The Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro have been battling it out for decades. Choosing one over the other can be pretty hard, but it all depends on what you want in a muscle car. They’ve both evolved quite a bit over the years, but has one pulled ahead?
Price
How much are you willing to pay for your next muscle car? No one wants to make huge payments for years, but sometimes it’s worth paying a little extra to get a nicer vehicle. Thankfully, you won’t have to pay a lot extra for either of these great autos.
The Camaro is the cheaper of the two, with the turbocharged four-cylinder engine starting at an MSRP of $30,900. The Mustang isn’t too far off, with a starting MSRP of $30,920. At first glance, another $1K may seem like a huge jump, but it isn’t too much after you break it down into your loan. Sure, the extra cost isn’t much, but is the Camaro worth it?
Fuel Economy
You want a muscle car, but that doesn’t mean you want a gas guzzler. With current technology, you may expect your vehicle to get high gas mileage without sacrificing any power. Well, the Camaro may be for you. Between the two, combined averages for city/highway driving are quite similar, but the base Mustang definitely has the edge, getting 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway with the base model.
Direct comparisons are a little more tricky. With no less than five different trim levels of each model, combined city/highway fuel economy averages anywhere from a high of 32 mpg to as low as 13 mpg depending upon which model you choose.
Power
You’re buying a Camaro or Mustang for the power and fun. These are pony cars, after all!
If you’re looking for power, we’ll skip the V6 and look straight at the V8. For the Camaro, there are two V8 engine options. The first option is a basic V8 that will net you 455 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. There’s also an optional supercharged V8 engine in the ZL1 trim that generates 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. If you’re truly wanting a strictly performance-focused machine, this is the option you’re looking for. It will take you from 0 to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds…but also costs upwards of $63,000 out of your bank account.
The Mustang offers two different V8 engine options as well. The first is a 5.0-liter V8 with 480 horsepower. If you have the need for speed, the most obvious choice would have to be the supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 500 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. This, of course, is not nearly as powerful as the Camaro’s supercharged V8.
Driving
It’s natural for people to be curious about the four-cylinder Camaro since it does provide a superior fuel economy, but is it worth a purchase? Well, the four-cylinder isn’t in a great position, according to Car and Driver. It lacks the power you’d expect from a Camaro, with the 2024 four-cylinder Camaro going from zero to 60 in 5.5 seconds. However, upgrading to the V6 or the V8 outperforms both the Mustang and the Challenger. It shifts quickly, gives you plenty of power, and has a light curb weight that makes a huge difference on the road.
The great thing about the Mustang is that it’s easy to drive and generally pain-free. It’s also quiet and composed on the highway, even if the ride can be a little bouncy from time to time. The V6 engine makes it a strong choice, but it still can’t outperform the Camaro’s four-cylinder engine. It has respectable horsepower and fuel economy for the class, but if you want that extra oomph, the Camaro may be worth the cost.
Now, if you are on the fence between these two muscle cars, it may behoove you to know that 2024 will be the final model year for the Chevrolet Camaro, meaning it will be your last chance to get your hands on one.
