Compare the2025 Ford MustangVS 2025 BMW M2

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 M2 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 M2 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Mustang and M2 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 M2’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Mustang and the M2 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 M2. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the M2 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 M2 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 Dark Horse’s 5.0 DOHC V8 produces 27 more horsepower (500 vs. 473) than the M2’s optional 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Mustang Fastback gets better mileage than the M2:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Mustang uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The M2 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Mustang has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the M2 (16 vs. 13.7 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 M2 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Ford Mustang comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the M2.

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 M2 doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

For better stopping power the Mustang Dark Horse’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the M2:

The Mustang stops much shorter than the M2:

For better traction, the Mustang Dark Horse’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the M2 (F:305/30R19 & R:315/30R19 vs. F:275/35R19 & R:285/30R20).

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 M2’s 35 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Mustang offers optional 20-inch wheels. The M2’s largest wheels are only 19-inches in the front and 20-inches in the rear.

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 M2; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Mustang is 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the M2.

The Mustang Dark Horse handles at 1.07 G’s, while the M2 pulls only 1.03 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Mustang Dark Horse executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the M2 (23.7 seconds @ .86 average G’s vs. 24.1 seconds @ .85 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Mustang’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the M2’s (36.5 feet vs. 39 feet). The Mustang GT/Dark Horse’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the M2’s (37.8 feet vs. 39 feet).

The Ford Mustang may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the BMW M2.

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 M2 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Mustang Fastback has 2.7 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the M2.

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 M2 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 M2 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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 M2 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Mustang Premium/Deluxe keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The M2 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Ford Mustang comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the BMW M2 isn’t available as a convertible.

The Ford Mustang outsold the BMW 2 Series by over four to one during 2023.