2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 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. Despite initial skepticism, the Mach-E's design, featuring galloping horse emblems, scowling headlights, and tri-bar taillights, successfully tied it to the legendary pony car, boosting its popularity. Since its debut in 2021, Ford produced over 150,000 units, offering various trims like Select, Premium, California Route 1, and GT, with prices ranging from $45,995 to $63,995, plus a $1,800 destination charge. The Mach-E GT, with its Cyber Orange paint and MSRP of $66,590, showcased a distinctive look with revised bumpers, unique 20-inch wheels, and a dark front panel, exuding an aggressive and stylish presence.

Inside, the Mach-E GT offered a luxurious feel with artificial leather and synthetic suede sport-bolstered seats, copper stitching, and a high-end cabin ambiance. The dual-cowl dashboard, door panels, and speaker grilles added to the upscale look, while metallic and gloss-black trim, along with two rectangular display screens, conveyed a sporty, high-tech atmosphere. The Mach-E GT seamlessly blended past, present, and future elements, making it an appealing choice for those seeking style, quality, and technology in an electric vehicle.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, known for its iconic boxy design, paid homage to its heritage with details reminiscent of past models. The J250 model featured a heritage grille with "TOYOTA" spelled out, round headlights on the base 1958 trim and First Edition, and rectangular headlights on the middle-grade trim. All lighting was LED, aligning with modern standards. The two higher trims offered color-selectable fog lights, adding a contemporary twist. The Land Cruiser's design updates included a lowered beltline for improved visibility and standard 18-inch alloy wheels, with 20-inch wheels available for the middle trim. The First Edition came with additional off-road gear like a roof rack, front skid plate, and mudflaps.

Inside, the Land Cruiser offered a range of seating options, from cloth seats in the base trim to SofTex in the middle trim and real leather with unique logos in the First Edition. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard across all trims, with the Premium Package adding a moonroof and ventilated front seats. The cabin, with its cushy seats, padded center console, and attractive contrast stitching, emphasized comfort alongside capability. The Land Cruiser's interior design allowed drivers to focus on navigating challenging terrains without discomfort, making it a practical choice for off-road enthusiasts.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a range of configurations, 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, and driving range spanning 224 to 312 miles. The Mach-E GT, equipped with an extended-range battery and AWD, delivered 480 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds with a 270-mile range. The GT Performance Edition package increased torque to 634 lb-ft, reduced range to 260 miles, and enhanced performance with adaptive damping suspension, larger front brakes, and summer performance tires.

The Mach-E GT featured driving modes like Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled, with an exclusive Unbridled Extend mode for racetrack use. One-pedal driving was available, allowing operation with just the accelerator. In Engage mode, the Mach-E GT was fast, though steering lacked sharpness and accuracy. The brakes provided consistent, fade-free performance, but the ride quality was firm and choppy. Despite this, the Mach-E GT was exciting to drive, with an efficiency of 2.7 miles per kilowatt-hour, surpassing the EPA estimate of 40 kWh/100 mi.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, now a hybrid, featured Toyota's i-Force MAX hybrid powertrain with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 1.87-kWh battery pack, and a 48-hp electric motor, producing 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. It had an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard full-time four-wheel drive (4WD) with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case. The Multi-Terrain Select system, available on mid-tier and First Edition models, operated in 4Hi or 4Lo, enhancing off-road capability.

Standard features included an automatic limited-slip differential, rear- and center-locking differentials, and a push-button disconnect for the front sway bar on middle- and top-trim models. The updated CRAWL control function offered five speed settings for precise off-road navigation, operating silently compared to previous versions. The Land Cruiser's transmission was unobtrusive, allowing for smooth off-road performance. The vehicle excelled in challenging terrains, with features like the stabilizer-bar disconnect and CRAWL control enhancing its off-road prowess.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, with its crossover SUV design, offered practicality alongside style. It accommodated up to five passengers and provided 34.1 cubic feet of cargo space, including a sizable front trunk (frunk). The Mach-E GT featured eight-way power-adjustable and heated front seats, wrapped in black ActiveX artificial leather with black Miko synthetic suede inserts. The Performance Edition package added performance seats with unique upholstery.

The interior boasted a stylish tiered center console with covered and open storage areas, and a lower storage tray beneath the dashboard. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed a comfortable ride, with wide-opening rear doors and a snug but supportive back seat. The standard panoramic glass roof added an airy feel to the cabin. The Mach-E offered 29.7 cu-ft of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 59.7 cu-ft with the seats folded down. The frunk, measuring 4.7 cu-ft, was designed for easy cleaning with a drain plug.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, based on the Prado, featured two rows of seating, with no third row available in the U.S. Headroom measured 36.1 inches in the front and 35.3 inches in the back, while legroom was 33.0 inches front and 26.7 inches rear. The center console provided easy access to off-road features, with buttons for the stabilizer-bar disconnect and lockers conveniently located. Hard controls for climate and media were within easy reach, and the wireless charging pad was positioned ahead of the cupholders.

The rear liftgate opened to a cargo area with a raised load floor, equipped with a rubber mat for easy cleaning. The cargo volume measured 37.5 cubic feet, with a 120-volt AC outlet and USB-C ports available in higher trims. The center console cool box, part of the Premium Package, efficiently chilled items placed inside. The Land Cruiser's interior design emphasized practicality and ease of use, making it suitable for both on-road and off-road adventures.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured a 15.5-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen running on Ford's Sync 4A infotainment platform, updated via over-the-air software. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect services, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, navigation, and wireless smartphone charging. Sync 4A learned user habits, suggesting destinations and showcasing recently used apps. The system controlled dual-zone automatic climate and vehicle settings, with a comprehensive trip computer displaying energy usage data.

The Mach-E's Bang & Olufsen premium sound system delivered excellent audio quality, while a 10.2-inch digital instrumentation display provided essential vehicle information. Phone As A Key technology allowed smartphone-based vehicle access and operation. Despite the lack of a radio tuning knob and driving mode button, the user experience was simplified and organized. Sync 4A supported natural voice recognition, though it occasionally misinterpreted commands. Overall, the Mach-E's technology offerings were comprehensive and user-friendly.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, equipped with the Multi-Terrain Monitor (MTM) system, featured a 12.3-inch center touchscreen display, standard on higher trims. MTM activated automatically at low speeds, aiding off-road navigation. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with USB-C ports for front and rear passengers. The base infotainment system, not experienced during testing, featured an 8-inch display and six-speaker sound system.

The middle trim offered a 10-speaker sound system, with an optional upgrade to the First Edition's 14-speaker JBL premium sound system. The Premium Package added a head-up display and digital rear-view mirror. The Land Cruiser's infotainment system, with its minimalist design, provided essential features and connectivity options, enhancing the driving experience both on and off-road.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 technology, including the BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system. BlueCruise 1.2 added features like lane-change function, predictive speed assist, and lane repositioning. During testing, BlueCruise performed well but required constant monitoring, lacking a head-up display for status updates. The Mach-E received top safety marks from the IIHS and was a Top Safety Pick for 2022. NHTSA ratings were pending, with top scores for side-impact protection and rollover resistance.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but Toyota's safety record and platform-mates' ratings provided confidence. All Land Cruisers featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, with adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and lane-tracing assist. The Premium Package added lane-keep assist, front cross-traffic alert, and traffic jam assist. The Land Cruiser's safety features ensured a secure driving experience, though official ratings were unavailable.