2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2024 Lexus TX

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E was a bold move by Ford, merging 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. Its long, narrow, and tall dimensions might have seemed unusual, but they contributed to its popularity by visually linking it to the legendary pony car. The Mach-E GT, in particular, stood out with its aggressive styling, featuring revised bumpers, unique 20-inch wheels, and a dark front panel reminiscent of a traditional grille.

Inside, the Mach-E GT exuded luxury and technology, with artificial leather and synthetic suede sport-bolstered seats adorned with copper stitching. The cabin's high-end look was enhanced by fabric on the dashboard, door panels, and speaker grilles, paired with metallic and gloss-black trim. The dual rectangular display screens added to the sporty, upscale, high-tech ambiance. Overall, the Mach-E GT seamlessly blended past, present, and future elements into an appealing vehicle.

The 2024 Lexus TX, based on the Toyota Grand Highlander, offered a distinct luxury SUV experience. Its upscale appearance, especially with the 22-inch wheels included in the TX 350 Executive packages, significantly enhanced its presence. The TX's styling was more conservative compared to other Lexus models, appealing to those who found previous designs too bold. The TX came in TX 350, TX 500h F Sport Performance, and TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid models, with prices ranging from $72,036 to $87,486, including destination charges and dealer fees.

The TX 350, likely the volume-selling version, featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and standard all-wheel drive. The Ultra Luxury package added premium interior features, while the Peppercorn interior, available with the Executive packages, created a dark cabin ambiance. Despite some interior design choices, the TX 350's interior was luxurious enough to bear the Lexus badge, offering a comfortable and quiet ride on the highway.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a range of powertrain options, including standard-range and extended-range battery packs, with 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 pound-feet, and driving range spanning 360 to 502 kilometres. The Mach-E GT Performance Edition, with its extended-range battery and AWD, delivered 480 horsepower and 634 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds. Its driving modes, including Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled, allowed for tailored driving experiences, with the GT-exclusive Unbridled Extend mode designed for racetrack use.

The Mach-E GT's ride quality was firm, with a choppy ride due to its suspension settings, but it excelled in controlling body motions. The brakes offered consistent performance, though the one-pedal drive system lacked adjustable regenerative sensitivity. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Mach-E GT was exciting to drive, achieving an impressive energy efficiency of 22.9 kWh per 100 kilometres during testing, better than the official estimate of 25.6 kWh/100 km.

The 2024 Lexus TX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. Lexus claimed it could accelerate to 100 km/h in roughly eight seconds, though it felt quicker due to its torque delivery. The TX 350's performance was adequate, with a fuel economy rating of 10.3 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, slightly better than the previous RX L model. During testing, the TX 350 averaged 13.8 L/100 km, though this was with a U.S. specification front-wheel-drive model.

The TX 350's suspension provided a balance between road feel and comfort, with commendable body motion control and accurate steering. The interior remained quiet on the highway, though the brake pedal felt too soft. Overall, the TX 350 offered a comfortable and composed driving experience, suitable for a luxury SUV.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, with its crossover SUV design, offered practicality alongside its iconic styling. It provided seating for up to five people and 965 litres of cargo space, including a sizable front trunk (frunk). The front seats featured performance-oriented upholstery, while the tiered centre console offered ample storage. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed sufficient legroom and a panoramic glass roof, enhancing the cabin's airy feel. The Mach-E's cargo capacity was impressive, with 841 litres behind the back seat and up to 1,691 litres with the rear seats folded. The frunk, designed for easy cleaning, added 133 litres of additional storage.

The 2024 Lexus TX addressed previous shortcomings in Lexus's three-row SUV offerings. The TX 350 test unit featured premium semi-aniline leather and artificial suede upholstery, with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel as standard. The second-row bench seat, though not as welcoming, offered triple-zone climate control and USB charging ports for all rows. The third-row seat was habitable for adults, with stadium-style seating providing leg support and a good view. Cargo space measured 572 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,625 litres with the third-row seats folded and 2,746 litres with the second-row seats down, offering ample storage for road trips.

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, and a navigation system. The system's user experience was simplified, though a radio tuning knob and driving mode button were missed. The Bang & Olufsen premium sound system delivered excellent audio quality, and the Mach-E included a 10.2-inch digital instrumentation display. Phone As A Key technology allowed smartphone-based vehicle access, offering convenience despite initial skepticism.

The 2024 Lexus TX came equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 14-inch touchscreen display running the Lexus Interface infotainment system. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a Drive Connect subscription offering cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant. The TX also featured Service Connect and Safety Connect subscriptions, providing emergency services and remote vehicle access. The optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system delivered impressive sound quality, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E came standard 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, available on Select models, offered lane-change and predictive speed assist functions. 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 Lexus TX featured the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 (LSS+ 3.0), including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. Proactive Drive Assist offered additional braking and steering assistance, though it was not always transparent in operation. The TX also included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a safe exit assist system. The traffic jam assist system provided hands-free driving at low speeds, though a higher-speed system was not available. Overall, LSS+ 3.0 proved effective, though the TX's response to vehicles cutting in was overly cautious.