2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2023 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Subaru Outback received a facelift that gave it a more aggressive appearance. It featured a redesigned front end with new LED headlights, a restyled grille, and a revised bumper with dark gray vertical cladding, simulating large air intakes. The addition of a jutting simulated skid plate, fog lights in oversized housings, and asymmetrical wheel arch trim reminiscent of the Wilderness model contributed to its bold look. While these changes might not appeal to everyone, opting for a dark paint colour could help tone down the design's excesses. The Outback Onyx Edition, with its black wheels and trim, complemented the audacious cladding, offering a more cohesive look.

Inside, the Outback Limited trim impressed with its upscale interior. The Cosmic Blue paint and Java Brown premium Nappa leather upholstery created a luxurious atmosphere. The dashboard, door panels, and floor mat piping contrasted beautifully, with light gray contrast stitching on the dashboard matching the headliner. Despite the use of hard plastic in some areas, the interior didn't feel cheap. The flat, textured door sills served as practical steps for accessing the roof rack. However, the large infotainment screen and gloss black trim on the centre console were prone to collecting dust and smudges.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, initially a surprising blend of Mustang styling cues on a five-door electric crossover, proved to be a smart move by Ford. Its long, narrow, and tall dimensions, adorned with galloping horse emblems, scowling headlights, bold rear fender haunches, and tri-bar taillights, tied it visually to the legendary pony car. Since its debut in 2021, Ford had built 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 Mach-E GT, with its distinctive look, featured revised bumpers, unique 20-inch wheels, and a dark front panel resembling a traditional grille, exuding style, quality, and technology.

Inside, the Mach-E GT felt like a luxury car, with artificial leather and synthetic suede sport-bolstered seats adorned with copper stitching and piping. The classic dual-cowl dashboard, door panels, and speaker grilles added a high-end look, while metallic and gloss-black trim, along with two rectangular display screens, conveyed a sporty, upscale, high-tech ambiance. The Mach-E GT seamlessly blended design, quality, and materials, creating an undeniably appealing vehicle.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured horizontally opposed engines, known for their flat design, which helped reduce the vehicle's centre of gravity for better handling. The standard engine produced 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. However, the 1,705-kilogram (3,758-pound) test vehicle felt underpowered, especially during passing and climbing. The continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) made good use of the power at lower speeds, but the engine's fuel efficiency was disappointing, returning 9.2 L/100 km instead of the expected 8.3 L/100 km. The Outback's towing capacity was 1,225 kilograms (2,700 pounds).

For those seeking more power, the Outback XT offered a 2.4-litre flat-four turbocharged engine with 260 hp at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 rpm and 4,800 rpm. The XT models, while heavier and less fuel-efficient, provided a more satisfying driving experience. The CVT in all Outback models was programmed to mimic an eight-speed automatic transmission, with paddle shifters on the steering wheel for manual control. The Active Torque Split AWD system was standard, varying power distribution between the front and rear axles as needed. The X-Mode traction system optimized the drivetrain for challenging terrain, and hill descent control was standard. The Outback's ground clearance was 22 centimetres, with the Wilderness trim offering 23 centimetres.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a range of powertrains, with standard-range and extended-range battery packs and single-motor RWD or dual-motor AWD systems. Power output ranged from 266 to 480 horsepower, with torque between 317 and 634 lb-ft. The Mach-E GT Performance Edition featured an extended-range battery and AWD, producing 480 horsepower and 634 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-100 km/h time of 3.7 seconds. The driving range was estimated at 418 kilometres.

The Mach-E GT offered Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled driving modes, with an exclusive Unbridled Extend mode for racetrack use. One-pedal driving was available, allowing the driver to control the vehicle with the accelerator pedal. In Engage mode, the Mach-E GT was undeniably fast, but the steering lacked the sharp response expected from a performance vehicle. The brakes offered consistent, fade-free performance, but the ride quality was firm and choppy. The Mach-E GT was more efficient than expected, with a test drive returning 22.9 kWh per 100 kilometres, compared to the official estimate of 25.6 kWh/100 km.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized utility with features like a purposeful roof rack, flat door sill trim, and a dashboard storage shelf. The Limited trim offered a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat with a manually adjustable thigh support bolster and an eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat. Both seats were heated, and the steering wheel was also heated. The Outback's interior was wrapped in soft, premium Nappa leather, providing a warm and comfortable environment. The rear outboard seats were heated as well.

The Outback's cargo space measured 923 litres behind the back seat and 2,141 litres with the back seat folded down. The flat, textured plastic door sills served as steps for accessing the roof rack. The roof rails and rack were robust, ready for tying down items and accepting accessory racks and carriers. However, the Outback could benefit from more practical storage space, as the dashboard shelf and centre console could be redesigned for additional storage.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, with its crossover SUV configuration, offered seating for up to five people and 965 litres of cargo space, including a sizable front trunk (frunk). The Mach-E GT Performance Edition featured performance seats with gray ActiveX and Miko upholstery, separated by a stylish tiered centre console with covered and open storage areas. The rear seat offered sufficient legroom for up to three kids or two additional adults, and the standard panoramic glass roof provided an airy environment.

The Mach-E's cargo space measured 841 litres behind the back seat, expanding to 1,691 litres with the rear seats folded down. The frunk offered an additional 133 litres of cargo space, designed to get dirty and equipped with a drain plug for easy cleaning.

The 2023 Subaru Outback, except for the Base trim, featured a Starlink 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system in portrait orientation. Physical controls included a volume knob, tuning knob, and buttons for climate control and window defrosters. The base Outback's 7-inch touchscreen offered Bluetooth connectivity, wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Starting with the Touring trim, the 11.6-inch system provided wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, along with access to Starlink connected services. A navigation system and Harman Kardon premium audio system were available on higher trims.

The Starlink system's usability had improved, but the graphics and colourful icons were not appealing. The voice recognition system was limited, struggling with basic commands and directions. Additional technologies included a camera-based digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree front-view camera, but a surround-view camera was not available.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured a 15.5-inch touchscreen running on Ford's Sync 4A infotainment platform, with over-the-air software updates. The system 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 suggested destinations and apps, while the touchscreen provided access to climate control and vehicle settings.

The user experience was simplified, but a radio tuning knob and driving mode button would have been appreciated. Sync 4A supported natural voice recognition, with the exception of some commands. The Bang & Olufsen premium sound system delivered excellent audio quality, and the Mach-E featured a 10.2-inch digital instrumentation display. Phone As A Key technology allowed the smartphone to function as the vehicle's key, offering convenience despite initial skepticism.

The 2023 Subaru Outback emphasized safety with new EyeSight cameras and an electronic brake booster. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Outback top marks, including in the new side-impact crash test. EyeSight included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. From the Touring grade, additional features like blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were included. The Automatic Emergency Steering system could steer within a lane to avoid obstacles if necessary. The Premier XT trim added a Wide-Angle Mono Camera for better pedestrian and cyclist detection.

The Outback's adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist systems were less impressive, with artificial steering feel and resistance. The rear automatic braking system was incompatible with some driveways, requiring manual deactivation.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 technology, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. BlueCruise hands-free highway driving was standard on most trims, with a 90-day trial for Select models. BlueCruise 1.2 added lane-change and predictive speed assist functions. The system performed well on highways but required driver intervention in certain situations. A head-up display would have improved the user experience.

The IIHS awarded the Mach-E top marks, making it a Top Safety Pick for 2022 and 2023. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not finalized crash-test ratings for the 2023 model, but the Mach-E received top ratings for side-impact protection and rollover resistance.