2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2022 Volvo XC90

Volvo had come a long way from its boxy cars and wagons of the past decades. The brand maintained its family-friendly, safety-oriented image while moving upscale, nearing the luxury class. After Ford sold Volvo to China's Zhejiang Geely Holding in 2010, the company underwent a significant transformation, developing new vehicle platforms from scratch. The original XC90, launched in 2003, received updates until 2015. The 2016 model marked the debut of the current XC90, Volvo's flagship SUV, built on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform.

The 2022 XC90 had a striking stance and sleek profile, with a body seemingly tilted forward, ready to launch. Its long roofline and pronounced wheel arches emphasized athleticism, while the snub nose recalled the classic 245 wagon's upright grille. The interior, described as "Scandinavian Modern" and "Swedish Luxury," featured natural wood and metal trim, a sliding wood tambor cover on the center console, and a clear crystal gear selector handle. Volvo's commitment to going leather-free by 2030 was evident, though Nappa leather was still available. The non-leather "tailored wool blend" upholstery was an alternative, but not for everyone.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E initially shocked enthusiasts with its Mustang styling cues on a five-door electric crossover SUV. However, it proved to be a smart move, with the Mach-E's design elements, such as galloping horse emblems, scowling headlights, bold rear fender haunches, and tri-bar taillights, contributing to its popularity. Since its debut in 2021, Ford had built over 150,000 Mach-E's, shipping them worldwide. In the U.S., the Mach-E was available in Select, Premium, California Route 1, and GT trims, 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 income tax credit and additional state rebates.

Our test vehicle, a GT spec with Cyber Orange paint, had an MSRP of $66,590, including the destination charge. It did not have the new-for-2023 Nite Pony appearance package. The Mach-E GT exuded style, quality, and technology, competing with any EV in its price class. The GT trim featured revised bumpers, unique 20-inch wheels, and a dark front panel resembling a traditional grille, giving it a more aggressive look. Inside, the GT had artificial leather and synthetic suede sport-bolstered seats with copper stitching and piping, a high-end look with fabric on the dashboard, door panels, and speaker grilles, and metallic and gloss-black trim with two rectangular display screens.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains: T5, T6, and T8. The T5 models had a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 models featured a supercharged and turbocharged version of the same engine, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 models combined a supercharged/turbocharged gasoline engine with an electric motor, producing a combined 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. The T5 models were front-wheel drive (FWD) with available all-wheel drive (AWD), while the T6 and T8 models were AWD only. All XC90 models used a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission.

The XC90 engines required Premium (91-octane) gasoline. The EPA estimated the T5 FWD models to achieve 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined, and the T5 AWD models at 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway/23 mpg combined. The T6 AWD models were rated at 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined. The T8 had a 27 mpg combined rating on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range. The extended-range variant had a 26 mpg combined gasoline rating, a 66 MPGe rating, and an EV range of up to 36 miles. Charging the battery from empty to fully charged took about five hours at 240 volts (Level 2).

The XC90 provided a superb driving experience, handling like a smaller SUV despite its size. Body roll was minimal and controlled. Our test vehicle, a top-of-the-line T8 Inscription extended range, offered spirited acceleration, with the electric motor delivering torque early, eliminating turbo lag and smoothing power delivery. While not a hot rod, the XC90 was fun to drive.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E lineup offered standard-range and extended-range battery packs, with single-motor rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and dual-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD) electric drive systems. Power and efficiency ratings varied, ranging from 266 to 480 horsepower, 317 to 634 pound-feet of torque, and 224 to 312 miles of driving range. The Mach-E GT had an extended-range battery and AWD drivetrain, producing 480 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds and an EPA-estimated range of 270 miles.

The GT Performance Edition package increased torque to 634 lb-ft, reduced the range to 260 miles, and improved acceleration to 3.5 seconds. It also added an adaptive damping suspension, larger front brakes, and summer performance tires. The Mach-E GT featured Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled driving modes, with an exclusive Unbridled Extend mode for racetrack use. One-pedal driving was available, allowing operation by pressing the accelerator to go and releasing it to stop.

In Engage mode, the Mach-E GT was undeniably fast, with impressive overall driving dynamics. The steering lacked sharp response and communicative feel, but the brakes offered consistent, fade-free bite. The ride quality was firm and choppy, but Ford controlled excessive body motions well. The Performance Edition package likely provided the most satisfying driving experience. During our test drive, the Mach-E GT achieved 2.7 miles per kilowatt-hour of energy, translating to 37 kWh per 100 miles, more efficient than the official EPA estimate of 40 kWh/100 mi.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 was available in six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, with captain's chairs or three-across seating in the second row. The third row was suitable for kids but lacked legroom and thigh support for adults. The XC90 could carry up to 15.9 cubic feet of luggage behind the third row, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. It could tow between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, depending on the configuration and powertrain.

The XC90's interior space was well-utilized, with ample storage options and a comfortable, airy cabin enhanced by the standard laminated panoramic moonroof. The air-conditioning system performed well during a heat wave, cooling rapidly and maintaining comfort.

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 sizable front trunk (frunk). The Mach-E GT had 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 gray ActiveX and Miko upholstery.

A stylish tiered center console provided covered and open storage areas, with a lower storage tray beneath the bridge connecting the console to the dashboard. The rear seat could comfortably accommodate three kids or two additional adults, with a standard panoramic glass roof enhancing the airy environment. The Mach-E offered 29.7 cu-ft of cargo space behind the back seat, expanding to 59.7 cu-ft with the rear seats folded. The frunk provided an additional 4.7 cu-ft of cargo space, designed to get dirty and include a drain plug for easy cleaning.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, with a nine-inch diagonal, portrait-oriented touchscreen interface. The system supported familiar smartphone gestures but was occasionally glitchy and slow to respond. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel offering easy configuration and customization. The $1,650 Advanced package included a head-up display, a 360-degree surround-view camera system, and an advanced air cleaner. The XC90 came with standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound, with a $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins upgrade available. The vehicle included two front USB-A ports, two rear USB-C ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care smartphone app.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E had a 15.5-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen running on Ford’s Sync 4A infotainment platform, with over-the-air software updates. The system included 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 could predictively suggest destinations and showcase recently used apps. The touchscreen provided access to the dual-zone automatic climate control system, vehicle settings, and a comprehensive trip computer.

The Mach-E featured natural voice recognition, a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system, and a 10.2-inch digital instrumentation display. The Phone As A Key technology allowed the smartphone to function as the vehicle’s key, enabling unlocking, starting, and driving the EV.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 had a long list of safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist, rain-sensing wipers, slippery road alert, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, oncoming lane mitigation, and road-sign recognition. The Pilot Assist system combined several safety features for minimal driver intervention on highways. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E came with standard Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 technology and the latest BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system. BlueCruise 1.2 added lane-change, predictive speed assist, and lane repositioning functions. During testing, BlueCruise 1.2 performed well but required constant monitoring. The Mach-E received top marks from the IIHS and was a Top Safety Pick for 2022. The NHTSA had not finalized crash-test ratings for the 2023 model, but it received top ratings for side-impact protection and rollover resistance.