2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2023 Volvo XC90

The 2023 Volvo XC90 marked a significant departure from Volvo's past designs, which were often likened to rolling bricks. Unlike the boxy sedans and wagons of the 1980s and 90s, the XC90 showcased a purposeful yet understated design. Its stout front end, assertive grille, and distinctive "Thor’s Hammer" headlights added a modern flair. The vehicle's rectilinear dimensions were still present but far from the toaster-like appearance of its predecessors. The Platinum Gray paint with brown undertones added richness and depth, while the interior featured elegant touches like a two-tone leather steering wheel, metal Bowers and Wilkins speaker covers, and luxurious Nappa leather upholstery. The minimalist design was complemented by wood deco inlays, creating a clean and beautiful look.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E, introduced in 2021, retained its distinctive and sharp styling for the 2024 model year. The aggressive front fascia, sloping profile, and tri-bar tail lights were signature elements of the Mustang nameplate. The new Rally trim, which replaced the GT as the top-of-the-line model, featured unique styling cues such as LED fog lamps, a black roof, and Oxford White 19-inch wheels. The GT trim offered 20-inch wheels with various finishes, including a new Bronze Appearance Package. Inside, the Mach-E maintained a minimalist dash with a large touchscreen and Ford Performance front seats, which were standard on the GT and Rally trims. The Rally trim also included a 1-inch lift and unique suspension tuning for off-road driving.

For the 2023 model year, Volvo replaced its older turbocharged engines in the XC90 with new B5 and B6 engines equipped with mild-hybrid technology. The B5 engine, featuring a turbocharger and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, produced 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The B6 powertrain, which included a supercharger and turbo, delivered 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The mild-hybrid system improved fuel efficiency and smoothness but did not offer full-hybrid benefits. The XC90 provided a reserved yet enjoyable driving experience, with quick acceleration, a smooth eight-speed automatic transmission, and excellent brakes. The vehicle's big wheels and thin tires minimized body roll, and the fuel-saving auto stop-start technology was almost imperceptible.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E continued to offer a firm ride, especially on the GT trim, which now included the MagneRide damping system for better adjustment by drive mode. The GT Performance Upgrade package increased torque output to 700 lb-ft, resulting in a 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds and an 11.8-second quarter mile. The Rally trim, with its unique suspension tuning and 1-inch lift, performed well on both pavement and off-road courses. The Mach-E's new rear eMotor improved torque and range, with the base model offering 250 miles of range and the Premium trim with the extended-range battery providing up to 320 miles. The GT and Rally trims, with all-wheel drive, had ranges of 280 and 265 miles, respectively. The DC fast-charging experience was also improved, reducing charging time by about 20%.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 offered a peaceful and pleasant front-seat experience, but its Scandinavian minimalism led to some space and storage frustrations. There was no dedicated space for a cell phone, and the center console bin was small. The second row was comfortable but challenging to adjust, and accessing the third row was difficult with the standard bench seat. The XC90 provided 12.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row in place, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 65.5 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. These figures fell short compared to competitors like the Audi Q7, Infiniti QX60, Genesis GV80, and Acura MDX. Despite its smaller size, the XC90 drove like a smaller car, making it easier to handle.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E's crossover body style offered 34.1 cubic feet of cargo space, including a drainable frunk. Folding the rear seats expanded the cargo space to 59.7 cubic feet. The driver and front passenger enjoyed 38.9 inches of headroom, while back-seat passengers had 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 inches in the rear. The driver’s seat was power-adjustable in every trim, with eight-way adjustability for the base trim and 10-way for the others. The front passenger seat was eight-way power-adjustable starting on the Premium trim. ActiveX synthetic upholstery was standard, with Miko inserts and performance-inspired perforation on the top trims. Heated front seats were available on the base trim and standard on the others.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display running Google OS, the first standard infotainment system of its kind. Google Maps, Spotify, NPR, and Google Assistant were standard features, and natural-language recognition enhanced the user experience. However, many key functions were filed within the touchscreen interface, leading to some frustration. The minimalist design meant fewer physical buttons, which could be inconvenient for adjusting certain features. Despite these challenges, the Google OS system offered impressive capabilities, and owners would likely adapt to its quirks over time.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E came standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, running the latest SYNC 4A software on a 15.5-inch touchscreen. Climate and temperature controls were anchored at the bottom of the screen, with a physical wheel for stereo volume and power. The Mach-E also featured Ford’s Intelligent Range system, which used cloud-based data to keep range estimates accurate in real-time. This system considered factors like temperature, terrain, traffic, and driving history, providing peace of mind for those with range anxiety.

Volvo's reputation for safety was well-earned, with the 2023 XC90 carrying a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The XC90's advanced driver safety tech included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and Pilot Assist technology, all standard features that enhanced safety and convenience.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured BlueCruise 1.3, Ford’s hands-free highway-driving assist software, available on all trims with a 90-day trial. The subscription-based nature of BlueCruise allowed drivers to try it before committing. The Mach-E also came with a 360-degree camera and the Ford CoPilot 360 suite, which included blind-spot information, 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 from the NHTSA in side crash and rollover testing.