The Ford (NYSE: F) Mustang Mach-E officially unseated the Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) Model 3 as Consumer Reports top electric vehicle for 2022, a promising sign for the legacy automaker's electric vehicle ambitions, which have only grown in the wake of unprecedented demand for its first lineup of EV's.
"The Mach-E stands out in this emerging category for being enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration, agile handling, and a well-mannered ride," writes Consumer Reports in its final evaluation. "This well-executed new model catapults Ford into the burgeoning market with its first purpose-built EV that blends being green with character and driving fun," the non-profit added.
Road test score, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety are all included in a vehicle's final score, according to an explanation of Consumer Report's final decision.
Survey data collected from CR members indicate that the Mach-E lead the pack in terms of reliability, outclassing the Model 3 and even the Tesla Model Y.
Additionally, for the first time this year, Consumer Reports gave vehicles with active driver assistance and driver monitoring two additional points. Again, Ford's BlueCruise driving assistance system got the edge in this category, with CR noting that BlueCruise actively alerts distracted drivers when their eyes wander off the road. In contrast, drivers can easily bypass the Tesla Autopilot system so long as they keep one hand on the steering wheel.
Overall, Consumer Reports said it still recommends the Model 3, saying that it still provides a near-sports car experience, but that the Mustang Mach-E provides an equally if not more compelling experience. The Mach-E is "more practical and easier to live with," and that it is "quieter and rides better," said the non-profit.
Meanwhile, as an automaker, Tesla had its poorest showing in the seven years its been ranked among Consumer Reports top 32, slipping 7 spots to number 23. Along with the aforementioned issues with the AutoPilot System, Consumer Reports was critical of a shift in steering wheel design in Tesla's Model S and Model X.
Ford, meanwhile, holds the number 22 spot. Nevertheless, the legacy automaker is charging ahead to prove that it can compete in the emerging electric vehicle space. On Monday, Bloomberg reported that Ford might spin-off its EV division to compete with "pure EV players" like Tesla. Ford later denied Bloomberg's contentions, but regardless the company is "building new muscles, and that certainly includes scaling up our production of electric vehicles," said Ford CEO Jim Farley on an earnings call earlier this month.
Meanwhile, in September, Ford announced an $11.4 billion partnership with South Korea's SK Innovation to build new production facilities for EVs and lithium-ion batteries. Both companies characterized the effort as "the largest ever U.S. investment in electric vehicles at one time by any automotive manufacturer."
The venture will take off in 2025 when Ford opens its $5.6 billion BlueOval City campus in Staton Tennessee. Farley said BlueOval "will be the largest, most advanced manufacturing complex in our history."
During the same earnings call, Farley also noted three other large-scale battery plants "which will be coming on stream with capacity to produce enough battery cells for more than 1 million vehicles a year," he said. Ford's expected 1 million batteries per year would equal the expected output of Tesla's two Berlin and Texas Giga factories, which only recently broke ground.