2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2024 Nissan Rogue

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E was a bold move by Ford, blending the iconic Mustang styling with a five-door electric crossover SUV. Despite initial skepticism, the design choice proved successful, with the Mach-E's long, narrow, and tall dimensions adorned with Mustang's signature galloping horse emblems, scowling headlights, and tri-bar taillights. This visual connection to the legendary pony car contributed significantly to its popularity. Since its debut in 2021, Ford produced over 150,000 units, offering various trims like Select, Premium, California Route 1, and GT, with prices ranging from $45,995 to $63,995, plus a destination charge. The Mach-E GT, in particular, stood out with its aggressive styling, featuring unique 20-inch wheels and a dark front panel resembling a traditional grille. Inside, the Mach-E GT exuded luxury with artificial leather and synthetic suede seats, copper stitching, and a high-tech ambiance created by metallic and gloss-black trim paired with dual display screens.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received its first major styling update since its 2021 launch, maintaining its lineup of S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims. The Rogue's new, larger grille seamlessly integrated with its distinctive stack headlights and daytime running lights, while the rear fascia saw minor changes. The Rogue SV featured new 18-inch wheels, while the Platinum trim boasted 19-inch wheels with a machined finish and more black exterior trim. Inside, the Rogue's dashboard accommodated a new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, enhancing its premium feel. The Rogue Platinum test car impressed with its upscale interior, featuring leather seats with quilted stitching and a new Chestnut brown color option. Despite its engine's impressive performance, the Rogue's ride quality was less satisfying, with a firmer suspension that didn't enhance handling.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a range of configurations, including standard-range and extended-range battery packs, as well as single-motor rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and dual-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD) systems. Horsepower varied from 266 to 480, with torque ranging from 317 to 634 pound-feet, and driving range spanning 224 to 312 miles. The Mach-E GT featured an extended-range battery and AWD, delivering 480 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds and a 270-mile range. The GT Performance Edition package increased torque to 634 lb-ft, reduced range to 260 miles, and improved acceleration to 3.5 seconds. The Mach-E GT offered driving modes like Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled, with an exclusive Unbridled Extend mode for track use. Despite its impressive speed, the Mach-E GT's steering lacked sharpness, and its ride quality was firm. However, it delivered an exciting driving experience, with a trip computer indicating better-than-expected efficiency.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue's powertrain featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with a variable compression ratio, producing 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque. This engine outperformed competitors like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. However, the Rogue's continuously variable transmission (CVT) was slow to transfer power to the wheels, and its suspension felt firmer than expected, affecting ride quality without improving handling. The Rogue was quiet, but its droning exhaust note was less appealing. While the engine impressed, the overall driving experience fell short of expectations.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, with its crossover SUV design, offered practicality alongside its stylish form. It accommodated up to five passengers and provided 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 Miko synthetic suede inserts. The interior boasted a tiered center console with ample storage space. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed a comfortable ride, thanks to wide-opening rear doors and a panoramic glass roof. The Mach-E's cargo space measured 29.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expandable to 59.7 cubic feet with the seats folded. The frunk added an extra 4.7 cubic feet of storage, designed for easy cleaning with a drain plug.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue offered competitive passenger space, with slight variations in legroom compared to rivals like the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson. The Rogue's cargo space measured 36.5 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 74.1 cubic feet with them folded, offering less space than some competitors but more than others. The optional Divide-N-Hide system allowed for flexible cargo configurations, and the Rogue featured a molded-in space for grocery bags. The center console provided additional storage, though accessing the lower tray was somewhat awkward.

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, navigation, and wireless smartphone charging. The system learned user habits and provided predictive suggestions. Despite its comprehensive features, the touchscreen's integration with the interior design was less seamless. 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 smartphone-based vehicle access, though it initially felt gimmicky.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue's lower-level trims came with an 8-inch touchscreen, while SL and Platinum models featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Amazon Alexa connectivity, and Google built-in apps. The Rogue was the first Nissan to offer Google built-in software, providing integrated Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play. The dual 12.3-inch screen setup improved the infotainment experience, though the touchscreen occasionally booted slowly. The Rogue included multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad on higher trims. Nissan extended the free trial period for its Nissan Connect Services to three years, offering features like remote door lock/unlock and vehicle health reports.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 technology and the BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system. BlueCruise 1.2 added features like lane-change and predictive speed assist functions. However, the system required constant monitoring, and a head-up display would have improved usability. The Mach-E received top safety marks from the IIHS and was a Top Safety Pick for 2022. NHTSA ratings were incomplete, with top scores for side-impact protection and rollover resistance.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received good safety scores from the IIHS, with top ratings in several crash tests and an acceptable rating in the updated side-impact test. It also earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Standard driver assist features included automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and lane departure warning. ProPilot Assist, available on higher trims, offered advanced driver assistance with automated lane centering.