Compare the2026 Ford Mustang Mach-EVS 2026 Tesla Model Y

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Mustang Mach-E are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model Y doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Y 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 Y have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Mustang Mach-E is safer than the Tesla Model Y:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are over 13 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’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Ford higher than Tesla.

The Mustang Mach-E has more powerful engines than the Model Y:

As tested in Motor Trend the Mustang Mach-E GT electric motors is faster than the Model Y AWD electric motors:

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

The Mustang Mach-E stops much shorter than the Model Y:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Mustang Mach-E has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Model Y Standard.

The Mustang Mach-E has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Mustang Mach-E flat and controlled during cornering. The Model Y’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Mustang Mach-E Select/Premium’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the Model Y (117.5 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

The Mustang Mach-E GT handles at .92 G’s, while the Model Y Premium AWD pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Mustang Mach-E’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Model Y’s (38.1 feet vs. 39.8 feet).

The Mustang Mach-E Select/Premium is 3 inches shorter than the Model Y Premium RWD, making the Mustang Mach-E easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Mustang Mach-E has 1.5 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear hip room and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model Y.

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 Y doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

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

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

The Mustang Mach-E’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model Y 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 Y doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Mustang Mach-E is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the Model Y, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the Mustang Mach-E offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the Model Y.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the Mustang Mach-E equipped with available HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The Model Y, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Ford Mustang Mach-E empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

Compared to the Tesla Model Y’s traditional radio, the Ford Mustang Mach-E equipped with standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its August 2025 issue and they ranked the Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium 4 first. They ranked the Tesla Model Y Premium AWD fourth.

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 Y has never been chosen.