2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E was a bold move by Ford, blending the iconic Mustang styling with a modern electric crossover SUV. Its long, narrow, and tall dimensions, adorned with galloping horse emblems, scowling headlights, and tri-bar taillights, created a unique visual appeal that resonated with consumers. The Mach-E GT, in particular, stood out with its aggressive design, featuring revised bumpers, unique 20-inch wheels, and a dark front panel resembling a traditional grille. Inside, the Mach-E GT offered a luxurious experience with sport-bolstered seats wrapped in artificial leather and synthetic suede, complemented by copper stitching and piping. The cabin's high-end look was further enhanced by fabric on the dashboard and door panels, metallic and gloss-black trim, and two rectangular display screens, creating a sporty, upscale, and high-tech ambiance.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid maintained a more traditional SUV appearance, with subtle differences between the standard RX 350 and the RX 350h hybrid. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model, however, distinguished itself with a blacked-out grille, matte-black 21-inch wheels, and aggressive bumper designs. The RX's interior adopted a cleaner, more minimalistic appearance, with contemporary textures and detailing. The RX 350h Luxury model featured Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance had artificial suede and dark gray aluminum trim. Despite its visual weight over the front wheels and a signature rear roof pillar design, the RX offered a comfortable and luxurious experience, with ten-way power-adjustable front seats, premium leather, and a three-zone automatic climate control system.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a range of power and efficiency options, with configurations spanning from 266 to 480 horsepower, 317 to 634 pound-feet of torque, and a driving range of 224 to 312 miles. The Mach-E GT, equipped with an extended-range battery and AWD drivetrain, delivered 480 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. The GT Performance Edition package increased torque to 634 lb-ft, reduced the range to 260 miles, and improved acceleration to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The Mach-E GT featured Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled driving modes, with an exclusive Unbridled Extend mode for racetrack use. Despite its firm suspension settings and choppy ride, the Mach-E GT impressed with its driving dynamics and efficiency, achieving 2.7 miles per kilowatt-hour of energy during testing.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered a different performance experience, with the RX 350h producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque from a hybrid powertrain based on a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It accelerated to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds and averaged 36 mpg in combined driving. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and Direct4 AWD system, delivered 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, reaching 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. However, it achieved only 27 mpg in combined driving. The RX 500h featured an adaptive damping suspension, upgraded brakes, and rear-wheel steering, providing a dynamic driving experience. Despite its lower fuel economy, the RX 500h offered a more engaging drive, while the RX 350h excelled in efficiency and comfort.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, with its crossover SUV configuration, provided seating for up to five people and 34.1 cubic feet of cargo space, including a sizable front trunk (frunk). The Mach-E GT featured eight-way power-adjustable and heated front seats, wrapped in black ActiveX artificial leather with black Miko synthetic suede inserts. A stylish tiered center console offered ample storage space, while the rear seat comfortably accommodated passengers with a panoramic glass roof enhancing the airy environment. The Mach-E's cargo space expanded to 59.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and the frunk added an additional 4.7 cubic feet of storage.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered a comfortable and luxurious interior, with the RX 350h Luxury model featuring ten-way power-adjustable front seats, premium leather, and a three-zone automatic climate control system. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model had eight-way power-adjustable front seats with larger side bolsters and standard heated and ventilated seats. The RX's battery packs were housed under the rear seat, providing excellent leg support and good legroom, though rear headroom was tight. The RX offered 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 46.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded, matching the standard RX 350's cargo volume.

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, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, a navigation system, and wireless smartphone charging. The system supported natural voice recognition and provided access to various vehicle settings and energy usage data. The Mach-E also included a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system and 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 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system, the Lexus Interface, offering connected services plans, cloud-based navigation, and an Intelligent Assistant digital voice assistant. The system required activation of free trial subscriptions and user profile creation for optimal use. The RX's touchscreen displayed one menu at a time, requiring frequent interaction with virtual buttons. The available head-up display and dual-function touch-sensing control pads on the steering wheel added complexity, especially for those wearing polarized sunglasses. Despite these challenges, the Lexus Interface represented a significant upgrade for the RX.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 technology and the latest BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system. BlueCruise 1.2 added features like lane-change function, predictive speed assist, and lane repositioning. While impressive, the system required constant monitoring and lacked a head-up display for better communication. The Mach-E received top marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and was a Top Safety Pick for 2022. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not finalized crash-test ratings for the 2023 model.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 (LSS+ 3.0), including motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance, and curve-speed reduction. Proactive Driving Assist technology maintained safe distances and recharged the battery through regenerative braking. While effective, some features like front cross-traffic alert and curve-speed reduction had limitations. The RX also offered Traffic Jam Assist and Advanced Park, though these were not tested. Overall, LSS+ 3.0 provided a comprehensive suite of safety features for the RX.