Compare the2025 Ford MustangVS 2025 BMW 4 Series Coupe

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Mustang have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW 4 Series Coupe doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Mustang are reminded to check the back seat. The 4 Series Coupe doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Mustang and 4 Series Coupe have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Mustang has Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The 4 Series Coupe’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Mustang and the 4 Series Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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

There are over 8 times as many Ford dealers as there are BMW 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 4 Series Coupe 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’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated below average.

The Mustang has more powerful engines than the 4 Series Coupe:

As tested in Car and Driver the Mustang EcoBoost 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the 430i Coupe 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder (automatics tested):

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 4 Series Coupe doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Mustang offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The 4 Series Coupe doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Mustang, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the 4 Series Coupe.

For better stopping power the Mustang Dark Horse’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the 4 Series Coupe:

The Mustang stops shorter than the 4 Series Coupe:

For better traction, the Mustang has larger standard tires than the 4 Series Coupe (235/50R18 vs. 225/45R18). The Mustang Dark Horse’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 4 Series Coupe (F:305/30R19 & R:315/30R19 vs. F:225/40R19 & R:255/35R19).

The Mustang Dark Horse’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 4 Series Coupe’s optional 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Mustang offers optional 20-inch wheels. The 4 Series Coupe’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Mustang offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the 4 Series Coupe; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Mustang is 1.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the 4 Series Coupe.

The Mustang Dark Horse handles at 1.07 G’s, while the M440i xDrive Coupe pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Mustang Dark Horse executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the M440i xDrive Coupe (23.7 seconds @ .86 average G’s vs. 24.7 seconds @ .78 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Mustang’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the 4 Series Coupe’s (36.5 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Mustang GT/Dark Horse’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the 4 Series Coupe xDrive’s (37.8 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

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 4 Series Coupe doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Mustang Fastback has 2.7 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the 4 Series Coupe.

The Mustang’s optional Easy Entry and Exit glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The 4 Series Coupe doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Mustang’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The 4 Series Coupe does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Mustang’s standard Intelligent Access allow you to unlock the doors from either outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Comfort Go standard on the 4 Series Coupe only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.