2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was a striking presence on the road, with its bold design inspired by the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. The SUV's exterior featured a traditional grille and front bumper, which distinguished it from the Tundra's more unconventional look. Inside, the Sequoia shared many design elements with the Tundra, offering an industrial theme with luxurious touches in the Capstone trim, such as leather, wood, and metallic finishes. The 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system was a standout feature, although some interior materials reminded drivers of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia lineup included various trims, with the Capstone being the most luxurious, and the TRD Pro offering enhanced off-road capabilities.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E maintained its distinctive and sharp styling, with an aggressive front fascia and signature tri-bar tail lights. The new Rally trim became the top-of-the-line option, featuring unique styling cues like LED fog lamps, a black roof, and Oxford White 19-inch wheels. The GT trim offered 20-inch wheels and a Bronze Appearance Package for added customization. Inside, the Mach-E's minimalist dash featured a large touchscreen, and the Ford Performance front seats provided a sporty feel. The Rally trim added a 2.5-centimetre lift and unique suspension tuning for off-road use, while the GT trim focused on performance with features like the MagneRide suspension and Brembo brakes.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a hybrid powertrain, combining a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator, and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This setup delivered 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 4,137 kilograms, and its fuel efficiency improved to 11.7 L/100 km with 4WD. The SUV offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, but its ride quality was busy and occasionally jittery. The steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a sporty driving experience with its firm ride and tight steering. The GT trim featured a MagneRide damping system and a Performance Upgrade package that increased torque to 700 lb-ft, achieving a 0-96 km/h time of 3.3 seconds. The Mach-E Rally trim added a lift and unique suspension tuning for off-road use. The Mach-E's range varied by trim, with the base model offering 402 kilometres and the Premium trim with extended-range battery reaching 515 kilometres. The GT and Rally trims had ranges of 451 and 426 kilometres, respectively. Ford improved the DC fast-charging experience, reducing charging times by 20%.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with features like soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone automatic climate control system. However, the Sequoia's interior space was compromised by its hybrid powertrain, with limited cargo capacity and a less comfortable third-row seat. The SUV's cargo space was reduced compared to the previous generation, with a maximum capacity of 2,460 litres. The Sequoia's utility was further diminished by the absence of a power liftgate window and the need to adjust the cargo shelf for a flat load floor.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E's crossover body style provided ample interior space, with 965 litres of cargo space, including a drainable frunk. Folding the rear seats expanded the cargo capacity to 1,690 litres. The Mach-E offered generous headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers, with power-adjustable seats and ActiveX seating surfaces. The interior featured a minimalist design with a large touchscreen and synthetic upholstery, providing a modern and comfortable environment for occupants.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen in most trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the display suffered from glare. The Intelligent Assistant responded to voice commands, but the system had some quirks, such as issues with phone pairing. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system, enhancing the driving experience with additional information and safety features.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E came standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, operating through a 15.5-inch touchscreen with Ford's SYNC 4A software. The system included climate controls and a volume wheel, but navigation instructions were not always user-friendly. The Mach-E featured Ford's Intelligent Range system, which provided real-time range updates based on various factors, helping to alleviate range anxiety for drivers.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included features like forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. The Sequoia also offered blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors with automatic braking. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's platform shared with the Tundra, which received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered BlueCruise 1.3, a hands-free highway-driving assist software, with a 90-day trial and subscription option. The Mach-E also included a 360-degree camera and Ford CoPilot 360 suite, featuring blind-spot information, pre-collision assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Mach-E received a Top Safety Pick Award from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA for side crash and rollover testing.