The Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD received the best scores for acceleration and stopping distance. (Photo: MSP)
The Michigan State Police held its annual police vehicle tests in September and has released the full report of all 2022 model year vehicles and motorcycles tested.
The Michigan State Police has been testing police cars since the 1950s. Successful test results from MSP and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department validate manufacturers’ engineering efforts in building a car capable of handling the stresses associated with police pursuits. The MSP recommends that agencies apply the information to the needs of their departments.
Vehicles are tested on acceleration, top speed, braking, and dynamics. This year, the police vehicles tested were:
- Chevrolet Tahoe 5.3L RWD
- Chevrolet Tahoe 5.3L 4WD
- Dodge Charger 3.6L AWD
- Dodge Charger 5.7L RWD
- Dodge Durango 3.6L AWD
- Dodge Durango 5.7L AWD
- Ford Police Interceptor Utility Hybrid AWD
- Ford Police Interceptor Utility 3L EcoBoost AWD
- Ford Police Interceptor Utility 3.3L AWD
- Ford F-150 Police Responder 3.5L EcoBoost
- Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD
For vehicle dynamics, the Ford PIU 3L EcoBoost AWD had the fastest average lap speed of 1:36:01. The second fastest was the Dodge Charger 5.7L RWD, with an average of 1:36:43.
The Ford Police Interceptor Utility 3L EcoBoost AWD had the fastest average lap speed. (Photo: MSP)
For the acceleration test, the Mach-E achieved the fastest 0-60 mph and 0-100 mph at 4.03 seconds and 11.94 seconds. This was followed by the PIU 3L EcoBoost at 5.45 seconds and 13.47 seconds. The PIU 3L EcoBoost was the fastest vehicle tested, achieving a top speed of 148 mph, followed by the two Chargers, which tied at 139 mph.
During brake testing, the Mach-E had the shortest projected stopping distance from 60 mph of all vehicles tested (125 feet), followed by the Chevrolet Tahoe 5.3L RWD at 129.1 feet.
Vehicles were also rated for ergonomics and communications — officers provide scores for the ergonomics section, while another team determines the difficulty of installing required communications and emergency warning equipment.
In communications, the Dodge Durango scored highest (9.78 points out of 10), with top scores in dashboard accessibility, trunk accessibility, and in the engine compartment. This was followed by the Ford PIU with 9.44 points.
In the ergonomics category, taking into consideration comfort, convenience, instrumentation, and visibility, the Chevrolet Tahoe ranked highest with 8.74 points out of 10, followed by the F-150 Police Responder with 8.44 points.
As for fuel economy, the Mach-E has an estimated 84 MPGe. The PIU Hybrid is projected to deliver 24 MPG combined. Among the traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, the Charger 3.6L AWD and the Durango 3.6L AWD tied at 21 MPG combined.
Thi Dao is executive editor of POLICE sister publication Government Fleet.
