Consumer Reports has replaced the Tesla Model 3 with the Ford Mustang Mach-E as the best new electric car of 2022.
The change is sure to give Ford a boost as it seeks to outpace Tesla in the race to become the number one electric vehicle manufacturer in the United States.
Consumer Reports is a US consumer nonprofit organization dedicated to independent product testing, consumer-oriented research, and consumer advocacy.
Tesla has long dominated Consumer Reports’ electric vehicle rankings, with the Model 3 holding the spot for the past two years.
But Consumer Reports says a variety of factors, including ride quality, reliability and in-car user experiences, led to the Mustang Mach-E’s crowning.
“The Model 3 is still a great choice and Consumer Reports recommends it,” Consumer Reports wrote. But the Mustang Mach-E is also sportier, as well as being more practical, quieter and providing a better riding experience.
And both cars have large infotainment center screens. But operating the Mustang Mach-E is much easier and does not require multiple steps to activate routine features, such as using a defroster or adjusting mirrors, as with the Tesla.
Consumer Reports applauds Ford’s decision to include a driver monitoring system in the Mustang Mach-E. Tesla has long resisted efforts to include DMS in its vehicles.
This came despite the fact that it sent more software updates to its advanced driver assistance systems that take advantage of the more powerful Driver Monitoring System.
Ford focuses on rival Tesla
Ford recently introduced its hands-free driver assistance system, BlueCruise, for the 2021 Mustang Mach-E.
An infrared sensor monitors the driver’s eye movements and the car issues a series of alerts if the driver’s attention begins to become distracted. In contrast, the Tesla system requires only a hand on the steering wheel and does not have a system to monitor the driver’s visual perception.
Notably, this isn’t the first time a Model 3 has faced Consumer Reports. The organization said in May 2018 that it could not recommend an electric vehicle due to the long stopping distance during emergency braking tests.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, attacked Consumer Reports’ tactics. But the company later sent out an update that improved the car’s braking distance by about 20 feet.
Tesla accounts for nearly three-quarters of all electric vehicle sales in the United States. The company’s share price is also causing discontent among its competitors.
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