Tesla Model Y

Traditional carmakers are paying strong attention to electric vehicles, and both Ford and Volkswagen are expanding availability globally – with both announcing big news for Australia this week.

Electric vehicle (EV) take-up continues to be slowed by market preferences and minimal incentives in Australia, pushing supply towards more EV-friendly regions.

But, after years of waiting, the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4 are finally confirmed for Australia.

Ford has confirmed the Mustang Mach-E will arrive from “later this year (2023)”, while Volkswagen claims the ID.4 – and its ID.5 coupe SUV sibling – are due in the first half of 2024.

So, how do the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4 compare against the established and conceptually-similar Tesla Model Y, and the 2022 Wheels Car of the Year-winning Kia EV6? Let’s find out.

JUMP AHEAD

• Pricing
• Performance
• Driving range
• Dimensions
• Charging
• Features
• Safety
• Cargo space

Firstly, are you interested in a medium-to-large electric SUV available now?

Check out our coverage below.

Pricing

There’s no need to guess pricing for the Model Y and EV6, as both vehicles are available in Australia.

Both start around $70,000 before on-road costs, rising to $100,000 for the performance-orientated flagships.

As for the Mustang Mach-E, it is a bit harder to estimate, but our calculations – based on UK and US pricing – suggest a price between $70,000 and $110,000 before on-roads.

Last year, Volkswagen managing director for passenger vehicles, Michal Szaniecki, said the ID.4 and its swoopy ID.5 coupe sibling would be priced in line with the Tiguan R-Line and the Tiguan R.

Exact spec hasn't been locked in, but expect the first batch to match the Pro Performance trim offered in Europe, with a 77kWh battery and a driving range of around 520 kilometres.

The flagship GTX will arrive later.

As such, we'd estimate a price between $60,000 for the entry ID.4 and $80,000 for the GTX – similar to the R-Line and R, respectively.

All estimated prices exclude on-road costs (taxes, registration, third-party insurance and dealer delivery charges) and EV incentives, which are subject to change.

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Performance

As the table below shows, the Kia EV6 is the most powerful, with the flagship GT grade packing a serious punch.

It is followed by the Mach-E and Model Y, which pack a similar punch to provide some serious performance at around $100,000 for the most-powerful versions.

However, the Volkswagen ID.4 still has respectable outputs, and the GTX is pitched as an electric alternative to the traditional Golf GTI.

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Driving range

All vehicles are closely matched for claimed driving range, with the most-powerful Mach-E, EV6 and ID.4 variants having a compromised range in favour of added performance.

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Dimensions

Here, the Ford Mustang Mach-E is shown to be a more spacious offering, with a large-sized footprint similar to the Tesla Model Y and Kia EV6 and, compared to the smaller Volkswagen ID.4, which is likely to slot into the medium SUV category in Australia.

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Charging

With an 800-volt architecture, the Kia EV6 supports 350kW ultra-rapid fast charging – allowing it to charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes.

However, it can be difficult to reach these speeds – particularly in Australia.

The Model Y, meanwhile, fully supports Tesla’s Supercharger network, with a 250kW maximum allowing for a top-up in around 30 minutes.

As for the Mach-E and ID.4, a public DC charger should top up the battery of each vehicle from 10 to 80 per cent in around 40 minutes.

This is due to a charging rate around 135kW to 150kW in both vehicles, allowing for a quicker charge than a standard 50kW unit.

For charging at home, all vehicles have a maximum 11kW AC charge rate.

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Features

Volkswagen ID.4

Ford Mustang Mach-E

Advice

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Tesla Model Y

Kia EV6

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Safety

The Tesla Model Y and Kia EV6 are both covered by a five-star ANCAP safety rating, while the Mustang Mach-E and ID.4 have five-star Euro NCAP ratings.

Testing for the Model Y was performed in 2022, while the EV6, Mustang Mach-E and ID.4 were crashed in 2021.

The safety results for the latter two would likely carry across to ANCAP when the vehicles launch in Australia.

Key safety equipment includes; autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition.

A 360-degree camera is available on all vehicles – but it is omitted from the entry-level EV6 Air in Australia.

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Cargo space

While the Tesla Model Y has the largest boot at 854 litres, this measurement is up to the roof – while others are typically measured to the top of the seats.

Despite the notable difference in dimensions between the ID.4 and Mustang Mach-E, it is the Volkswagen that has a larger boot – largely due to the Ford’s coupe-like roofline.

Both the Ford and Tesla offer a front boot, adding extra practicality. There is no need to pack an esky in the Mach-E, as it can be filled with ice, with a drain plug to remove water.

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Which electric SUV would you pick? Let us know in the comments below!

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