Mustang Mach-E Wins Two Best EV Recognitions From CNET

The CNET Road Show experts are highly respected within the automotive industry for their forward thinking and their automotive insights. So receiving accolades from this group is something most automakers will celebrate. And fans of these winning brands should consider this a victory too.

Ford’s pride and joy EV, the Mustang Mach-E, received two separate recognitions from CNET recently. The Mach-E was named Best Midsize Electric Car and also Best Electric SUV or Crossover.

Fairly recently the Mach-E also picked up another outstanding accolade when Car and Driver named it the Electric Vehicle of the Year. These are a couple of large feathers in the hat of the Mach-E and Ford as despite some early controversy regarding use of the hallowed Mustang name on an electric crossover has not negatively impacted sales or interest in the Mach-E.

Thanks mostly to the Mach-E, Ford’s electric vehicle sales are skyrocketing in fact.

In the story on CNET’s website (found here), the editors made their choices amongst all of the EVs on the road, which is dominated by Tesla. However, several entrants took the top billing away from Tesla showing that the rest of auto industry from the “ICE world” have impacted the EV world.

The Tesla Model S won CNET’s Best Electric Large Car award and was runner up in the highly coveted Best Afford Electric Car recognition, which was won by the Hyundai Kona. With a cost of just over $42,000 the Mach-E loses out on affordability to both the Kona Electric with a base price of $39,390 and the Tesla Model 3.

Best Electric Midsize Car: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E
CNET’s editors noted regarding the Mach-E: Despite its controversial name, the Mach-E offers good range, a great interior and excellent driving dynamics in an uber practical package that also boasts 29 cubic feet of cargo space with all the seats up.”

CNET concluded that although the Mach-E was a new entry this year that its debut was fantastic and that the Mustang Mach-E was “one of the best all-around EVs on sale today.”

CNET named the Tesla Model 3 the runner up to the Mach-E citing build quality issues and a lack of service centers in some parts of the country. Also, critically, many Teslas, including the Model 3 have been criticized for having an interior that is too basic and barren. That is a fair criticism when compared to the higher-quality interior of the Mach-E.

Best Electric SUV or Crossover: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Let’s be honest, there are not that many true SUVs or crossovers in the EV world, so CNET naming the Mach-E the top in this very limited segment is less of a big deal. Nevertheless, CNET gave the Mach-E the title over runner up the Audi E-Tron.

There was no mention of Tesla’s Model Y in this listing, so perhaps that crossover fell short altogether of CNET’s expectations.

CNET proclaimed the Mach-E the winner citing: “Despite its rakish shape and sporty badge, the Mach-E should be a super practical midsize EV that almost any family would have no trouble living with.”

Ford Fans Should Celebrate the Mach-E’s Success And Accolades
Some Ford fans who hate the Mustang name being used on an SUV have inexplicably rooted for the Mach-E to be a failure. Yet, the Mach-E has won numerous awards, including the very prestigious North American Utility Vehicle of the Year award and has had sales increases every single month. Clearly, the Mach-E isn’t a bust.

And it’s leading Ford in a financial swing as the Blue Oval just reported better than expected financial returns leading to a jump in the stock price. So, whether you like EVs or not or if you hate the name Mustang being used on an EV SUV, if you’re still a Ford fan, all of this has to be good news to you.

If not, you’re not really a Ford fan. That’s my two cents, what’s your take? Leave me your comments below.

Jimmy Dinsmore has been an automotive journalist for more than a decade and been a writer since the high school. His Driver’s Side column features new car reviews and runs in several newspapers throughout the country. He is also co-author of the book “Mustang by Design” and “Ford Trucks: A Unique Look at the Technical History of America’s Most Popular Truck”. Also, Jimmy works in the social media marketing world for a Canadian automotive training aid manufacturing company. Follow Jimmy on Facebook, Twitter, at his special Ford F-150 coverage on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can read the most of Jimmy's stories by searching Torque News Ford for daily Ford vehicle report.