2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, known for its iconic design, retained its classic boxy shape with a flat roof, reminiscent of its predecessors. Each of the three trims featured elements that paid homage to earlier models, such as the heritage grille with "TOYOTA" spelled out, round headlights on the base and top trims, and rectangular ones on the mid-tier trim. All lighting was updated to LED, blending classic inspiration with modern standards. The higher trims boasted color-selectable fog lights, adding a contemporary touch. The lowered beltline improved visibility, and the First Edition trim came with additional off-road gear like a roof rack and skid plate. Inside, the base trim offered cloth seats, while the mid-tier had SofTex, and the First Edition featured real leather with unique logos. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard across all trims, with the Premium Package adding a moonroof and ventilated seats.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E maintained its sharp, distinctive styling with an aggressive front fascia and signature tri-bar tail lights. The new Rally trim, now the top-of-the-line, featured unique styling cues like 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's minimalist dash centered around a large touchscreen, with Ford Performance front seats standard on the GT and Rally trims. The Rally trim also included a 1-inch lift and unique suspension tuning for off-road use. The Mach-E's interior space was notable, with ample cargo room and power-adjustable seats, offering a blend of style and functionality.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, tested primarily on an off-road course, featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 1.87-kWh battery pack, and a 48-hp electric motor, producing a total of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. It came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard full-time 4WD, with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case. The Multi-Terrain Select system, available on mid-tier and First Edition models, operated in both 4Hi and 4Lo. The Land Cruiser also included an automatic limited-slip differential, rear- and center-locking differentials, and a push-button disconnect for the front sway bar. The updated CRAWL control function offered five speed settings for precise off-road navigation, operating silently compared to previous versions.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E, known for its sporty ride, featured a MagneRide damping system standard on the GT trim, allowing for drive mode adjustments. The GT Performance Upgrade package increased torque to 700 lb-ft, maintaining 480 horsepower, achieving 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds. The Mach-E GT and Rally trims came with all-wheel drive, offering ranges of 280 and 265 miles, respectively. The Mach-E's new rear eMotor improved torque and range, with the base model offering 250 miles of range. The Mach-E's DC fast-charging capability was enhanced, reducing charging time by 20%. The Rally trim included a 1-inch lift and unique suspension tuning for off-road use, tested on a skid pad and slalom course, showcasing its agility and performance.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, based on the Prado, offered two rows of seating with headroom measuring 36.1 inches in the front and 35.3 inches in the back. Legroom was 33.0 inches in the front and 26.7 inches in the rear. The center console provided easy access to off-road features, with hard controls for climate and media placed conveniently below the infotainment screen. The cargo area, with a raised load floor, offered 37.5 cubic feet of space, equipped with a rubber mat and a 120-volt AC outlet. The Premium Package included a center console cool box, standard on the First Edition.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E excelled in interior space, offering 34.1 cubic feet of cargo space, with 29.7 behind the rear seats and a drainable frunk. Folding the rear seats expanded cargo space to 59.7 cubic feet. The driver and front passenger enjoyed 38.9 inches of headroom, increasing to 40.4 inches with the panoramic glass roof. Legroom measured 43.3 inches in the front and 38.1 inches in the rear. The driver's seat was power-adjustable across all trims, with ActiveX seating surfaces standard. Heated front seats were available on the base trim and standard on others.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured the Multi-Terrain Monitor system on higher trims, utilizing a 12.3-inch center touchscreen display for off-road navigation. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with USB-C ports for front and rear passengers. The base trim had an 8-inch display with a six-speaker sound system, while the middle trim offered a 10-speaker system, upgradable to a 14-speaker JBL system with the Premium Package.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E came standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, featuring the latest SYNC 4A software on a 15.5-inch touchscreen. Climate controls were screen-based, with a hard control for stereo volume. The Mach-E included Ford's Intelligent Range system, providing real-time range updates based on route input and driving conditions.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had not been rated by IIHS or NHTSA, but Toyota's safety record provided confidence. It came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and Proactive Driving Assist. The Premium Package added lane-keep assist and traffic jam assist.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured BlueCruise 1.3, a hands-free highway-driving assist, available with a 90-day trial and subscription option. It included a 360-degree camera and Ford CoPilot 360 suite, with blind-spot information, pre-collision assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Mach-E earned a Top Safety Pick Award from IIHS and five-star ratings from NHTSA.