Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Subaru Solterra

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E retained its distinctive and sharp styling, with an aggressive front fascia and a sloping profile that maintained its crossover proportions. The tri-bar tail lights, a hallmark of the Mustang nameplate, were refreshed to match the signature lighting of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang. The new Rally trim emerged as the top-of-the-line model, featuring unique styling elements such as LED fog lamps, a black roof, and Oxford White 19-inch wheels that paid homage to rally racing. The interior of the Mach-E continued to offer a minimalist design with a large touchscreen and Ford Performance front seats, now standard on the GT trim and carried over to the Rally trim.

The 2024 Subaru Solterra, a collaboration with Toyota, shared similarities with the Toyota bZ4X but featured Subaru-specific tweaks and badges. Its design included gray cladding and gloss black trim, with the Harbor Mist Gray Pearl paint color adding to its appeal. The Solterra lineup was straightforward, with Premium, Limited, and Touring trims, and offered features like an easy-exit power driver's seat and StarTex artificial leather. The interior provided ample storage space, though some areas lacked lining, and rear-seat passengers enjoyed generous legroom and amenities like air-conditioning vents and USB-C ports. The cargo space was practical, with 23.8 cubic feet available and 63.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E continued to prioritize a sporty driving experience, with a firm ride and tight steering feel. The GT trim featured a MagneRide damping system, enhancing adjustability by drive mode, and the GT Performance Upgrade package increased torque to 700 lb-ft, maintaining 480 horsepower. This resulted in impressive acceleration, with a zero-to-60-mph time of 3.3 seconds. The Mach-E's range varied by trim, with the base model offering 250 miles and the Premium trim reaching 320 miles. The GT and Rally trims, equipped with all-wheel drive, had ranges of 280 and 265 miles, respectively. Ford also improved the DC fast-charging experience, reducing charging times by about 20%.

The 2024 Subaru Solterra featured a dual-motor electric drive system with standard all-wheel drive, producing 215 horsepower and 249 lb-ft of torque. Its range was limited, with the Premium trim offering 227 miles and the Limited and Touring trims providing 222 miles. The Solterra's 72.8 kWh battery supported improved cold-weather charging and DC fast charging. During testing, the Solterra demonstrated efficiency, consuming electricity at a rate of 30.3 kWh per 100 miles. The Solterra's driving experience was secure, with good handling and braking performance, though it lacked the exhilarating acceleration of some EVs. The Dual Function X-Mode traction system enhanced its off-road capabilities.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E excelled in interior space, offering 34.1 cubic feet of cargo space, including a drainable frunk. Folding the rear seats expanded the cargo area to 59.7 cubic feet. The cabin provided ample headroom and legroom, with power-adjustable seats for both the driver and front passenger. ActiveX seating surfaces were standard, with Miko inserts and performance-inspired perforation adding a touch of luxury. Heated front seats were available on the base trim and standard on higher trims.

The 2024 Subaru Solterra offered easy access with its high ground clearance and added an easy-exit feature to the power driver's seat. The Limited and Touring trims featured StarTex artificial leather, heated front and rear seats, ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The interior provided ample storage space, though some areas lacked lining. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed generous legroom, air-conditioning vents, and USB-C ports. The cargo area offered 23.8 cubic feet of space, expandable to 63.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, though it lacked a front trunk.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E came standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, featuring the latest version 4A of Ford's SYNC infotainment software. The system operated through a 15.5-inch touchscreen, with climate controls anchored at the bottom. Ford's Intelligent Range system provided real-time range updates, considering factors like temperature and terrain. While the screen-based controls were becoming more accepted, the user experience could be improved, particularly with navigation and drive mode interfaces.

The 2024 Subaru Solterra's infotainment system varied by trim, with the Premium trim featuring an 8-inch touchscreen and the Limited and Touring trims offering a 12.3-inch touchscreen with a surround-view camera and Harman Kardon sound system. The system mirrored the Toyota Audio Multimedia system, offering features like safety services, remote vehicle access, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Solterra's infotainment system was superior to Subaru's Starlink tech, and features like the camera-based digital rearview mirror and Advanced Park system added convenience.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered BlueCruise 1.3, a hands-free highway-driving assist software, with a 90-day trial included. The Ford CoPilot 360 suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies included features like blind-spot information, pre-collision assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Mach-E earned a Top Safety Pick Award from the IIHS and received five-star ratings from the NHTSA in side crash and rollover testing.

The 2024 Subaru Solterra featured Subaru's EyeSight collection of driver assistance systems, with underlying technology from Toyota. New features for 2024 included front cross-traffic alert, hands-free driving, and active lane-change assist. The Solterra's EyeSight package offered impressive features like intersection collision avoidance and emergency steering assist, though execution needed improvement. The Solterra received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.