Compare the2026 Ford Mustang Mach-EVS 2025 Nissan Leaf

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Mustang Mach-E and Leaf 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 Leaf’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.

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 Leaf 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.

The Mustang Mach-E offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Leaf doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Mustang Mach-E and Leaf have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Mustang Mach-E has Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Leaf’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Mustang Mach-E and the Leaf have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E weighs 493 to 1466 pounds more than the Nissan Leaf. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Mustang Mach-E is safer than the Nissan Leaf:

	Mustang Mach-E	Leaf
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	163	270
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	159 lbs.	233 lbs.
Neck Compression	66 lbs.	86 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	257/9 lbs.	209/461 lbs.

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

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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Mustang Mach-E is safer than the Nissan Leaf:

	Mustang Mach-E	Leaf
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	58	131
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.8 inches
Hip Force	249 lbs.	377 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	93	257
Spine Acceleration	26 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	267 lbs.	887 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	8 inches	13 inches

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Ford Mustang Mach-E is safer than the Leaf:

	Mustang Mach-E	Leaf
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	115	211
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	825 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	42	158
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.87 in	1.54 in
Shoulder Force	268 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.94 in	1.38 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	535 lbs.	937 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Mustang Mach-E, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 1.2% to 2.1% less likely to roll over than the Leaf, which received a four-star rating.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E (built after August 2024) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Leaf is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

There are almost 3 times as many Ford dealers as there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Mustang Mach-E’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Nissan With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Ford higher than Nissan.

Engine

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

	Horsepower	Torque
Mustang Mach-E electric motor	264 HP	387 lbs.-ft.
Mustang Mach-E eAWD electric motors	325 HP	500 lbs.-ft.
Mustang Mach-E ER eAWD electric motors	370 HP	500 lbs.-ft.
Mustang Mach-E ER electric motor	372 HP	387 lbs.-ft.
Mustang Mach-E GT electric motors	480 HP	600 lbs.-ft.
Mustang Mach-E GT Performance/Rally electric motors	480 HP	700 lbs.-ft.
Leaf electric motor	147 HP	236 lbs.-ft.
Leaf PLUS electric motor	214 HP	250 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Mustang Mach-E is faster than the Leaf PLUS:

	Mustang Mach-E GT	Mustang Mach-E GT Performance/Rally	Leaf
Zero to 60 MPH	3.6 sec	3.3 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	12.4 sec	11.8 sec	15.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	103.8 MPH	115.2 MPH	93.3 MPH

As tested in Motor Trend the Mustang Mach-E ER electric motor is faster than the Nissan Leaf 0.0:

	Mustang Mach-E	Leaf
Zero to 60 MPH	6.3 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	96.8 MPH	87.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Mustang Mach-E can travel longer on a full charge than the Leaf on a full charge:

			Miles
Mustang Mach-E
	RWD	ER Electric Motor	320 miles
		Electric Motor	260 miles
	AWD	ER Electric Motors	300 miles
		Rally Electric Motors	255 miles
		Electric Motors	240 miles
		GT Electric Motors	280 miles
Leaf
	FWD	SV PLUS Electric Motor	212 miles
		Electric Motor	149 miles

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Mustang Mach-E	Mustang Mach-E GT/Rally	Leaf
Front Rotors	14.3 inches	15.2 inches	11.1 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	12.4 inches	11.5 inches

The Mustang Mach-E stops much shorter than the Leaf:

	Mustang Mach-E	Leaf
70 to 0 MPH	158 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	.83 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	142 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Mustang Mach-E has larger standard tires than the Leaf (225/55R19 vs. 205/55R16). The Mustang Mach-E GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Leaf (245/45R20 vs. 215/50R17).

The Mustang Mach-E GT’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Leaf SV PLUS’ 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Mustang Mach-E has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Leaf S. The Mustang Mach-E GT’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Leaf SV PLUS.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Ford Mustang Mach-E has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Nissan Leaf has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Mustang Mach-E has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Leaf’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Mustang Mach-E offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Leaf’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Mustang Mach-E Select/Premium’s wheelbase is 11.2 inches longer than on the Leaf (117.5 inches vs. 106.3 inches). The Mustang Mach-E GT’s wheelbase is 11.7 inches longer than on the Leaf (118 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Mustang Mach-E is 3.1 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Leaf.

The Mustang Mach-E’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the Leaf’s (57.3% to 42.7%). This gives the Mustang Mach-E more stable handling and braking.

The Mustang Mach-E GT handles at .92 G’s, while the Leaf pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The front grille of the Mustang Mach-E uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Leaf doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Mustang Mach-E has 8.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Leaf (101.1 vs. 92.4).

The Mustang Mach-E has 1.2 inches more front legroom, 3.7 inches more front hip room, 3.3 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 4.6 inches more rear legroom, 3.2 inches more rear hip room and 3.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Leaf.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Mustang Mach-E (except Select) offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Leaf doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Servicing Ease

The Mustang Mach-E uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Leaf uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Mustang Mach-E, the optional memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle and radio stations. The Leaf doesn’t offer a memory 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 Leaf doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Mustang Mach-E’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Leaf’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the Mustang Mach-E and the Leaf have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Mustang Mach-E is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Leaf prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Mustang Mach-E’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Leaf’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Mustang Mach-E the driver can close all of them from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Leaf can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Leaf 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 Leaf’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Mustang Mach-E’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Leaf’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Mustang Mach-E’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Leaf S’ standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

Consumer Reports rated the Mustang Mach-E’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Leaf’s headlights, which were rated “Poor” to “Good” (depending on model and options).

The Mustang Mach-E’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Leaf SV PLUS.

Both the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Nissan Leaf offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Mustang Mach-E offers optional power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Leaf’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Mustang Mach-E Premium keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Leaf doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Mustang Mach-E has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Leaf doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Mustang Mach-E’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Leaf doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Mustang Mach-E has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Leaf doesn’t offer rear vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Ford Mustang Mach-E (except Select) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Leaf doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Mustang Mach-E’s optional Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Leaf doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Ford Mustang Mach-E, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Nissan Leaf isn't recommended.

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

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 Leaf has never been chosen.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E outsold the Nissan Leaf by over 10 to one during 2025.

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