Compare the2025 Toyota Rav4 Plug-In HybridVS 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Ford Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Ford Mustang Mach-E has not been tested.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid. But it costs extra on the Mustang Mach-E.

Both the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid and the Mustang Mach-E have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Mustang Mach-E.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s reliability 41 points higher than the Mustang Mach-E.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 92 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 23rd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Ford is ranked 13th.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 30 more horsepower (302 vs. 272) than the Mustang Mach-E’s standard electric motor. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 12 more horsepower (302 vs. 290) than the Mustang Mach-E ER’s standard electric motor.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is faster than the Mustang Mach-E ER electric motor:

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the Mustang Mach-E:

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s maximum EPA estimated range on a full tank and a full charge is 622 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The Mustang Mach-E’s range is only 240 to 320 miles, after which

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port and which locks and unlocks with the power locks, respectively. The Mustang Mach-E doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Mustang Mach-E are solid, not vented.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Mustang Mach-E; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE handles at .83 G’s, while the Mustang Mach-E pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Mustang Mach-E (27 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Mustang Mach-E’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Mustang Mach-E’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE has a 2.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Mustang Mach-E (8 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE’s minimum ground clearance is 2.4 inches higher than on the Mustang Mach-E (8.2 vs. 5.8 inches).

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is 4.7 inches shorter than the Mustang Mach-E Select/Premium, making the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has .2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Mustang Mach-E.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s rear seats recline. The Mustang Mach-E’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Mustang Mach-E with its rear seat up (33.5 vs. 29.7 cubic feet). The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Mustang Mach-E with its rear seat folded (63.2 vs. 59.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid easier. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.8 inches, while the Mustang Mach-E’s liftover is 30.6 inches.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the Mustang Mach-E’s in almost every dimension:

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid. The Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has a 2500 lbs. towing capacity. The Mustang Mach-E has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid uses the Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Ford doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Mustang Mach-E.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Mustang Mach-E. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Mustang Mach-E.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Ford Mustang Mach-E by almost 10 to one during 2024.