon what kind of charger you are utilizing. One thing that can be said, however, is that Ford claims that the Mach-E can travel up to 61 miles on 10 minutes of charging. Jaguar, on the other hand, says that their I-Pace can go 63 miles of 15 minutes of charging. We'll just call this one a draw.
And What About Technology And Interior Design?
Between these two vehicles (if they were equipped with rocket boosters), there is probably enough technology to successfully navigate a trip to Mars. Because of that, we won't cover every detail, but we will just start off by saying that Jaguar probably should get a point here. For starters, as you can see by the pictures provided above and below this text (after the next paragraph), both have taken different approaches to their entertainment systems/control panels.
Starting with Ford (top picture), it is quite obvious that they want that big screen to be the center of attention. With it, you'll find your typical GPS, desired phone connectivity service (Apple or Android), telephone, Bluetooth, and much more. Additionally, the car comes with a huge variety of safety and convenience features. Many of these features are ones that we have become accustomed to and include adaptive cruise control, crash avoidance sensors, and the ability to operate various features of your car from your cell phone.
Like that of the Mustang, the Jaguar also has all the features listed thus far. However, their approach to the design of the interior (especially the entertainment system) is a bit more of an integrated one. As you can see, the inside looks significantly more full and encompassing. In essence, it appears that Jaguar just wants you to appreciate all of it, not just a single big screen.
The Verdict
Overall, it is probably the Mach-E that is the better of the two. It has better range and slightly better charging capabilities, more power and performance, and a similar amount of technology as the Jaguar, for the same amount of money. So clearly, the choice is obvious, as you should choose the Mustang (right?).
For those of us who are left-brained, the Mach-E would definitely be the winner. Analytically speaking, it is quite evident that it is the best in almost every category we've covered thus far. However, for those of us who are right-brained, we might find ourselves being ever so slightly skewed towards the I-Pace. After all, who needs practicality when you have a Jaguar?