2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E was a bold move by Ford, blending the iconic Mustang styling with a modern electric crossover SUV. Its long, narrow, and tall dimensions, adorned with galloping horse emblems, scowling headlights, and tri-bar taillights, created a unique visual appeal. Despite initial skepticism, this design choice proved successful, as the Mach-E's connection to the legendary pony car contributed significantly to its popularity. The Mach-E GT, in particular, stood out with its aggressive look, featuring revised bumpers, unique 20-inch wheels, and a dark front panel resembling a traditional grille. Inside, the Mach-E GT exuded luxury, with artificial leather and synthetic suede-wrapped sport-bolstered seats, copper stitching, and a high-end cabin ambiance enhanced by metallic and gloss-black trim.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 underwent subtle styling changes, including gloss black trim on the front bumper and a more squared-off rear bumper design for improved aerodynamics. While it was easily distinguishable as an EV, the ID.4 didn't quite capture the traditional SUV look, lacking the upright profile and ground clearance that many SUV buyers found attractive. However, it shared this characteristic with other electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Bolt EUV. The ID.4's interior retained the minimalist design and quality feel of recent VW gasoline models, with leatherette upholstery and recycled fibre inserts. The 2023 updates included a conventional lid for the centre console and improved phone storage, enhancing functionality.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a range of powertrain options, including standard-range and extended-range battery packs, as well as single-motor RWD and dual-motor AWD systems. Power output varied from 266 to 480 horsepower, with torque ranging from 317 to 634 pound-feet. The Mach-E GT Performance Edition, equipped with an extended-range battery and AWD, delivered 480 horsepower and 634 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds. The driving range was estimated at 418 kilometres. The Mach-E featured driving modes like Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled, with the GT offering an exclusive Unbridled Extend mode for racetrack use. While the steering in Engage mode lacked sharpness, the overall driving dynamics were impressive, with consistent brakes and firm suspension settings.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base model, available only with RWD, while the Pro model retained the 82-kWh pack with RWD or AWD options. The single-motor RWD models produced 201 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque, while the dual-motor AWD powertrain increased output to 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 109 kilograms, enhancing acceleration and handling. While the ID.4's AWD version rivalled hot hatchbacks in acceleration, it allowed too much body roll for truly engaging handling on twisty roads. The regenerative braking system offered coasting in its default setting, with a more aggressive "B" setting, but lacked one-pedal driving.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, with its crossover SUV configuration, offered seating for up to five people and 965 litres of cargo space, including a sizable front trunk (frunk). The front seats featured performance seats with gray ActiveX and Miko upholstery, while the tiered centre console provided ample storage. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed sufficient legroom, and the panoramic glass roof added an airy feel. The Mach-E offered 841 litres of cargo space behind the back seat, expandable to 1,691 litres with the rear seats folded. The frunk, designed to get dirty, included a drain plug for easy cleaning.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 excelled in interior space, offering more front-seat and rear-seat legroom than competitors like the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Nissan Leaf. It provided 858 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up, expanding to 1,818 litres with the seats folded. While it fell short of gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 in interior space, it was the SUV of affordable EVs in terms of practicality. The ID.4 also offered towing capability, with RWD models towing up to 1,000 kilograms and AWD models up to 1,225 kilograms. Interior updates for 2023 included a conventional lid for the centre console and three-zone climate control.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured a 15.5-inch touchscreen running on Ford's Sync 4A infotainment platform, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect services, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, navigation, and wireless smartphone charging. Sync 4A learned user habits and provided predictive suggestions. The Bang & Olufsen premium sound system delivered excellent audio quality. The Mach-E also featured Phone As A Key technology, allowing smartphone-based vehicle access and operation.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 came standard with a 12.0-inch touchscreen, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with the ID.Cockpit digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system featured sharp graphics, natural-language voice recognition, and a choice of smartphone-like icons or a split-screen view. However, the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel lacked physical feedback, making them distracting. The ID.4 also featured ID.Light, an ambient lighting system that provided visual cues for navigation and driving modes.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E came equipped with Ford's Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 technology, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. The BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system was available, offering features like lane-change function and predictive speed assist. The Mach-E received top marks from the IIHS and was a Top Safety Pick for 2022 and 2023. However, NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2023 model were incomplete.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side crash tests. The 2022 model received the IIHS's highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating, with top scores in crash tests and front crash prevention. The ID.4 featured standard driver-assist features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and VW's Travel Assist 2.0. New for 2023 were Park Assist Plus, an automated lane-change feature, and a 360-degree camera system.