2024 Acura MDX 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 five-door electric crossover SUV. Despite initial skepticism, this decision proved wise, as the Mach-E's design elements, such as the galloping horse emblems, scowling headlights, and tri-bar taillights, resonated with consumers. The vehicle's long, narrow, and tall dimensions might have seemed unusual, but they contributed to its popularity by visually linking it to the legendary pony car. Since its debut in 2021, Ford produced over 150,000 units, shipping them worldwide. In Canada, the Mach-E was available in various trims, with prices ranging from $56,995 to $92,745, excluding a $2,195 destination charge. The GT trim, in particular, stood out with its aggressive styling, unique 20-inch wheels, and a dark front panel resembling a traditional grille. Inside, the Mach-E GT exuded luxury, featuring artificial leather and synthetic suede seats, copper stitching, and a high-tech ambiance with dual display screens.

The 2024 Acura MDX, on the other hand, impressed with its modern and refined presence. The large shield grille, rakish headlights, and intake vents contributed to its sophisticated look. Inside, the MDX offered a high-tech but somewhat busy interior, with a plethora of controls on the centre console. The MDX was available in several trims, including the Type S Ultra, which featured a twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, delivering 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. The MDX's interior boasted tri-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic moonroof, and heated seats. The Type S Ultra trim added luxurious features like massaging front seats and a 25-speaker ELS sound system. Despite its impressive features, the MDX's infotainment system was criticized for its clumsy interface, relying on a touchpad instead of a touchscreen, which detracted from the overall experience.

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 rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and dual-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD) systems. Power output varied from 266 to 480 horsepower, with torque ranging from 317 to 634 lb-ft. The Mach-E GT Performance Edition, equipped with an extended-range battery and AWD, delivered 480 horsepower and 634 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds. The driving range was estimated at 418 kilometres. The Mach-E featured various driving modes, including Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled, with the GT offering an exclusive Unbridled Extend mode for racetrack use. The ride quality was firm, but the Mach-E GT excelled in driving dynamics, offering impressive acceleration and handling.

The 2024 Acura MDX Type S Ultra was powered by a twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, producing 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. The power was transmitted through a 10-speed automatic transmission to Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive System (SH-AWD). The MDX Type S Ultra offered strong acceleration and a comfortable ride, thanks to its adaptive air suspension and Brembo performance brakes. The Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) allowed drivers to choose from various driving modes, including Sport, Sport+, Snow, Comfort, and Normal, with a Lift mode for added ground clearance. The MDX excelled in boulevard and highway driving, offering a refined and comfortable experience. Despite its size, the MDX handled corners well, with responsive steering and a tight turning radius.

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

The 2024 Acura MDX came standard with three rows of seating, accommodating up to seven passengers. The first two rows were comfortable and supportive, while the third row was best suited for children. The MDX offered a maximum of 512 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,367 litres with the rear seats folded. With the second and third rows folded, the cargo space reached 2,690 litres. The MDX featured a hands-free power liftgate and additional storage under the cargo load floor. The second-row bench had a fold-down centre console with cupholders, providing an individual-seat experience for passengers. However, the centre stack of controls was criticized for its cluttered design, with a touchpad for the infotainment system that was unintuitive to use.

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

The 2024 Acura MDX's infotainment system was its Achilles Heel, with a 12.3-inch display controlled by a touchpad. Despite its clumsy interface, the MDX offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, satellite radio, HD radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The MDX also featured multiple USB ports, a fully digital instrument panel, and wireless device charging. The clever placement of charging ports and a leather handrest for the touchpad were highlights, but the overall infotainment experience was lacking compared to competitors.

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 and predictive speed assist. The Mach-E received top safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and was a Top Safety Pick for 2022 and 2023. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not finalized crash-test ratings for the 2023 model.

The 2024 Acura MDX featured a comprehensive suite of driver assistance and safety features, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The MDX received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and was a 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick+. Despite its strong safety scores, the MDX's infotainment system was a distraction, requiring drivers to look away from the road to operate the touchpad.