2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2023 Toyota 4Runner

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special Edition (40 ASE) was based on the SR5 Premium trim level and added $4,505 to its price, with $1,875 of that for the standard four-wheel-drive system. The remaining $2,630 bought retro body stripes, a heritage grille design, bronze 17-inch wheels, and various bronze badges and stitching. Available in black, white, or red paint with a black artificial leather interior, the 40 ASE had a strong SoCal vibe, reminiscent of the 1970s. The fifth-generation 4Runner had a truck-based SUV look, with a solid and quality interior, easy-to-use controls, and a purposeful design.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, initially shocking to Mustang purists, proved to be a smart move by Ford. The electric SUV, with its Mustang styling cues, became popular due to its visual ties to the legendary pony car. Available in Select, Premium, California Route 1, and GT trim levels, the Mach-E ranged from $45,995 to $63,995, plus a $1,800 destination charge. The GT trim, with its Cyber Orange paint, had a distinctive look with revised bumpers, unique 20-inch wheels, and a dark front panel resembling a traditional grille. Inside, the Mach-E GT felt like a luxury car with artificial leather and synthetic suede seats, a high-end look, and a sporty, upscale ambiance.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner featured a 4.0-liter V6 engine producing 270 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 278 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. It offered a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and two 4WD systems: a part-time 4WD system and a full-time 4WD system available on the Limited trim. The 4Runner had an EPA fuel economy rating of 17 mpg in combined driving, and during testing, it averaged 16.9 mpg. With a minimum of nine inches of ground clearance and various off-roading technologies, the 4Runner excelled in off-road conditions but had flaws in on-road performance, such as slow acceleration, heavy steering, and a bumpy ride.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a range of power and efficiency ratings depending on the configuration, with horsepower spanning from 266 to 480 and torque from 317 to 634 pound-feet. The Mach-E GT, with an extended-range battery and AWD, produced 480 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds with an EPA-estimated range of 270 miles. The GT Performance Edition package increased torque to 634 lb-ft and reduced the range to 260 miles, with a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds. The Mach-E GT featured Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled driving modes, with an exclusive Unbridled Extend mode for track use. The EV was fast and had impressive driving dynamics, though the ride quality was firm and choppy.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner's back window powered down into the tailgate, providing an immersive driving experience. The 4Runner's interior featured comfortable seats, with the 40 ASE model having SofTex artificial leather and heated front cushions. The second-row seating area was roomy, with good legroom, headroom, air conditioning vents, and USB charging ports. The optional third-row seat was uncomfortable and reduced cargo space. The 4Runner offered 46.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seat and up to 89.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, with its crossover SUV configuration, 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 rear seat was snug but supportive, with a panoramic glass roof providing an airy environment. The Mach-E offered 29.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and up to 59.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The frunk added an additional 4.7 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner had traditional analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Amazon Alexa compatibility, with several connected services plans available. Upgrades included a navigation system and a JBL premium sound system. The infotainment system's home screen displayed multiple functions simultaneously, and the voice recognition performed well, though it had limitations with certain commands.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured a 15.5-inch touchscreen running on Ford's Sync 4A infotainment platform, with 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 provided predictive suggestions, with access to various vehicle settings and a comprehensive trip computer. The system was user-friendly, though it lacked a radio tuning knob and a driving mode button. The Mach-E also had 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.

The 2023 Toyota 4Runner came with Toyota Safety Sense, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and a rear-seat reminder system. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on all trims. The 4Runner's adaptive cruise control performed well, but the lane-departure warning was irritating. The 4Runner received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with three-star ratings for front passenger protection and rollover resistance. The IIHS gave it a Marginal rating for driver protection in the small overlap frontal-impact test.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E came with Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 technology and BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system. BlueCruise 1.2 added new features like lane-change function and predictive speed assist. During testing, BlueCruise performed well but had some issues with communication and readiness status. The Mach-E received top marks from the IIHS and was a Top Safety Pick for 2022. The NHTSA gave it top five-star ratings for side-impact protection and rollover resistance, but frontal-impact results were unavailable.