Buick Envision vs Ford Mustang Mach-E

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E aimed to bridge the gap between traditional Mustang styling and modern electric vehicle design. Despite its four-door layout and rear hatch, it retained Mustang-like features such as thin headlights, a long hood, and a large, nonfunctional oval grille. The taillights mimicked the original Mustang's look with sequential turn signals, and the vibrant exterior color palette, including Grabber Blue, reinforced the Mustang connection. Inside, the Mach-E featured a massive infotainment touchscreen suspended in the middle of the dashboard, a thin rectangular display for the instrument cluster, and a rotary gear selector on the center console, giving it a minimalist feel akin to Tesla's electric cars. Interior materials were decent, but the lack of a leather-upholstery option might have disappointed some buyers. The First Edition models had unique trim elements like red brake calipers and brushed aluminum pedals.

The 2021 Buick Envision underwent a significant redesign, making it lower and wider than its predecessor, with a more sculpted look. It offered three trim levels—Preferred, Essence, and Avenir—with the Avenir trim featuring premium exterior elements like a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille and 20-inch Avenir-specific pearl nickel wheels. The interior of the Avenir models boasted leather-appointed seating with diamond perforated inserts and a head-up display. Despite the redesign, the Envision's cabin didn't improve in functionality, with less headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front row compared to its predecessor. Rear-seat passengers also experienced reduced legroom and hip room. Cargo space was limited, with 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the back seat folded. The driver-centric cockpit made it difficult for the front passenger to access climate controls and the infotainment screen.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E lived up to its Mustang name with sporty performance. The base RWD Select model produced 266 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The most potent configuration was the AWD GT Performance Edition, with 480 hp and 634 lb-ft, reaching zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Our test car had the lower-level AWD powertrain, delivering 346 hp, 428 lb-ft of torque, and zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. The Mach-E handled corners well, with responsive steering and a planted feel due to the low-mounted battery pack. However, the taut suspension and 19-inch wheels resulted in poor ride quality. The Mach-E offered three drive modes—Engage, Whisper, and Unbridled—with minimal differences between them. It also featured one-pedal driving and well-tuned friction brakes.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. However, the engine's power was reduced to 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, compared to the previous model's 252 hp and 295 lb-ft. Despite a weight reduction of 200 to 300 pounds, the Envision's performance remained competent but not particularly engaging. The FWD model achieved an EPA-estimated 24 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined, while the AWD version fared slightly worse. The Envision's drivability was more akin to a Lincoln, providing comfortable cruising without sporty dynamics. The typical GM drive mode selector included a Sport mode, but the impact was minimal, and the engine noise was noticeable.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was marketed as an SUV but had packaging more like a station wagon or hatchback. The driving position was low, and the low roofline didn't create a spacious feeling, even with a panoramic glass roof. Compared to the Tesla Model Y, the Mach-E fell short on interior space, with less headroom and legroom in both rows. The Model Y also offered more cargo space, with 68.0 cubic feet compared to the Mach-E's 59.7 cubic feet with the second row folded. The Mach-E had 29.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row in place and a 4.7-cubic-foot front trunk. The narrow space between the front seats included a storage bin under a flip-up armrest and a large area beneath the touchscreen for smartphones, with a wireless charging pad and USB ports for both rows.

The 2021 Buick Envision's redesign didn't improve cabin functionality. Despite a longer wheelbase, it had less headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front row, and rear-seat passengers lost two inches of legroom and nearly six inches of hip room. Cargo space was also reduced, with 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the back seat folded. The Envision's rear cargo space was adequate for daily activities, with grocery bag holders and carve-outs around the wheel wells. The driver-centric cockpit made it difficult for the front passenger to access controls. Small-item storage was typical for the segment, and the Envision offered standard features like heated front seats, eight-way power-adjustable seats, and a heated steering wheel. Forward visibility was limited, requiring drivers to rely on parking sensors.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured Ford's new Sync 4 infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and over-the-air software updates. The main infotainment touchscreen measured 15.5 inches, while the instrument cluster was 10.2 inches. Standard features included SiriusXM 360L with satellite radio and a six-speaker audio system, with Premium, GT, and First Edition models getting a nine-speaker B&O by Bang & Olufsen sound system. The 15.5-inch touchscreen displayed almost everything at once, making it text-heavy and unattractive. The bottom of the screen replaced analog controls with touchscreen icons and sliders for climate controls, which were less convenient than physical buttons.

The 2021 Buick Envision's tech was straightforward, with a standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen that was responsive and cleanly displayed necessary functionalities. The available 8.0-inch driver information display showed station and song title information faster than the infotainment screen. Standard features included USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, rearview camera, air ionizer, keyless entry, leather-wrapped steering wheel, OnStar and Buick Connected Services, remote start, two 12-volt power outlets, air quality indicator, one-touch up/down windows, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto. Available features included navigation, driver massage, HD Radio, surround-view camera, HUD, a rearview camera mirror, and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard driver-assist features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, a reverse sensing system, reverse automatic braking, adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, traffic-sign recognition, and evasive steering assist. Higher trim levels included a 360-degree camera system. The Mach-E was also slated to get Active Drive Assist, enabling automated acceleration, braking, and steering on designated highways, with a driver-facing camera to monitor for distraction. Active Drive Assist would be available via OTA update for $600 and was standard on higher trims.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included Buckle to Drive, a following distance indicator, forward-collision alert, front and rear park assist, lane change alert with blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, rear-seat alert, automatic emergency braking, and teen-driver monitoring. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic park assist were available on Avenir models. The Envision did not have GM's Super Cruise hands-free system or lane-centering technology.