Two New SUV Models Crank Up the Competition Against the Mercedes EQA
Giancarlo Perlas May 26, 2021
Selling big in America, the Honda CRV is an established commodity that has gone hybrid in the UK. Hoping to sell big there and here, the Ford Mustang Mach-E is now rolling out to see how well it can take on the competition.
Both are expected to give the Mercedes-Benz EQA a run for its money. That’s because, between them, shoppers have a much broader range of choices than before. Let’s take a look at their strengths as we compare the two.
Electric vs Hybrid Choices
The MACH-E is 100 percent electric while the Honda CRV Hybrid has electric modes. This means you’ll plug in the Ford, but you’ll fill up the CRV Hybrid. The hybrid naturally has the best range in terms of convenience while the electric has the lowest carbon footprint.
Honda’s hybrid technology allows this vehicle to go into EV mode in different situations. It can travel on electric power alone for short distances. At cruising speeds of 40 mph, it will switch into electric mode, using velocity to maintain speed. When it gets to a higher speed, it can still do this trick, but for less time.
Size and Style Considerations
The CRV Hybrid exterior was aerodynamically designed in a wind tunnel on a moving floor. This makes it as trim as a mid-size SUV can be. Yet inside it has the most room since it was carefully sculpted to maximize space. For instance, the front dash was trimmed to allow more knee and legroom.
Still, the Honda CRV Hybrid looks like a utility vehicle. It sits taller, and the SUV style is unmistakable. This may be most noticeable in a crowded lot when looking for a suitable space.
With the Mach-E, Ford goes a different direction. The SUV style is downplayed in favor of a look that is closer to a muscular sedan. There is no grille, since this is electric, and the manufacturer has chosen to put a Pony there to tie this utility vehicle to its namesake sports car. The style is certainly sportier than the CRV Hybrid or any utility vehicle for that matter.
What the Ford Mustang Mach-E buyer trades in interior spaciousness, they make up for in a trimmer figure. This should make it easier to park the Mach-e.
Major Appeal Factors
There is no way around it. These two SUVs will appeal to very different buyers. The CRV Hybrid will continue to appeal to families. It is bigger and more inviting. Plus, it is packed with safety features at a very reasonable price. One imagines parents looking it over and discussing how it meets all the important requirements on their list. This is a vehicle with a large boot that begs to be packed up for holidays and loaded up for football matches.
The smaller Mustang Mach-e doesn’t need to worry about competing with the CR-V Hybrid for the big family market. It can focus on attracting singles, couples and small families. Ford has made sure that it is big enough to handle those types of buyers and their needs.
In fact, there is a wow factor earned by the Ford Mach-e due to its Mustang looks and speedy nature that may attract buyers who thought they weren’t ready for electric cars.
