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Tesla Model Y vs Ford Mustang Mach-E comparison gets the Top Gear treatment

Credit: Jamie Lipman for Top Gear

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4 years ago

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The Tesla Model Y and the Ford Mustang Mach-E may be allies in the push for sustainable transportation, but the two vehicles, being both premium crossover SUVs, are bound to be compared. One of the most recent comparisons of the two cars was recently conducted by one of the motoring world’s most prominent outlets: Top Gear. 

The veteran automotive publication used a Tesla Model Y Performance and a Ford Mustang Mach-E First Edition for its tests. Specs-wise, the Tesla was the clear winner despite its higher price. However, this is reasonably expected considering that the Model Y Performance is more comparable to the Mustang Mach-E GT, a vehicle that is yet to be released. The two all-electric crossovers were pitted against each other on four fronts—performance, interior and tech, exterior, and charging. 

Credit: Tom’s Ford/Instagram

The results were quite interesting, if not a bit telling. 

The Tesla Model Y is not a new car. It’s already been in production for about a year now, which meant that Ford had some time to refine the Mach-E before its release to ensure that it could outgun its Silicon Valley-based counterpart. Yet, according to Top Gear’s tests, this is not necessarily the case. The publication noted that the Model Y Performance proved to be a better driver’s car, lighter on its wheels, and quick to respond. The fact that it’s almost two seconds faster from 0-60 mph than the Mach-E was just icing on the cake. 

This does not mean to say that the Mach-E was not an engaging car, of course. The publication praised the Ford crossover for its smooth and comfortable ride, which provided a plushier experience compared to the Model Y. However, the vehicle was found to feel quite heavy when being driven hard, which meant that the Mach-E is best enjoyed when it’s being kept within its modest boundaries. 

The second and third rounds of the two vehicles’ comparison involved their interior and exterior, and in this sense, each vehicle came away with a win. While both vehicles’ interiors are tastefully designed—the Mach-E adopting a more forward take on a traditional interior and the Model Y adopting a “minimalist heaven” theme—the gap in their tech was notable. The Mustang Mach-E is equipped with robust tech features, but compared to the Model Y’s Autopilot and custom software, the Tesla proved superior. 

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Credit: Marc Urbano via elektrobloger/Instagram

Exterior-wise, however, the Mach-E proved the clear winner, as it drew far more interest among people than the Model Y. During its test, Top Gear noted that even hardened Mustang enthusiasts proved very enthusiastic about the Mach-E, with some noting that they would probably purchase the vehicle. On the other hand, the Model Y was largely invisible, likely mistaken by the layman as just another Model 3. 

The final comparison of the two vehicles came in the form of a charging test, and in this sense, Tesla’s Supercharger Network ended up being a true difference-maker. The publication charged the vehicles when both had about 30% of their batteries left, and as luck would have it, both the Model Y and the Mach-E directed their drivers to a nearby shopping center. There, the Model Y found itself in a clean row of Superchargers that were ready to provide the all-electric crossover with enough charge in 45 minutes. Since it relied on third-party charging options, the Mach-E showed its driver that it needed 20 hours to charge up. 

Ultimately, Top Gear noted that the Mustang Mach-E, at least at its current state, is not yet on the level of the Model Y, but it is a solid shot at a capable all-electric crossover. Hopefully, as more chargers are set up across the globe and as Ford becomes more experienced in making EVs, the automaker from Detroit could create a vehicle that could, pound-for-pound, match or even exceed its Tesla counterpart. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us for news tips. Just send a message to tips@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla Robotaxi has already surpassed Waymo in this key metric

Tesla Robotaxi has already overtaken Waymo in Austin in one key metric, but there’s still more work to do.

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31 minutes ago

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July 14, 2025

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Credit: @HanChulYong/X

Tesla Robotaxi has already surpassed Waymo in one extremely important key metric: size of service area.

Tesla just expanded its service area in Austin on Monday morning, pushing the boundaries of its Robotaxi fleet in an interesting fashion with new capabilities to the north. Yes, we know what it looks like:

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The expansion doubled Tesla Robotaxi’s potential travel locations, which now include the University of Texas at Austin, a school with over 53,000 students.

The doubling of the service area by Tesla has already made its travel area larger than Waymo’s, which launched driverless rides in October 2024. It became available to the public in March 2025.

According to Grok, the AI agent on X, Tesla Robotaxi’s current service area spans 42 square miles, which is five square miles larger than Waymo’s service area of 37 square miles.

The service area is one of the most important metrics in determining how much progress a self-driving ride-hailing service is making. Safety is the priority of any company operating a ride-hailing network, especially ones that are making it a point to use autonomy to deploy it.

However, these companies are essentially racing for a larger piece of the city or cities they are in. Waymo has expanded to several different regions around the United States, including Arizona and Los Angeles.

Tesla is attempting to do the same in the coming months as it has already filed paperwork in both California and Arizona to deploy its Robotaxi fleet in states across the U.S.

As the platform continues to show more prowess and accuracy in its operation, Tesla will begin to expand to new areas, eventually aiming for a global rollout of its self-driving service.

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Tesla Megapacks arrive for massive battery replacing coal plant

Tesla Megapacks have started arriving on-site to the Stanwell Battery Project, just as Queensland prepares to wind down the Stanwell coal plant.

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1 hour ago

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July 14, 2025

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Tesla-megapack-pilot-project-willowbrook-mall
Credit: Tesla

The first of over 300 Tesla Megapacks have arrived to the site of a massive battery energy storage system (BESS) being built in Australia, dubbed the Stanwell Battery Project after a coal plant it’s set to replace.

In a press release last week, the Stanwell Battery Project announced that the first Tesla Megapack 2XL units had arrived to the site, which is located outside of Rockhampton in Queensland, Australia. The project will eventually feature 324 Megapack units, set to arrive in the coming months, in order to support the 300MW/1,200MWh battery project.

“The Stanwell Battery is part of the diversification of our portfolio, to include cleaner and more flexible energy solutions,” said Angie Zahra, Stanwell Central Generation General Manager. “It is just one part of the 800 MW of battery energy storage capacity we have in our pipeline.

“Capable of discharging 300 MW of energy for up to four hours (1,200 MWh), our mega battery will be one of the largest in Queensland.”

Credit: Stanwell

READ MORE ON TESLA MEGAPACKS: Tesla Lathrop Megafactory celebrates massive Megapack battery milestone

The state is working with government-owned company Yurika to facilitate construction, and the process is expected to create roughly 80 jobs. The project is expected to come fully online in May 2027, with initial commissioning of the Megapacks aiming for November 2025.

The Stanwell Battery is set to replace the nearby Stanwell coal generation plant, which the government is planning to wind down starting in 2026 as part of efforts to reach an 80 percent renewable energy generation ratio by 2035. Meanwhile, the government is also set to begin winding down the Tarong and Callide coal plants, while several other Megapack projects are being built or coming online. o ya

Tesla currently has two Megapack production facilities, located in Lathrop, California, in the U.S. and another that came online earlier this year in Shanghai, China. The Shanghai Megafactory shipped its first units to Australia in March, while both factories are expected to be capable of producing 10,000 Megapack units per year upon reaching volume production.

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The Tesla Diner is basically finished—here’s what it looks like

The company first broke ground on the Diner, Drive-in, and Supercharger location in September 2023. Now, it has served one of its first internal customers.

Published

3 hours ago

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July 14, 2025

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Tesla has finally completed the construction of its highly anticipated Diner, Drive-in, and Supercharger in Los Angeles, and recent photos of the interior’s “retro-futuristic” style are making their way around the internet.

X user Brad Goldberg shared photos from the Tesla Diner site last Tuesday, depicting some of the Supercharger stalls, indoor and outdoor seating areas, multiple neon lights, and even an Optimus robot. Goldberg also noted that there had been a “flurry of activity on site” while he was snapping the photos last week, suggesting that the restaurant location could be getting close to opening.

The Tesla Diner also served one of its first internal customers in the past few days, as Elon Musk posted on X on early Monday morning that he had just finished up eating a meal at the site:

I just had dinner at the retro-futuristic Tesla diner and Supercharger.

Team did great work making it one of the coolest spots in LA!

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The photos also show that the site is pretty much done, with some of them even showing vehicles charging at the charging stalls.

You can see some of the latest photos of the Tesla Diner below.

Credit: BradGoldbergMD | X

Credit: BradGoldbergMD | X

Credit: BradGoldbergMD | X

Credit: BradGoldbergMD | X

Credit: TeslaKing420 | X

Credit: TeslaKing420 | X

Credit: Brad Goldberg (via Sawyer Merritt on X)

Credit: Brad Goldberg (via Sawyer Merritt on X)

Credit: Brad Goldberg (via Sawyer Merritt on X)

Credit: Brad Goldberg (via Sawyer Merritt on X)

Credit: Brad Goldberg (via Sawyer Merritt on X)

READ MORE ON TESLA’S LA DINER: Tesla readies Drive-In Diner Supercharger for launch with app inclusion

When will the Tesla Diner open to external customers?

While it’s still not open to external customers yet, the news again suggests that the company could be close to an official opening date. Tesla first broke ground on the Diner in September 2023, after receiving a wave of building permit approvals throughout that year. Teslarati also covered much of the construction progress throughout last year, including when crews installed the first and second drive-in screens.

Located at 7001 West Santa Monica Boulevard, the idea was first discussed in 2018 by Musk and a few others on Twitter, featuring 1950s rock and roll, waiters on roller skates, and drive-in movie theater screens playing clips from some of history’s best movies. Notably, the photos of the front doors also show that the site will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, whenever it does end up opening.

Tesla’s progress on Supercharger with diner, drive-in seen in aerial footage

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