Compare the2023 Ford MustangVS 2023 Volkswagen Golf R

The Ford Mustang has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Golf R doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the Mustang and the Golf R have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Mustang 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Golf R. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Golf R ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Mustang’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Golf R’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are almost 5 times as many Ford dealers as there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Mustang’s warranty.

The Mustang has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Golf R doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the car’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 63 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volkswagen is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 2 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The Mustang has more powerful engines than the Golf R:

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Mustang is faster than the Golf R Manual (manual transmissions tested):

In a Car and Driver racecourse test, the Ford Mustang Mach 1 was clocked 12.9 seconds faster than the Volkswagen Golf R (171.4 sec. vs. 184.3 sec.).

The Mustang EcoBoost’s standard fuel tank has a gallon more fuel capacity than the Golf R (15.5 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Mustang GT/Mach 1’s standard fuel tank has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Golf R (16 vs. 14.5 gallons).

The Mustang has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Golf R doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A 10-speed automatic is available on the Ford Mustang, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Golf R.

To facilitate fast shifting and allow the driver to focus on the road, the Mustang offers an optional up-shift light to indicate when to shift, based on a value pre-entered by the driver. The Golf R doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

The Ford Mustang GT/Mach 1 manual has a downshift rev synchronizer that automatically raises engine speed to make downshifts perfectly smooth. This keeps the car from lurching during downshifts, preventing loss of control during cornering. The Golf R doesn’t offer a downshift rev synchronizer.

For better stopping power the Mustang V8 PP/Mach 1’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Golf R:

The Mustang stops much shorter than the Golf R:

For better traction, the Mustang Mach 1’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Golf R (F:305/30R19 & R:315/30R19 vs. 235/35R19).

The Mustang Mach 1’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Golf R’s 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Mustang offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Golf R’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Mustang has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Golf R’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Mustang’s wheelbase is 3.6 inches longer than on the Golf R (107.1 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Mustang is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 5.4 inches wider in the rear than on the Golf R.

The Mustang GT Fastback handles at 1.13 G’s, while the Golf R pulls only .99 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Mustang GT Premium Convertible handles at .98 G’s, while the Golf R pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Mustang’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the Golf R’s (36.5 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

The front grille of the Mustang (except Performance Pack) uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Golf R doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Mustang Convertible uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Golf R doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Mustang Fastback has 3.9 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more front shoulder room and 1.1 inches more rear hip room than the Golf R.

A standard locking glovebox and optional locking center console keeps your small valuables safer in the Mustang. The Golf R doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The engine in the Mustang is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Golf R. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Mustang Auto has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Golf R doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

On a hot day the Mustang’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Golf R can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Ford Mustang comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the Volkswagen Golf R isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

The Ford Mustang outsold the Volkswagen Golf/GTI by 410 units during the 2022 model year.