The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E has not yet hit showroom floors, but it’s already in the running for a coveted industry award. Unveiling an electric version of the iconic Mustang was no easy feat, but Ford pulled it off. The all-new Mach-E promises to take the market by storm early next summer and become one of the best EVs available.

Combining class-leading features and stellar performance, the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is worthy of award-winning accolades. But is the exterior design, impressive styling, and luxurious interior enough to challenge two of the best SUVs on the market today?

The NACTOY Awards

Every year, a panel of 50 automotive journalists decides which vehicles will be named winner of the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) Awards.

To be considered, a vehicle must be brand-new or a total redesign for the model year. The jurors conduct extensive research, oversee test drives, and evaluate the top contenders to determine the best new automobiles of the year.

The NACTOY, which began in 1994, is among the most prestigious awards in the automotive industry. Jurors come from across the United States and Canada, representing several media outlets. Their unbiased decision is based on determinable traits such as leadership, design, value, handling, and driver satisfaction. Innovation also plays a key factor in the decision-making process.

For 2020, the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray won in the car category. The Jeep Gladiator won for Truck of the Year, and the Kia Telluride was named SUV of the Year.

The 2021 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards

The year-long evaluation process has come to an end, and finalists were recently announced. The winners are expected to be chosen on January 11, 2021.

The SUV category was packed with 15 vehicles competing for the coveted award. The Ford Mustang Mach-E, the redesigned Genesis GV80, and the Land Rover Defender are finalists in this segment, the Detroit Free Press reported. NACTOY President Gary Witzenburg said in a press release: “Each one of them — especially the 15 in the ultra-competitive utility vehicle category — is excellent in nearly every way.”

Typically, the process involves three rounds of voting among the journalists. This year’s judging proved tricky because of the coronavirus pandemic, making it logistically challenging for the jurors to test-drive each vehicle.  Witzenburg noted the “automakers’ unusually difficult challenge of getting our 50 jurors from all over North America into their candidate vehicles for testing and evaluation prior to our later-than-usual voting deadline.”

Is the Mach-E Ford’s best EV ever?

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E has a good chance of taking the NACTOY Award for Best SUV of 2021.

Impressed with the overall quality and performance ratings, Car and Driver thinks the Mustang Mach-E is Ford’s best EV ever. The eye-catching crossover boasts an extended-range model capable of going from 0 to 60 mph in a little under six seconds. The all-wheel-drive electric Mach-E offers 29 cubic feet of rear cargo space and a high-end interior that will catch car enthusiasts’ eye.

The Mach-E’s GT Performance Edition offers 480 hp with 634 lb-ft of torque, hitting 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Car and Driver said, “The instant availability of all that torque makes the Mach-E capable of stomach-churning off-the-line acceleration.”

Performance ratings alone may be enough for the Ford Mustang Mach-E to beat the Genesis GV80 and Land Rover Defender in the NACTOY utility category. Regardless of whether the Mach-E wins the 2021 SUV of the Year, it will undoubtedly garner a great deal of attention in the EV segment.