The influential publication Consumer Reports has named Ford Motor Co.’s (F) Mustang Mach-E its “Top Pick” for an electric vehicle in 2022.
Consumer Reports says it was impressed with the Mach-E as soon as the non-profit group gave it a test drive.
“Not only is it a really fun vehicle to drive, it is sporty, but it is also extremely mature,” said the magazine.
Consumer Reports also says that reliability data it has collected shows the Mustang Mach-E has very few problems. That data, along with owner reviews and testing conducted by the publication, prompted it to name the Mach-E its 2022 “Top Pick” for an electric vehicle, replacing the Tesla (TSLA) Model 3 that had previously held the coveted designation.
Consumer Reports is still recommending the Tesla Model 3, but says the small electric car fails to match the Mach-E in certain areas, most notably when it comes to hands-free driving and alerting drivers who fail to pay attention.
Overall, Tesla fell seven spots to 23rd place in Consumer Reports ranking of 32 major auto brands. It’s the poorest showing in the seven years that Tesla has been included in the “Top Picks” issue of the magazine.
In addition to concerns about Tesla’s autopilot system, Consumer Reports is critical of the automaker’s steering yoke, a change from the steering wheel in the Model S and Model X electric vehicles.
However, Consumer Reports said that the quality of the “Top Picks” for 2022 are better than ever before, with the brands once again dominated by Japanese automakers.