2024 Chevy Blazer RS AWD vs. 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, Tesla Model Y Long Range: Electric SUVs Compared!
We put three of the biggest players in the electric SUV space in a shootout for supremacy.0:00 / 0:00
In the car biz, "The Big Three" has traditionally referred to General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and whatever guise Chrysler takes at the moment. However, as Stellantis has unbelievably failed to so much as field a fully electric mainstream vehicle as of September 2023, and the Tesla Model Y is among the bestselling vehicles on planet Earth, we're altering the term's meaning. The Model Y, a compact, fully electric SUV, is the fourth vehicle released by upstart Tesla. To say it's a success is the definition of the word understatement—damn near the entire automotive industry has built or is readying compact electric SUVs to battle the Model Y. That includes the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the all-new Chevrolet Blazer RS.
Ford was first to market with its controversially named electric Mustang SUV. If you haven't heard the story, Ford decided the Mach-E had to be as exciting as possible, and after a peek around Dearborn, the Mustang was the sexiest thing anyone saw. Hence, the Mustang Mach-E. Hate the name all you like; Ford has sold more than 80,000 Mach-Es since 2021. Sized within inches of the Tesla Model Y, the Ford is as much a two-row wagon as it is an SUV (just 5.8 inches of ground clearance). The Mach-E we tested is the California Route 1 edition, which comes with a 91-kWh battery, 312 miles of driving range, and all-wheel drive for $60,895.
The MotorTrend SUV of the Year-winning Chevrolet Blazer is the first mainstream vehicle to launch off GM's Ultium EV platform, with the Hummer EV and Cadillac Lyriq coming first. The futuristic-looking Blazer is larger than either the Tesla or the Ford, making it feel more spacious inside. The Blazer is also heavier than the other two, which in part contributes to its shorter range (279 miles, says the EPA). It also doesn't come with a glass roof, which many will interpret as wonderful in our increasingly hotter world, though some will miss the view, nor does the Chevy have a frunk. There's a deep storage space underneath the rear compartment, but still. Finally, although our test subject is AWD, the Blazer can be ordered as FWD, AWD, or RWD. That's unique amongst passenger vehicles. Our test Blazer RS carries a sticker price of $64,230.
The 2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range is the newest member of our ever-growing fleet of long-term test EVs. On paper, the Model Y looks like the clear winner in some key metrics. It's the lightest of the bunch, more than 300 pounds lighter than the Ford and nearly 800 pounds lighter than the Chevy. It's quicker than the others, although not that much more so than the Mustang Mach-E. However, its wheelbase is shorter than either, some 8 inches less than the Blazer, which affects space inside the cabin. It does have a fantastic frunk, however. Then there's the price. At $71,630 as tested, it's much more expensive than the others. Note, though, that fully $15,000 of that price is Tesla's deceptively named Full Self Driving software. Skip that noise, and you're talking about a price that's more than $5,000 less than the Ford.
Numbers Upon Numbers
Aside from price, range is the most important number in the EV world. As driving range is typically tied directly to battery size, the amount of lithium sitting beneath you also matters. As mentioned, the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer RS has the smallest range here, and it's EPA-rated 279 miles. It achieves that with an 85-kWh battery pack. There's also a front-wheel-drive version that can cover 320 miles using the same battery. The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E's range is 312 miles, and it gets that far with a 91-kWh battery. Here's the interesting part: The 2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range can cover 330 miles on a single charge, but it has the smallest battery of these three SUVs, just 84.6 kWh. Just looking at ratios, if the Ford were as inefficient as the Chevy, it would need a 95-kWh pack to go its 312 miles. If the Tesla had the same efficiency as the Ford, it would require a 96-kWh pack. Interestingly, the EPA rates the Blazer at 96 mpg-e, the Mustang at 98 mpg-e, and the Model Y at 122 mpg-e.
But here's the thing: Once you have a range exceeding 250 miles, it's basically a nonissue in most use cases. True, if you road-trip for a living, the extra miles the Tesla gives you over the Chevy is a consideration. But if, like most people, you drive your kid to school, then go to the office, pick your kid up, then hit piano lessons, the grocery store, and head home, you just don't need a massive range. Especially if you have a home charger. That said, we applaud Tesla for being so efficient and raise an eyebrow at General Motors for having the least efficient vehicle in our test.
In terms of performance, the Model Y is just better than the other two, and the Ford beats up on the Chevy. Look at the 0-60 times. We're talking 6.0 seconds for the Blazer RS, 4.8 seconds for the Mustang Mach-E, and just 4.5 seconds for the Model Y. In the quarter mile it's the same story, with the Blazer getting through the gate in 14.8 seconds at 93.1 mph, the Mach-E taking 13.4 seconds at 105.2 mph, and the Model Y needing only 12.9 seconds while traveling at 112.9 mph. These times are mostly explained by the power each vehicle makes: 288 hp and 333 lb-ft of torque for the Chevy, 346 hp and 428 lb-ft for the Ford, and 384 hp with 375 lb-ft for the Tesla. Need or want more? All three carmakers will happily sell you a more powerful version, including the (coming soon) Blazer SS, Mach-E GT, and Model Y Performance. Though looking at the Ford and Tesla's sub-5-second 60-mph sprints, how much more power do you need in real life?
When it comes to braking, the 2023 Tesla Model Y is best again, stopping from 60 mph in 118 feet. The Ford and Chevy both need improvement, stopping in 128 and 131 feet, respectively. The Blazer hugs the ground a bit more than the Mach-E, pulling 0.80 g (average) on our skidpad as opposed to 0.79 g. The Model Y houses them both, pulling 0.87 g. Any guesses as to how our figure-eight test went? If you guessed 27.4 seconds for the Blazer, 26.9 for the Mach-E, and 25.6 for the Tesla, go buy a lottery ticket. Without putting too fine a point on it, the Tesla is the performance champ among these three electric SUVs, hands down.
