With the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Ford Mustang Mach-E, these two have somewhat occupied their very own niche. Both priced at P 3-million up—P 3,698,000 for the Ioniq 5 GLS Long Range and P 3,499,000 for the Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD—they’re both there and not there. There, because they both exist in their respective brands’ price lists; but not there because they’re either not promoted as heavily. Neither are cheap, but for those who’re dead set on getting a BEV that’s not a Tesla (or Chinese), which one is worthy of consideration? Read on.

Both designed and developed when BEVs appealed primarily to early adopters, the Ioniq 5 and the Mustang Mach-E couldn’t look any different. They’re both sci-fi weird, but in a nice way. Both manage to hark back to legacy models too with the Ioniq 5 being based off the Pony, while the Mustang being based on, what else, but the Mustang.

That said, between these two, it’s the Hyundai that’s managed to fully embrace that sci-fi weirdness. The Ioniq 5’s ingenious use of pixel lighting, coupled with available matte color schemes, and imaginative touches that help disguise its bulk, it’s the slicker choice here. Although the Mach-E has tried to integrate Mustang design touches here and there, it doesn’t go far enough. As a result, it finds itself in an unfortunate no man’s land design-wise. In addition, creative decisions such as the E-Latch door handles are cool on paper, but don’t really lend any credible real-world benefits.

Their respective exterior treatments tell you exactly what to expect with these two the moment you step inside. Both the Ioniq 5 and the Mustang Mach-E try to serve up strong tech-heavy interiors, but it’s the Ioniq that wins points when it comes to both ergonomics, and fit and finish. The Hyundai has far more squishy plastics used throughout the interior and the switchgear just feels much more solid here. The decision not to emulate Tesla’s shadeless panoramic glass roof also makes it more adept at handling Manila’s increasingly hot days. The Ioniq’s biggest win, however, lies in the tech execution. The ccNC infotainment system is far easier to navigate, digest, and operate on the go compared to the Mach-E’s Sync 4A system.

Although build quality on the Mustang Mach-E is nothing to scoff at, the materials chosen by Ford are definitely less than premium. Objectively, the plastics, leather (synthetic on the seats), and switchgear all pale in comparison to the Ioniq 5’s. The biggest gripe, however, is with the infotainment screen. Although the menu structure isn’t too deep, the responsiveness is way too laggy. And that’s a problem when most functions, including the Drive Modes, have all been relegated there. When Ford isn’t emulating Tesla, it has managed to score small wins such as the superior speaker system and the execution of that low-profile digital gauge cluster. It’s not customizable, but it displays all pertinent information legibly without the steering wheel getting in the way. Hyundai could definitely learn something here.

Subjectively, almost nothing separates the Ioniq 5 and the Mustang Mach-E in terms of space. For the average Filipino size and built, both of these vehicles offer excellent room be it in the front or rear sections. Taller or larger occupants, however, will gravitate towards the Ioniq 5. Whereas the Mach-E tries its best to provide a sportier (aka more cocooning) driving position, the Hyundai goes the complete opposite, providing a more lounge-like feel. The loss of the sliding center console (aka Dynamic Island) isn’t missed as there’s still extensive space for knick-knacks and smaller items. If anything, the positioning of the USB Type C port (for wired smartphone connections) could be improved.

On the other hand, the Mach-E is the winner when it comes to cargo flexibility. The revised Ioniq 5 may gain power sliding and remote folding rear seats for this update, but there’s just more usable luggage room whether it’s the traditional trunk or frunk. Neither car has stellar cargo compartments or spare tires for that matter, but it’s the Mach-E that can accommodate taller items below its retractable tonneau cover. And while the frunk’s smaller in the Ford, the design is more deliberate being waterproof and drainable.

This is where things become more interesting. For almost the same price point, it’s the Mach-E that offers 165 more horsepower (394 versus 229) and almost double the torque (676 Nm versus 350 Nm). With similar curb weights, it naturally means that it’s the Ford that wins the drag race. What’s more, the Mach-E’s driver-centric nature extends to its handling. The steering is weightier, more responsive, and more communicative. Overall, it makes this 2-ton crossover a surprising joy to toss around. Of course, this has affected the ride somewhat with it feeling firm on almost any surface, barring super smooth ones. It’s also the noisier of the two, especially at highway speeds. The Mach-E has simulated engine sounds when the “Unbridle” mode’s selected, but the Hyundai’s Active Sound Design does it better.

The Ioniq 5 gives up a lot when it comes to straight line grunt, but it’s the more balanced of the two. Despite running on larger, lower profile rubber (20s versus 19s), it’s the Hyundai that wins in NVH isolation. Of note, there’s an irritating squeak by the rear suspension, but we suspect that it’s down to the condition of this particular unit more than anything else. Both of these EVs have similar usable battery sizes, but it’s the Hyundai has really lives up to its “long range” label. Even when it comes to charging, it juices up quicker even when using just a 7-kW home charger. It’s also the only one with V2L functionality. The Ioniq would have been alright, if not for the camera-based sideview mirrors. These may be great in principle, but even after a week, it’s pretty counterintuitive making maneuvering through tight spaces and parking more of a chore.

With a P 199,000 price difference between these two in favor of the Mustang Mach-E, Ford does have the leg up when it comes to value for money. It loses out on minor items such as ventilated front seats and power sliding rear seats, but in big picture terms, they’re actually quite similar in terms of comfort, convenience, and safety features. Both even offer the same sort of freebies like a free wall box charger and an 8-year warranty for their respective high-voltage batteries.

Where the Mach-E simply blows the Ioniq 5 out of the water is down to performance. It’s the one with dual motors for all wheel drive (the Hyundai is pure rear wheel drive). Couple that with a slightly larger battery, and it can go longer between charges, even if the charging rate is on the slower side.

There’s still plenty to love when it comes to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, but unfortunately, it’s clearly being left behind when it comes to its price versus value quotient. As more BEVs enter the Philippine market, Hyundai’s been saddled with uncompetitive pricing. Instead of making more sense of its Ioniq line-up, they’ve simply increased their SRPs, raising eyebrows in the process. This has opened doors for other choices like the Ford Mustang Mach-E.

The Mach-E isn’t exactly the best EV choice nor is it exactly a bastion of value either, but considering the added performance you get for the price? It’s the clear winner, at least between these two. But if anything, the uncompetitive price point of these two EVs is a wake-up call. If Tesla, the Chinese brands, and even Toyota can start offering competitive choices below P 3-million, why can’t Hyundai nor Ford? The fact that Hyundai’s made the Ioniq 5 available solely on an indent order basis shows they’ve pretty much given up on a segment they started a couple of years back.