2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2023 Acura MDX

When consumers shopped for a new 2023 Acura MDX, they found both standard and Type S versions, each with trim packages that increased the amount of equipment. The standard MDX came in a base level with available Technology, A-Spec, and Advance packages, while the MDX Type S was offered in standard spec or with an Advance package. Prices ranged from $49,550 to $73,200, plus a destination charge of $1,195. The test vehicle arrived in Type S Advance trim with extra-cost Apex Blue Pearl paint and an Orchid (white) interior, bringing the MSRP to $74,995. Despite the high price, Acura set expectations for quality, luxury, and driving dynamism, but in some respects, it missed the mark.

The fourth-generation MDX was the first Acura SUV to wear the Type S badge, and the S could stand for subtle. The Type S featured chicane-design LED running lights and taillights, and LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation. Minor front styling modifications and muted badges contributed to a subdued appearance, while 21-inch wheels gave the Type S a proper stance. A panoramic sunroof was standard for all MDX models, and most featured Iconic Drive ambient lighting themes. The Type S Advance added open-pore wood and a leather-wrapped dashboard. However, the body tapering at the doors could make it look like the MDX had a massive dent on the side, and the gloss black plastic on the dashboard made some controls challenging to find and use.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E, introduced for the 2021 model year, remained distinctive and sharp, with an aggressive front fascia, a sloping-yet-crossover-proportioned profile, and the tri-bar tail lights. The lamps were refreshed for 2024 to match the signature lighting of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang. The new Rally trim dethroned the GT as the top-of-the-line Mustang Mach-E, featuring unique styling cues like LED fog lamps, a black roof, and Oxford White 19-inch wheels. The GT trim got 20-inch wheels and a new Bronze Appearance Package.

The 2024 Mustang Mach-E’s interior was familiar, with a minimalist dash featuring a large touchscreen front and center and a narrow strip of a screen above the steering wheel. The Ford Performance front seats, with heavier bolstering and plastic backing, came standard on the GT trim and carried over to the Rally trim. The plastic trim in Oxford White made them look even more like they belonged on a spaceship.

The 2023 Acura MDX Type S was unique for its engine, employing a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 generating 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. This was an increase of 65 hp and 87 lb-ft of torque over the standard 3.5-liter V6. However, the Type S also weighed 285 pounds more than the lightest standard MDX with all-wheel drive (AWD). The twin-scroll turbo V6 engine used a 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters to power all four wheels through Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD). This mechanical torque-vectoring AWD system could put up to 70 percent of total engine output to a single rear wheel.

An Integrated Dynamics System provided Snow, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+ driving modes. The MDX Type S had an exclusive Lift mode that increased ground clearance from the standard 7.3 inches to 9.4 inches. However, the Type S struggled as a driver's SUV, with issues like an indecisive transmission, lack of ride compliance, squealing tires, and poor brake pedal modulation. The engine didn't offer a substantial increase in power over the standard V6, making its dismal fuel economy harder to accept. On the evaluation route, the MDX Type S averaged 16.9 mpg, coming up short of the official EPA fuel economy rating of 19 mpg in combined driving.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E had a firmer ride, even on lower trims, and the revised GT was no exception. The MagneRide damping system allowed for more adjustment by drive mode, but the Mach-E still took a sports-car-first, crossover-second approach to ride quality. The steering feel was sporty, stiff, and tight, with the wheel wanting to spring back to center. The Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Upgrade package increased torque output to 700 lb-ft, translating to a zero-to-60-mph time of 3.3 seconds and an 11.8-second quarter mile. Other Ford Performance features included Brembo front brake calipers and a 1-inch lift and unique suspension tuning for the Rally trim.

Every 2024 Mustang Mach-E got a new, lighter-weight rear eMotor, improving both torque and range. The EPA estimated range for the base Mach-E with the standard-range battery and rear-wheel drive (RWD) at 250 miles. The longest available range for 2024 came from the Premium trim configured with the extended-range battery and RWD, at 320 miles. The Mach-E GT and Rally were offered exclusively with all-wheel drive, bringing their ranges down to 280 and 265 miles, respectively. Ford also sped up the DC fast-charging experience, reducing the time involved by about 20%.

The 2023 Acura MDX offered three rows of seats with a choice of two or three second-row seating positions, plus a cargo area with lots of usable floor space. The fully equipped test vehicle had all available upgrades, including a triple-zone automatic climate control system and 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage. The MDX was comfortable, but the Type S' seats fell short of the model's performance-oriented mission. Seven-passenger seating was standard, with a removable center section in the second-row seat for a pass-through to the third row. The third row was best for carrying children.

The MDX's cabin prioritized style over storage space, with a small bin under the front center armrest and a wrist rest that partially blocked the wireless charging pad. The power liftgate revealed a decent amount of cargo floor space and a sizable well underneath the reversible load floor panel. The MDX could carry 18.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat, 39.1 cubic feet with the third-row seat down, and a maximum of 71.4 cubic feet with both rear rows folded flat.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E’s crossover body style offered a total of 34.1 cubic feet of cargo space: 29.7 behind the rear seats, plus a drainable frunk. Folding the rear seats down expanded the in-cabin cargo space to 59.7 cubic feet. The driver and front passenger enjoyed 38.9 inches of headroom and back-seat passengers got 38.2 inches without the panoramic glass roof, increasing to 40.4 and 39.3 inches with it. Legroom measured 43.3 inches in the front and 38.1 in the rear.

The driver’s seat was power-adjustable in every 2024 Mach-E: eight-way for the base trim and 10-way for the other three. The front passenger got eight-way power-adjustability starting on the Premium trim. ActiveX seating surfaces were standard, with Miko inserts and performance-inspired perforation on the top two trims. Heated front seats were available on the base trim and standard on the others.

The 2023 Acura MDX featured a Digital Precision Cockpit with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment display. However, the infotainment screen wasn't touch-sensitive and required the use of a True Touchpad Interface (TTI) on the center console. The TTI design robbed the center console of space and partially blocked the wireless charging pad. The MDX featured wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa Built-In. Additional features included SiriusXM satellite radio, a native navigation system, and AcuraLink connected services with a complimentary three-year subscription.

The MDX offered several sound systems, with the top-shelf Signature Edition ELS Studio 3D high-end audio system featuring 25 speakers. The Advance package added a 10.5-inch head-up display (HUD) showing navigation instructions, driving assistance status, current vehicle speed, and the posted speed limit. However, the traffic sign recognition system occasionally misread signs, leading to incorrect speed limit suggestions.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E came standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the latest version 4A of Ford’s SYNC software. SYNC 4A operated through a 15.5-inch, portrait-oriented touchscreen positioned between the driver and front passenger. Climate and temperature controls were anchored near the bottom of the screen, with a wheel for stereo volume and power. The Mach-E also featured Ford’s Intelligent Range system, a cloud-based feature that kept range accurate and updated in real-time.

The 2023 Acura MDX's traffic sign recognition system was part of Acura Watch, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, and Traffic Jam Assist. The MDX also included a blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert. Certain trim packages added front and rear parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The MDX earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA, though it received four-star protection ratings for the driver and front passenger in the frontal-impact test.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured BlueCruise 1.3, Ford’s hands-free highway-driving assist software, available on every trim. A 90-day trial was included, with the option to purchase a three-year subscription. The Mach-E also came equipped with a 360-degree camera and the Ford CoPilot 360 suite, including a blind-spot information system, pre-collision assist, evasive steering assist, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. The Mach-E earned a Top Safety Pick Award from the IIHS and five-star ratings in side crash and rollover testing from the NHTSA.