- Mustang Vs. Camaro Exterior
- Mustang Vs. Camaro Interior
- Mustang Vs. Camaro Tech And Safety
- Mustang Vs. Camaro Powertrain And Performance
- Mustang Vs. Camaro Price And Variants
- The Bottom Line
A face-off between the two leading pony cars of the combustion era.
Ford's Mustang may have predated the Chevrolet Camaro by two years, but both models paved the way for their respective manufacturers to make their mark on a young demographic. After almost six decades of existence, the Mustang has just entered its seventh generation, while the Camaro continues its sixth iteration as it enters its penultimate model year.
These two high-performance nameplates are entering what is probably the twilight of the pony car wars as we know it. The Camaro is slated to disappear after the 2024 model year, while the Mustang will soldier on with the S650, in what could be its last combustion-powered platform until 2028.
Before everything changes, we bring the 2023 Ford Mustang S550 and 2023 Chevrolet Camaro together for one of the last face-offs they could be having, before both are ultimately transformed by the electric era.
Mustang Vs. Camaro Exterior
Both the 2023 Ford Mustang and 2023 Chevrolet Camaro bring aesthetics that readily exude power even when the ignition hasn't been switched on yet. However, the 2023 Mustang's shark-like silhouette delivers a more predatory character, a point emphasized by the triple-bar daytime running lights resembling gills. In contrast, the 2023 Camaro presents a blockier exterior that gives the impression of a wider stance, even though it is actually a bit narrower than the Ford.
LED headlights are standard on both, along with hood scoops and a high beltline, the latter resulting in a somewhat smaller greenhouse on the Camaro. The Mustang's fastback profile entails a sloping roofline, complementing the rear haunches yet making the cabin look cramped toward the tail. Spoilers come standard, along with large exhaust tips and a prominent rear diffuser.
The Mustang rolls on a selection of 17- to 19-inch alloys, matched by the Camaro's array of 17- to 20-inch ones. Both cars can be had as coupes or convertibles.
Mustang Vs. Camaro Interior
Despite being two-door performance models, the 2023 Mustang and 2023 Camaro each offers room for up to four occupants. The payoff for the Camaro's longer 110.7 inch wheelbase greater rear legroom, at almost an inch more than the Ford. The Ford fights back with 13.5 cubic-feet of cargo space in the fastback, quite a bit better than the Camaro's 9.1 cubes.
The interior design decked out in aluminum and carbon fiber on both speaks to each car's heritage, and reclining bucket seats are standard fare along with memory functions. Rear benches fold for access to the cargo area. The rather high position of the center console allows the driver to be surrounded by leather and switchgear. A three-spoke steering wheel is the norm, although the Camaro has a sportier-looking flat-bottomed tiller.
Available dual-zone automatic climate control works with optional seat heating and ventilation on both the Mustang and Camaro, a must for drives in especially harsh weather conditions. The Camaro also suffers from poor outward visibility.
Mustang Vs. Camaro Tech And Safety
The 2023 Mustang and 2023 Camaro complement classic iconography with intelligent tech. Full-color digital instrument clusters are available on both, with the Mustang's 12-inch display dwarfing the Camaro's eight-inch Driver Information Center. However, the Camaro one-ups the Mustang by bringing an optional head-up display.
Touchscreens are at the heart of the Mustang's and Camaro's onboard infotainment systems, both sized at eight inches (the base Mustang has a small 4.2-inch LCD display in the center stack), with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility (wireless on the Chevrolet). The Mustang pumps out the tunes from the optional SYNC 3 head unit through a Bang & Olufsen sound system, which the Camaro counters with a Bose premium nine-speaker setup.
In terms of safety, both models come with the usual suite of airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, and driver-assist features. For the Mustang, that means Ford Co-Pilot technology with the standard equipment like blind spot information, lane-keeping assist, and pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control and voice-activated navigation are optional.
Meanwhile, apart from forward collision alert, rear cross traffic alert and park assist, the Camaro also offers Chevrolet's Teen Driver technology, making parents less leery about handing over the keys in case the kids need to borrow the family ride on Saturday night.
Mustang Vs. Camaro Powertrain And Performance
The 2023 Mustang packs either a 2.3L EcoBoost twin-turbo four-pot capable of up to 330 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, or a bigger 5.0L direct-injection V8 producing a maximum of 470 horses and 410 lb-ft of twist. Customers can choose between a six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic, with power routed to the rear wheels. Adding confidence to every drive is a limited-slip rear differential.
Under the hood of the 2023 Camaro lies four engine options. The base power unit is a 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 making 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Next is a 3.6L V6 kicking up 335 hp and 284 lb-ft, followed by a 6.2L V8 bringing 455 hp and 455 lb-ft. The ultimate in the Camaro lineup, however, is a supercharged V8 good for 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque; this model is comparable to the Mustang GT 500 that was discontinued for the 2022 model year. Apart from a six-speed stick shift, the Camaro also offers automatics with eight and 10 forward gears.
The Mustang achieves zero to 60 mph in as little as 4.3 seconds depending on the trim level, topping out at 168 mph. Meanwhile, the Camaro is slightly more energetic, taking as little as 3.5 seconds for the ZL1 to 60 mph from a standstill. The disctonued Mustang GT 500 was even quicker, though.
Mustang Vs. Camaro Price And Variants
As mentioned, the 2023 Mustang is divided into five trim levels on offer between coupe and convertible options:
- 2023 Ford Mustang EcoBoost, priced between $27,770 and $33,270
- 2023 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Premium, priced between $32,795 and $38,295
- 2023 Ford Mustang GT, starting at $38,345
- 2023 Ford Mustang GT Premium, priced between $43,365 and $48,865
- 2023 Ford Mustang Mach 1, starting at $55,570
By comparison, the 2023 Camaro has a relatively broader lineup for buyers:
- 2023 Chevrolet Camaro 1LS, starting at $26,400
- 2023 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT, starting at $26,900
- 2023 Chevrolet Camaro 2LT, starting at $28,900
- 2023 Chevrolet Camaro 3LT, starting at $32,900
- 2023 Chevrolet Camaro LT1, starting at $36,400
- 2023 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS, starting at $39,900
- 2023 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS, starting at $44,900
- 2023 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, starting at $67,300
The Bottom Line
Is a Camaro better than a Mustang? That depends. The Camaro certainly looks like it has the upper hand on paper, beginning with the top-spec ZL1's extremely potent drivetrain. However, its advantages have so far failed to place it in front of the Mustang, which closed the 2022 model year with 47,566 new owners compared to the circa 24k Camaros.
Adding to the pressure is the Camaro's increasingly shrinking window, with a reported planned exit after the 2024 model year, which is when the seventh-generation Mustang will begin making bank for the Blue Oval brand. Reports say that the Camaro will be resurrected as a battery-powered model by 2026, two years ahead of the planned all-electric Mustang.
The Mustang's current status as pony car sales leader attests to Ford having mastered the art of marketing. It doesn't necessarily make better cars, but it does a better job of appealing to the buyer's baser instincts. Chevrolet has its work cut out for it if it hopes to send the Camaro out with a bang, even if it still has more than a year to do so.
Keyword: One Last Showdown: 2023 Ford Mustang Vs. 2023 Chevrolet Camaro