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If you love electric cars from Ford or Chevrolet, you must have heard about Ford’s Mustang Mach E and Chevy Bolt, all-electric SUV models which are competing in the market. The two models have self-driving technologies, with Mustang using active drive assist and Chevy using super cruise control.
In addition, Mustang Mach E and Chevy Bolt boast Automatic Emergency Braking and Lane Keep Assist technologies for safe driving. However, the two portray more differences than similarities.
For instance, the Mustang Mach E is faster, more powerful, and more expensive than the Chevy Bolt. On the other hand, the Chevy Bolt has a longer driving range than the Mustang Mach E. If you want to consider these models in your next zero-emission car purchase, here is a comprehensive Mustang Mach E vs Chevy Bolt comparison to guide you.
Mustang Mach E vs Chevy Bolt: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Mustang Mach E | Chevy Bolt | |
|---|---|---|
| Trims | Select, premium, California route 1, GT (4 models) | 1LT and 2LT (2 models) |
| Base Price | $43,995 | $33,995 |
| Federal Tax Credit Eligibility | Yes | No |
| Battery | Lithium-ion | Lithium-ion |
| Range | 211 miles (AWD) and 230 miles (RWD) | 250 miles (FWD) |
| Horse Power | 266 hp | 200 hp |
| Torque | 317 lb-ft (RWD) 428 lb-ft (AWD) | 266 lb-ft(FWD) |
| Wheelbase | 117 inches | 105.3 inches |
| Size (L X W X H) | 185.6 X 74.1 X 64 inches | 169.5 X 69.7 X 63.6 inches |
| Headroom | 38.9” (front); 38.2” (rear) | 40.0” (front – max); 37.8” rear |
| Hip room | 55.4” (front); 53.2“(rear) | 51.4” (front); 50.2“(rear) |
| Legroom | 43.3” (front); 38.1” (rear) | 44.3“ (front – max); 39.1“ (rear) |
| Shoulder Room | 57.6” (front); 55.9” (rear) | 54.6” (front); 52.0” (rear) |
| Curb Weight | 4,394 pounds | 3,679 pounds |
| Cargo Volume (behind the back seat/back seat folded, front trunk | 29.7 cu ft / 59.7 cu ft / 4.7 cu ft | 16.3 cu ft / 56.9 cu ft /0 |
| Safety Tech | Automatic rear brake assist, blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking (front), lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams | Automatic emergency braking (front), lane keep assist, forward collision alert, rear vision camera |
| Self-Driving Technology | Active Drive Assist (Upper Trims) | Super Cruise |
| Turning circle | 38.1 feet | 38.3 feet |
Mustang Mach E vs Chevy Bolt: What’s the Difference?
The Mustang Mach E and the Chevy Bolt are built differently, which explains their variations in price, power delivery, acceleration, comfort, and ease of use among other aspects.
This section details the major differences between the Mustang Mach E and the Chevy Bolt to help you understand what makes them unique.
Performance
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Performance refers to the overall driving experience in a car. Below are the aspects you must consider when comparing Mustang Mach E vs Chevy Bolt’s performance.
Engine Power
Mustang Mach E boasts 266 hp engine power, which is more than Chevy Bolt’s 200 hp. That means the Mustang can tackle more challenging tasks than the Chevy Bolt since it delivers more power to the wheels. The Mustang’s high-power transmission also means it’s faster than the Chevy Bolt.
Torque
Torque is the force that causes the vehicle wheels to rotate. In other words, it is the force that gives you the feeling of acceleration when you put pressure on the gas pedal. It measures the vehicle’s ability to do work and how fast it can adjust to higher speeds.
Mustang Mach E has a Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) and All-Wheel Drive (AWD) with a torque of 317 lb-ft (RWD) and 428 lb-ft (AWD), respectively. Chevy Bolt, on the other hand, has a Forward Wheel Drive(FWD) with a torque of 266 lb-ft.
Comparing the two, the Mustang Mach E is the clear winner with 51 ft-lb more torque at standard wheels, hence more adaptive to higher speed needs than the Chevy Bolt.
Turning Radius
The turning radius defines the amount of space that a particular vehicle requires to make a semi-circular U-turn without skidding. Mustang Mach E requires a turning radius of 38.1 feet, while Chevy Bolt requires a radius of 38.3 feet. The smaller turning radius means that the Mustang Mach E can overcome narrower bends or dodge more impossible obstacles than the Chevy Bolt.
Driving Range
The range is the distance an electric vehicle can cover before depleting its battery. The Mustang Mach E has a range of 211 miles on AWD and 230 miles on its standard RWD. On the other hand, the Chevy Bolt boasts a range of 250 miles, meaning it can cover a longer distance on a single charge.
Comfort
When choosing between the Mustang Mach E and the Chevy Bolt, you want to land the car that gives you the most comfort. Below are the various aspects to consider.
Headroom, Legroom, and Hip room
Headroom is the space between the car’s headliner and the occupant’s crown. The Mustang Mach E has a headroom of 38.9 inches and 38.2 inches in the front and rear sections, respectively, while the Chevy Bolt has a headroom of 40 and 37.8 inches in the same sections.
Conversely, legroom refers to the space between your current seat and the seat in front of you. The Mustang Mach E offers a front and rear legroom of 43.3 and 38.1 inches, compared to Chevy’s 44.3-inch (front – max) and 39.1-inch rear legroom.
Finally, the hip room defines the width of seats in a car. Mustang Mach E offers a front and rear hip room of 55.4 and 53.2 inches, which is more than Chevy Bolt’s 51.4 and 50.2 inches of hip room in the front and rear seats, respectively. Here, the choice will depend on your body size and preferences regarding your internal space.
Available Storage
The Mustang Mach E offers 3 storage options: 29.7 cubic feet of storage space behind the backseat, 59.7 cubic feet of space with the back seat folded, and another 4.7 cubic feet of space in the front trunk. This makes it the ultimate vehicle if you need an SUV with lots of storage compartments.
The Chevy Bolt, on the other hand, offers two storage options: a 16.3 cubic feet space behind the rear seat and a 56.9 cubic feet storage space with the back seat folded, making it an ideal vehicle for light packing.
While the Mustang’s 4.7 cubic feet frunk may not be a deal breaker, it can prove very helpful if you have some wet/ dirty stuff to avoid mixing with other cargo in the trunk.
Wheelbase
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The wheelbase is the space between the tires, and it influences the vehicle’s handling, balance, and ride quality. More specifically, a longer wheelbase means a smoother ride, and vice versa. With a wheelbase of 117 inches, the Mustang Mach E is more comfortable to ride in than the Chevy Bolt, which has a wheelbase of 105.3 inches.
Suspensions
The Mustang Mach E has independent MacPherson strut suspensions with a hollow suspension bar in the front section and independent multilink suspensions with a hollow stabilizer bar in the rear section.
The independent MacPherson strut suspensions mean that each wheel on the same axle responds to shocks independently of others for better traction, smoother ride, and enhanced stability. On the other hand, multilink suspensions on Mustang’s rear imply that the vehicle conforms to varying degrees of off-road driving, giving you a comfortable ride.
Notwithstanding, Chevy Bolt boasts an independent MacPherson strut suspension with a direct-acting solid stabilizer bar in the front and a compound crank with coil springs on the rear section. The independent MacPherson strut suspensions are great for shock absorption and stabilizing the vehicle, as noted above.
However, the solid stabilizer bars used in Chevy Bolt are way too heavy and weaker than the hollow suspension bars in the Mustang Mach E. This gives Mustang a head over the competition in terms of suspension.
Size
The Mustang E is larger than Chevy Bolt with a size of 185.6 L x 74.1W x 64H inches, hence more spacious and comfortable. However, the smaller Chevy (169.5 x 69.7 x 63.6 inches) beats Mustang when it comes to parking in a squeezed space.
Safety
The Mustang Mach E and the Chevy Bolt share safety technologies like Automatic Emergency Braking, which detects a possible collision and activates the brakes autonomously to slow or stop the car and avoid an accident.
Additionally, both vehicle models have Lane Keep Assist (LKA) system, which utilizes a front-facing camera to monitor the lane markings and maintain your vehicle on the lane. If your vehicle diverts from the lane markings, the LKA system may intervene by activating the brakes or employing steering correction to revert the vehicle to its lane.
However, Mustang Mach E has additional safety perks not present in Chevy Bolt, taking the lead in the game. These include:
- Blind spot monitoring – a sensor-based system that detects vehicles on the rear blind spot section and alerts the driver to take safety actions.
- Rear cross traffic alert – a driving assistance system that detects and alerts you of a vehicle that may approach your car from the right or left when reversing.
- Automatic high beams – detect the brightness of the traffic lights and adjust the high beams accordingly.
Self-Driving Technology
Both the Mustang Mach E and the Chevy Bolt embrace self-driving technologies. For Mustang, the technology comes in the form of Active Drive Assist. For Chevy Bolt, the technology comes in the form of a supercruise. However, it’s still unclear if the self-drive technology for both models is available for all versions or only the top tiers.
Available Trims
The Mach E comes in four trims, including Select, Premium, California route 1, and GT, to offer you multiple options. The Bolt, on the other hand, comes in two trims, which include the 1 LT and 2 LT models.
Internal Attributes
Mustang offers an unparalleled experience with its interior with technological additions, which include:
- SiriusXM® with a 360L – an audio platform that allows you to choose and listen to your favorite channel while driving.
- A 15.5-inch touchscreen on the dashboard that lets you watch or listen to your favorite movie or music. You can also use the touchscreen to find your way if you get lost.
- Front rain-sensing wipers for detecting and wiping excess moisture off the windscreen, giving you a clear view of the road.
- Mustang Wireless charger for charging your phone.
- SYNC® 4A with Voice Recognition, a system that gives you conversational control over multiple options (smartphone messages, calls, and emails, media control, navigation options, access to the owner’s manual, and interior climate control).
The above technological attributes are far more advanced than the ones featured in the Chevy Bolt.
Price
The Mach E has a base price of $43,995, while the Chevy Bolt has a base price of $33,995. As you can see, the Mustang Mach E is $10,000 pricier than the Chevy Bolt. The price gap is explained by the differences in performance, storage, comfort, safety, and other features where Mustang Mach E wins the competition.
Mustang Mach E vs Chevy Bolt: 10 Must-Know Facts
- Both Mustang Mach E and Chevy Bolt have self-drive technologies.
- Mustang Mach E has more engine power and torque than the Chevy Bolt.
- Mustang Mach E offers a larger cargo space than the Chevy Bolt.
- Chevy Bolt is relatively easier to squeeze in busy parking than the Mustang Mach E.
- Both Mustang Mach E and Chevy Bolt have Automatic Emergency Braking.
- Both Mustang Mach E and Chevy Bolt have Lane Keep Assist.
- Mustang Mach E has a better suspension system than the Chevy Bolt.
- Mustang Mach E comes in 4 trims.
- Chevy Bolt offers only 2 trims.
- Mustang Mach E has better ride quality than the Chevy Bolt.
Mustang Mach E vs Chevy Bolt: Which One Is Better?
Both the Mustang Mach E and the Chevy Bolt are great models with different capabilities and specs. The former tops the game regarding performance, cargo space, user comfort, maximum range, safety, and ease of use.
It also offers more trim options than the Chevy Bolt. It is your go-to option if you need a powerful and comfortable EV for challenging terrains.
On the other hand, the Chevy Bolt is more affordable than the Mustang Mach E. It has a higher range, hence more power efficient. Its small size makes it more town friendly. You should go with the Bolt if you need a compact EV for a small family.
