2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

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, the design choice proved successful, with the Mach-E's long, narrow, and tall dimensions adorned with Mustang's signature galloping horse emblems, scowling headlights, and tri-bar taillights. This visual connection to the legendary pony car contributed significantly to 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 was eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit and additional state incentives, making it an attractive option for many buyers.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in LE, XLE, XSE, Woodland Edition, Limited, and Platinum trims, maintained its distinctive look, reminiscent of the "swagger wagon" vibe. Competing with the stylish Kia Carnival, the Sienna offered sleek front and rear fascias and came in vibrant colors like deep blue, red, or green. Standard LED lighting, with upper trims featuring Bi-LED projector headlamps, enhanced its appeal. The XSE trim, with its sporty black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels, embodied the "swagger wagon" spirit. The Woodland Edition, with exclusive colors and off-road-ready features, added versatility. Inside, the Sienna offered a spacious and functional interior, with options like captain's chairs and a built-in vacuum cleaner, catering to families on the go.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a range of configurations, including standard-range and extended-range battery packs, with options for 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 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, accelerating to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, with an EPA-estimated range of 270 miles. The GT Performance Edition package increased torque to 634 lb-ft, reduced range to 260 miles, and enhanced performance with adaptive damping suspension, larger brakes, and summer tires. Driving modes like Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled, along with the exclusive Unbridled Extend mode, allowed for a customizable driving experience. Despite its firm suspension, the Mach-E GT impressed with its driving dynamics and efficiency, achieving 2.7 miles per kilowatt-hour during testing.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, a hybrid minivan, combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. AWD models featured an additional electric motor for the rear wheels. While the Sienna offered a sport-tuned suspension and a Sport mode, it lacked the performance excitement of its competitors, feeling sluggish off the line with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that contributed to a smooth but slow acceleration. The CVT also tended to be noisy. Around town, the Sienna provided a pleasant driving experience, with Normal, Eco, and EV modes for different driving conditions. The brakes were slightly grabby, but the steering was light and accurate, with excellent visibility. For those seeking more driving pleasure, alternatives like the Honda Odyssey, Kia Carnival, or Chrysler Pacifica offered stronger V6 engines.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, with its crossover SUV design, offered practicality alongside its sporty appeal. It accommodated up to five passengers and provided 34.1 cubic feet of cargo space, including a sizable front trunk (frunk). The GT trim featured eight-way power-adjustable and heated front seats, wrapped in black ActiveX artificial leather with Miko synthetic suede inserts. The stylish tiered center console offered ample storage, while the rear seats provided comfort for passengers, with a panoramic glass roof enhancing the cabin's airy feel. The Mach-E's cargo space expanded to 59.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and the frunk, designed for easy cleaning, added 4.7 cubic feet of storage.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space and functionality, though some seating features were complex. The front offered a lower storage pass-through for bulkier items, with multiple cupholders and a shelf above the glovebox for smaller items. The second-row captain's chairs, with a 25-inch sliding range, provided up to 40 inches of legroom, though the slide function was tricky, and the seats couldn't be removed, limiting cargo space. The third row was accessible for adults and offered 39 inches of legroom when the second row was pushed forward. The Sienna featured tri-zone climate control, with an additional zone for the front passenger in the XSE trim. The rear liftgate, activated by a kick motion, revealed 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 101 cubic feet with the third row stowed.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured a 15.5-inch vertical 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. The system, though comprehensive, was user-friendly, with natural voice recognition and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. The Mach-E also included a 10.2-inch digital instrumentation display and Phone As A Key technology, allowing smartphone-based vehicle access.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, equipped with Toyota's older infotainment system, featured a nine-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the system included physical buttons for common menus, the backup camera's grainy view was disappointing. The Sienna offered a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional 12-speaker JBL stereo system. USB ports were plentiful, and a 1500-watt inverter with a 120-volt outlet was available. Optional features included an 11.6-inch rear-seat entertainment system and a 10-inch color head-up display.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 technology and the BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system. BlueCruise 1.2 added features like lane-change and predictive speed assist functions. While impressive, the system required constant monitoring, and a head-up display would have improved usability. The Mach-E received top marks from the IIHS and was a Top Safety Pick for 2022, though NHTSA ratings were incomplete.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, road sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The Sienna received four out of five stars from NHTSA for frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars for side crash protection. The IIHS rated it "Good" in crashworthiness but "Average" in front crash prevention.