Survey Says

Autolist Survey: Most don't like the Mustang name on a Ford EV, split on Mach-E vs. Model Y

David Undercoffler
Nov 24, 2019, 2:54 pm

The Ford Mustang Mach-E's natural competitor is the Tesla Model Y.

Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company

Ford made big news ahead of the 2019 L.A. Auto Show this month with the debut of its first-ever Mustang Mach-E, an all-electric crossover that will go on sale in late 2020 and early 2021.

Though there are a variety of high-end luxury EV crossovers either already on the market or joining it shortly (from the likes of Tesla, Audi, Jaguar, and Mercedes-Benz), there's only a single mainstream rival to the Mach-E: Tesla's Model Y.

Like the Ford, the Model Y will start under $50,000, arrive in 2020, offer up to 300 miles of range, and will come in rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive configurations.

Tesla Model YTesla's Model Y has yet to begin deliveries but promises similar range and features to the Ford Mustang Mach-E.Photo courtesy of Tesla Motors

So which one will be more popular? It turns out it might be a draw. But people did agree that they didn't like the Mustang name slapped onto an all-electric crossover.

Autolist.com surveyed roughly 1,000 car shoppers shortly after the Mach-E was revealed and asked them which they would choose: the Ford or the Tesla Model Y.

Fifty-one percent of people choose the Ford; the remaining 49 percent choose the Tesla.

Those who chose the Ford Mach-E cited the following reasons for doing so:

  • Prefer/trust Ford more
  • The Mach-E's exterior styling
  • Ford's established dealer and service network
  • The Mach-E's expected reliability
  • Concerns about Tesla's future

Meanwhile, those who chose the Tesla Model Y did so citing the following reasons:

  • Prefer/trust Tesla more
  • Expected reliability
  • The Model Y's expected performance
  • Tesla's Supercharging network
  • Dislike of the Ford brand

Turning to Ford's decision to use the iconic Mustang name on this Mach-E crossover, that proved less divisive in Autolist's poll.

Forty-six percent of respondents said they didn't like the fact that Ford chose to use the Mustang name on the Mach-E, 20 percent did like the decision, and 34 percent were undecided.

Ford Mustang Mach-EFord offers a richer dealership network than Tesla, which sells from boutiques or online.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company

While the Mach-E certainly is a departure from what the Mustang muscle car has been known for over the past 55 years, there's some logic behind Ford's choice to use it here. Because the Mustang name has so much brand awareness unto itself, Ford can leverage it to get more attention paid to this all-new electric crossover than it would have if it had used a new name for the EV.

Tesla's Model Y is currently expected to begin deliveries in the middle of 2020.

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2022 Lincoln NavigatorThe new Navigator features several upscale touches and excellent tech. Lincoln

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Though more than adequate, those specs are a far cry from the numbers we expect from the Escalade V. The full-size bruiser from Cadillac is expected to get a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, similar to the unit seen in the CT5-V Blackwing and Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. We don’t know power numbers yet, but the engine should deliver horsepower and torque numbers in the high 600s.

Cadillac Escalade VThe Escalade V will be massively powerful. Cadillac

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Ford F-150 LightningPast meets future: Ford's new electric pickup will be the F-150 Lightningautomotivemap.com

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Ford F-150 LightningThe first production trucks left the factory today.
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