2024 Toyota 4Runner vs 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E

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. 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. The GT trim, 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 exuded luxury with artificial leather and synthetic suede seats, copper stitching, and a high-tech ambiance, making it a compelling blend of past, present, and future.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota 4Runner retained its classic, rugged design, reminiscent of its 2010 roots. While it appeared outdated, its boxy shape and flared fenders provided a stable and brawny stance, ideal for off-road adventures. The TRD Pro model enhanced this rugged persona with underbody skid plates, all-terrain tires, and a beefy tubular roof rack. Inside, the 4Runner's old-school styling and last-generation technology were evident, with analog instrument panels and a small eight-inch infotainment touchscreen. Despite its dated appearance, the 4Runner offered practical features like cushioned panels and grained seat upholstery, making it easy to maintain. Its nostalgic charm was comparable to the revived Ford Bronco and the Jeep Wrangler, though it lacked some modern touches.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a range of power and efficiency options, with configurations spanning from 266 to 480 horsepower and 224 to 312 miles of driving range. The Mach-E GT, equipped with an extended-range battery and AWD, 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 enhanced performance with adaptive damping suspension and larger brakes. The Mach-E GT featured driving modes like Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled, with an exclusive Unbridled Extend mode for track use. Despite its firm suspension and choppy ride, the Mach-E GT impressed with its driving dynamics and efficiency, achieving 2.7 miles per kilowatt-hour during testing.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner, powered by a 4.0-liter V6 engine, produced 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. Its five-speed automatic transmission lagged behind competitors like the Bronco and Wrangler, which offered more responsive acceleration and better fuel economy. The TRD Pro model came standard with 4WD and a two-speed transfer case, making it capable off-road. However, on pavement, the 4Runner felt slow, with a soft suspension causing rear-end squat during acceleration and noticeable nosedive under hard braking. Its on-road handling suffered from body roll and floatiness, though it excelled in absorbing larger road imperfections. The 4Runner's off-road prowess was undeniable, but its on-road performance left much to be desired.

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. The Mach-E GT featured eight-way power-adjustable and heated front seats, wrapped in black ActiveX artificial leather and Miko synthetic suede. The rear seats, accessible through wide-opening doors, comfortably seated three children or two adults. With a panoramic glass roof, the interior felt airy and spacious. The Mach-E's cargo area expanded to 59.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and its 4.7 cubic-foot frunk was designed for easy cleaning.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's interior, though dated, was functional and easy to navigate. Its large climate-control dials and driveline levers were user-friendly, even with gloves on. The 4Runner offered ample space for front passengers, though taller drivers might find the steering wheel's reach limited. The second row provided generous legroom, but headroom was restricted due to the elevated bench height. The 4Runner's cargo capacity reached 47.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 89.7 cubic feet with the seats stowed. While lacking remote seat releases, the 4Runner featured a flat load floor and a sliding glass rear window for convenient access to gear.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured a 15.5-inch vertical touchscreen running on Ford's Sync 4A platform, offering wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The system, though comprehensive, was user-friendly, with natural voice recognition and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. The Mach-E also included Phone As A Key technology, allowing smartphone-based vehicle access.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's infotainment system, with its eight-inch touchscreen, provided standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The TRD Pro model boasted a 15-speaker JBL audio system, though road noise often overshadowed its quality. The 4Runner's terrain controls, located in the headliner console, required familiarization through the owner's manual to fully utilize features like Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 and BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system. BlueCruise 1.2 added features like lane-change and predictive speed assist, though it required constant monitoring. The Mach-E received top safety marks from the IIHS and was a Top Safety Pick for 2022, though NHTSA ratings were incomplete.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner received mixed safety ratings, with four stars from NHTSA for overall and frontal crash protection. It included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-departure warning. The TRD Pro and Limited trims offered a surround-view camera system, though the 4Runner's alerts were often oversensitive.