2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E was a bold move by Ford, blending the iconic Mustang styling with a modern electric crossover SUV design. Its long, narrow, and tall dimensions, adorned with galloping horse emblems, scowling headlights, and tri-bar taillights, created a unique visual appeal that resonated with fans of 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 Select, Premium, California Route 1, and GT 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, 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 seats, copper stitching, and a high-tech ambiance created by metallic and gloss-black trim paired with dual display screens.

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its rugged charm with a few updates, such as a new front fascia and LED fog lights for the Wilderness trim. The Premier XT tester, in Autumn Green Metallic, showcased a tasteful blend of dark grey cladding and chrome accents. The Outback's interior was surprisingly upscale, with Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery in the top-trim model, offering a level of luxury not typically associated with Subaru. The various trims featured different wheel sizes and designs, with the Wilderness trim boasting matte black 17-inch alloy wheels. The Outback's interior space was generous, with ample headroom and legroom, and the cargo area offered 923 litres with all seats in place, expanding to 2,141 litres with the rear seats folded. The Outback's design and features made it a practical choice for those seeking comfort and capability.

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 lb-ft, and driving range spanning 360 to 502 kilometres. The 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. The driving range was estimated at 418 kilometres. The Mach-E featured Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled driving modes, with the GT offering an exclusive Unbridled Extend mode for track use. The ride quality was firm, but the Mach-E GT impressed with its overall driving dynamics and efficiency, achieving 22.9 kWh per 100 kilometres during testing.

The 2024 Subaru Outback was powered by a "Boxer" horizontally opposed engine, with the base model featuring a 2.5-litre flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, were equipped with a 2.4-litre turbocharged engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, increasing towing capacity to 1,587 kilograms. Subaru's Symmetrical AWD and Lineartronic CVT were standard. The Premier XT test car's turbo powertrain managed the vehicle's weight well, and the CVT mimicked eight distinct gears. The Outback's steering and braking were adequate, and the ride quality was comfortable, thanks to the suspension and wheel design. The Wilderness trim offered 24.1 centimetres of ground clearance and all-terrain tires, enhancing its off-road capabilities.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, with its crossover SUV design, offered seating for five and 965 litres of cargo space, including a front trunk (frunk). The GT Performance Edition featured performance seats with gray ActiveX and Miko upholstery, and a tiered centre console provided ample storage. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed sufficient legroom and a panoramic glass roof. The cargo area offered 841 litres behind the back seat, expanding to 1,691 litres with the rear seats folded. The frunk, with a 133-litre capacity, was designed for easy cleaning with a drain plug.

The 2024 Subaru Outback, despite its sleek proportions, provided generous interior space. It offered more headroom and legroom than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The cargo area measured 923 litres with all seats in place, expanding to 2,141 litres with the rear seats folded. The Outback featured dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power-adjustable driver's seat. The Premier XT trim offered ventilated front seats and a hands-free power liftgate. The Outback's roof rails with retractable cross bars added versatility for carrying additional cargo.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured a 15.5-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen running on Ford's Sync 4A infotainment platform, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect, SiriusXM 360L, navigation, and wireless smartphone charging. The system supported natural voice recognition and provided access to climate controls and vehicle settings. 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 and operation.

The 2024 Subaru Outback's Premier XT trim featured an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen with the Subaru Starlink multimedia platform, offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with hard buttons for defoggers and temperature adjustments. Bluetooth and SiriusXM connectivity were standard, and most trims included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Outback offered both USB-C and USB-A ports, and the Premier XT trim included a CD player for those who appreciated old-school features.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. The BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system was available, offering lane-change and predictive speed assist functions. The Mach-E received top safety ratings from the IIHS and was a Top Safety Pick for 2022 and 2023. However, NHTSA crash-test ratings were incomplete at the time of review.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The EyeSight suite of driver-assistance technologies was standard, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automatic pre-collision braking. The Touring trim added reverse automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Premier XT trim featured a digital rearview mirror and a driver-attention monitor.