2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load children into car seats, even in tight parking spaces, while the spacious third-row seat comfortably accommodated adults. The Odyssey's cargo space was impressive, offering the same volume as a Chevrolet Suburban when the third-row seat was folded and the second-row seats were removed. Despite its utilitarian nature, the Odyssey managed to maintain a sense of style, especially in the Elite trim with its dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels and quality interior materials.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E was a bold move by Ford, blending the iconic Mustang styling with a five-door electric crossover SUV. Its design, featuring galloping horse emblems and scowling headlights, was visually tied to the legendary pony car, making it popular among consumers. The Mach-E GT, with its Cyber Orange paint and distinctive styling, exuded a sporty and upscale vibe. Inside, the Mach-E GT felt luxurious with its artificial leather and synthetic suede seats, metallic and gloss-black trim, and high-tech ambiance. The vehicle successfully combined style, quality, and technology, appealing to those seeking a modern electric vehicle with a nod to the past.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It offered a front-wheel-drive setup and had an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. While it lacked the hybrid options available in competitors like the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica, the Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration and responsive handling. However, its brakes tended to heat up during downhill driving, leading to pedal vibration and audible grumbling.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a range of power and efficiency options, with horsepower ranging from 266 to 480 and torque from 317 to 634 pound-feet. The Mach-E GT, with its extended-range battery and all-wheel-drive system, delivered 480 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds. The GT Performance Edition package increased torque to 634 lb-ft but reduced the range to 260 miles. The Mach-E GT featured various driving modes, including an exclusive Unbridled Extend mode for track use. While the steering lacked sharpness, the overall driving dynamics were impressive, and the brakes offered consistent performance. The ride quality was firm, but the Mach-E GT remained exciting to drive, with an efficiency of 37 kWh per 100 miles during testing.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey provided easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, the Odyssey Elite featured quality leather seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, along with a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The minivan offered ample storage space, including a center console tray and shelving in the front door panels. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible configurations, and the third-row seat was comfortable for adults. With 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and up to 144.9 cubic feet with the seats removed, the Odyssey excelled in cargo capacity.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, as a crossover SUV, offered seating for up to five people and 34.1 cubic feet of cargo space, including a front trunk. The Mach-E GT featured eight-way power-adjustable and heated front seats, wrapped in black ActiveX artificial leather and synthetic suede. The tiered center console provided storage options, and the rear seat accommodated up to three passengers. The panoramic glass roof added an airy feel to the cabin. With 29.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 59.7 cubic feet with the seats folded, the Mach-E offered practical storage solutions, including a 4.7 cubic foot frunk.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring and Elite trims added navigation, HondaLink connected services, and a rear-seat entertainment system with a 10.2-inch display. CabinWatch and CabinTalk technologies allowed the driver to monitor and communicate with rear passengers. However, the Odyssey's infotainment system felt outdated, lacking a larger screen and a tuning knob for the stereo. The embedded navigation system required specific voice commands and was less intuitive than smartphone-based options.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured a 15.5-inch touchscreen running on Ford's Sync 4A infotainment platform, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect services, and a navigation system. The system learned user habits and provided predictive suggestions. 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 the smartphone to function as the vehicle's key. While the system was comprehensive, it lacked a radio tuning knob and a dedicated driving mode button.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The Odyssey also featured automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The blind-spot monitoring system's warning light was poorly positioned, and the radar coverage was limited. The Odyssey earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E included Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 and BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system. BlueCruise 1.2 added features like lane-change function and predictive speed assist. While BlueCruise performed well, it required constant monitoring and lacked a head-up display for better communication. The Mach-E received top marks from the IIHS and was a Top Safety Pick for 2022. However, NHTSA crash-test ratings for 2023 were incomplete, with only side-impact and rollover resistance results available.