Compare the2023 Chevrolet CamaroVS 2023 Ford Mustang

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Chevrolet Camaro Coupe is safer than the Mustang Fastback:

	Camaro	Mustang
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	91	147
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	1 cm	5 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	21 cm	25 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	.9/.9 kN	2.8/1.4 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	0%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Tibia index R/L	.55/.45	.74/.66
Tibia forces R/L	2.5/1.4 kN	3.3/2.5 kN

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Camaro is safer than the Ford Mustang:

	Camaro	Mustang
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	199 lbs.	259 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	285	422
Spine Acceleration	46 G’s	58 G’s
Hip Force	511 lbs.	741 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	13 inches
HIC	237	513

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Camaro’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Mustang’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

The battery on the Camaro is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Camaro’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Mustang’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 10th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

Engine

The Camaro has more powerful engines than the Mustang:

	Horsepower	Torque
Camaro 3.6 DOHC V6	335 HP	284 lbs.-ft.
Camaro LT1/SS 6.2 V8	455 HP	455 lbs.-ft.
Camaro ZL1 6.2 supercharged V8	650 HP	650 lbs.-ft.
Mustang 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder	310 HP	350 lbs.-ft.
Mustang 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder	330 HP	350 lbs.-ft.
Mustang GT 5.0 DOHC V8	450 HP	410 lbs.-ft.
Mustang Mach 1 5.0 DOHC V8	470 HP	410 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Camaro is faster than the Ford Mustang (manual transmissions tested):

	Camaro LT1/SS	Camaro ZL1	Mustang GT	Mustang Mach 1
Zero to 30 MPH	1.7 sec	n/a	1.9 sec	n/a
Zero to 60 MPH	4 sec	3.6 sec	4.4 sec	4.6 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	6.3 sec	n/a	6.7 sec	n/a
Zero to 100 MPH	9.3 sec	n/a	9.7 sec	n/a
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	1.8 sec	n/a	1.9 sec	n/a
Quarter Mile	12.4 sec	11.7 sec	12.6 sec	12.9 sec

As tested in Road and Track the Camaro ZL1 6.2 supercharged V8 is faster than the Mustang GT 5.0 DOHC V8 (manual transmissions tested):

	Camaro	Mustang
Zero to 60 MPH	3.5 sec	4.1 sec
Quarter Mile	11.7 sec	12.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	124 MPH	113.6 MPH

As tested in Motor Trend the Camaro ZL1 6.2 supercharged V8 is faster than the Mustang GT 5.0 DOHC V8 (automatics tested):

	Camaro	Mustang
Zero to 60 MPH	3.5 sec	4.2 sec
Quarter Mile	11.5 sec	12.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	125 MPH	114.5 MPH

As tested in Motor Trend the Camaro ZL1 6.2 supercharged V8 is faster than the Ford Mustang 2.3 (automatics tested):

	Camaro	Mustang
Zero to 30 MPH	1.6 sec	2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	3.5 sec	5.3 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	5.2 sec	8.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	7.4 sec	15 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	1.4 sec	2.6 sec
Quarter Mile	11.5 sec	13.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	125 MPH	97.2 MPH

In a Motor Trend race course test, the Chevrolet Camaro SS Coupe was clocked 3.3 seconds faster than the Ford Mustang GT Premium Fastback (80.67 sec. vs. 83.97 sec.).

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Camaro gets better mileage than the Mustang Fastback:

			MPG
Camaro
	Manual	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/28 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	16 city/26 hwy
		6.2 OHV V8	16 city/24 hwy
	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/30 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/29 hwy
		6.2 OHV V8	16 city/26 hwy
Mustang Fastback
	Manual	GT 5.0 V8	15 city/24 hwy
		Mach 1 5.0 V8	14 city/22 hwy
	Auto	2.3 turbo 4-cyl. (330 HP)	20 city/27 hwy
		GT 5.0 V8	15 city/24 hwy
		Mach 1 5.0 V8	15 city/23 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Camaro gets better mileage than the Mustang Convertible:

			MPG
Camaro
	Manual	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/28 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	16 city/26 hwy
		6.2 OHV V8	16 city/24 hwy
	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/30 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/29 hwy
		6.2 OHV V8	16 city/26 hwy
Mustang Convertible
	Manual	2.3 turbo 4-cyl. (330 HP)	19 city/25 hwy
		5.0 V8	15 city/24 hwy
		Mach 1 5.0 V8	14 city/22 hwy
	Auto	2.3 turbo 4-cyl. (310 HP)	20 city/28 hwy
		2.3 turbo 4-cyl. (330 HP)	19 city/26 hwy
		GT 5.0 V8	15 city/23 hwy
		Mach 1 5.0 V8	15 city/23 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Camaro V6/V8 Auto’s fuel efficiency. The Mustang doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Camaro has 3.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Mustang EcoBoost’s standard fuel tank (19 vs. 15.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Camaro has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Mustang GT/Mach 1’s standard fuel tank (19 vs. 16 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Camaro ZL1’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Mustang:

	Camaro ZL1	Mustang	Mustang V8 PP/Mach 1
Front Rotors	15.35 inches	12.6 inches	15 inches
Rear Rotors	14.4 inches	12.6 inches	12.6 inches

The Camaro stops much shorter than the Mustang:

	Camaro	Mustang
70 to 0 MPH	137 feet	165 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	91 feet	111 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Camaro has larger standard tires than the Mustang (245/50R18 vs. 235/55R17).

The Camaro’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Mustang’s standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Camaro has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Mustang.

The Camaro has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Mustang doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Camaro can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Mustang doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Camaro’s wheelbase is 3.6 inches longer than on the Mustang (110.7 inches vs. 107.1 inches).

The Camaro ZL1 1LE Coupe handles at 1.18 G’s, while the Mustang GT Premium Fastback pulls only .96 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Camaro SS Convertible handles at .98 G’s, while the Mustang GT Premium Convertible pulls only .96 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Camaro SS Coupe executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the Mustang EcoBoost Premium Fastback (22.9 seconds @ .91 average G’s vs. 25.1 seconds @ .75 average G’s).

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Camaro Coupe a Compact car, while the Mustang Fastback is rated a Subcompact.

The Camaro Coupe has 10.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Mustang Fastback (93 vs. 82.8). The Camaro Convertible has 5.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Mustang Convertible (85 vs. 79.2).

The Camaro Coupe has .9 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more rear headroom and .9 inches more rear legroom than the Mustang Fastback.

The Camaro Convertible has .8 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more rear legroom and 5.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Mustang Convertible.

Servicing Ease

The Camaro uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Mustang uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Camaro (except LS/LT1) offers an available heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning, turn signal and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Mustang doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Camaro’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Mustang has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

On a hot day the Camaro has a standard remote opening feature, to lower the top from outside. The Mustang doesn’t offer a remote top, so the driver will have to enter the car, turn the ignition on and lower the top.

When the Camaro with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Mustang’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Camaro’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Mustang has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chevrolet Camaro (except LS/LT1) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Mustang doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Camaro owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Camaro with a number “1” insurance rate while the Mustang is rated higher at a number “3” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Camaro is less expensive to operate than the Mustang because typical repairs cost much less on the Camaro than the Mustang, including $47 less for a muffler, $126 less for a timing belt/chain and $757 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its July 2019 issue and the Chevrolet Camaro SS Coupe won out over the Ford Mustang GT Fastback.

Motor Trend selected the Camaro as their 2016 Car of the Year. The Mustang has never been chosen.