Compare the2023 Ford MustangVS 2023 Porsche 718 Cayman

The Mustang’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Mustang has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the 718 Cayman’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Mustang’s standard Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Mustang’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Mustang and the 718 Cayman 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 and available rear parking sensors.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Mustang 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Porsche covers the 718 Cayman. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the 718 Cayman ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 15 times as many Ford dealers as there are Porsche 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 718 Cayman 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 Porsche vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles, Porsche is rated below average.

The Mustang has more powerful engines than the 718 Cayman:

As tested in Car and Driver the Mustang GT 5.0 DOHC V8 is faster than the Porsche 718 Cayman turbo 4 cyl. (manual transmissions tested):

In a Car and Driver race course test, the Ford Mustang GT Fastback was clocked 2.9 seconds faster than the Porsche 718 Cayman (173.8 sec. vs. 176.7 sec.).

On the EPA test cycle the Mustang Fastback gets better mileage than the 718 Cayman:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Mustang uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The 718 Cayman requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Mustang EcoBoost’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the 718 Cayman’s standard fuel tank (15.5 vs. 14.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Mustang higher (3 to 5 out of 10) than the Porsche 718 Cayman (1 to 5). This means the Mustang produces up to 39 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 718 Cayman every 15,000 miles.

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 718 Cayman.

The Mustang stops much shorter than the 718 Cayman:

For better traction, the Mustang Mach 1’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 718 Cayman (F:305/30R19 & R:315/30R19 vs. F:245/35R20 & R:295/30R20).

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 718 Cayman GT4’s 35 series front tires.

The Mustang has a standard space-saver spare (not available on Handling Package/H.O. Package/Mach 1) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the 718 Cayman; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Mustang’s wheelbase is 9.7 inches longer than on the 718 Cayman (107.1 inches vs. 97.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Mustang is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 4.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 718 Cayman.

The Mustang GT Fastback handles at 1.13 G’s, while the 718 Cayman pulls only 1.00 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Mustang GT Fastback executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the 718 Cayman (23.6 seconds @ .86 average G’s vs. 24 seconds @ .81 average G’s).

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 718 Cayman 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 718 Cayman doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Mustang GT Fastback is quieter than the 718 Cayman GT4 RS:

The Mustang has standard seating for 4 passengers; the 718 Cayman can only carry 2.

The Mustang Fastback has 34.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 718 Cayman (82.8 vs. 48).

The Mustang Fastback has 2.9 inches more front legroom and 5 inches more front shoulder room than the 718 Cayman.

The Mustang has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The 718 Cayman has no towing capacity.

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 718 Cayman 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 718 Cayman can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Mustang’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The 718 Cayman’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Mustang’s LED headlights produce a white, bright light using less electricity than the 718 Cayman’s standard xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. HID headlights can be slow to reach full brightness or power cycle, causing issues when flashing them to signal other vehicles; LED headlights light instantly. LED lights also last about three to four times as long.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Mustang has standard extendable sun visors. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Insurance will cost less for the Mustang owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Mustang will cost $2315 less than the 718 Cayman over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Mustang will be $25494 to $50985 less than for the Porsche 718 Cayman.

The Ford Mustang outsold the Porsche 718 by almost 20 to one during 2022.