*All information in this article has been revised and updated for the latest 2021-2022 models.
The 2021 Ford Mustang is one of the most recognizable sports cars of all time. It delivers powerful engines, sharp handling, and an upscale interior. However, the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro stacks up well to Ford’s Mustang. Both cars come in coupe and convertible body styles and are fun to drive, but the Mustang has a slight edge in most areas.
Style and Design
The 2021 Ford Mustang combines modern convenience with retro style. It has an upscale cabin that offers high-quality materials and more trunk space, with a wide trunk opening. There is 13.5 cubic feet of trunk space in the standard Mustang Fastback, with rear seats that fold down for extra room. Convertible models offer 11.4 cubic feet of space and for a sports car that is a good amount of room. The Mustang seats two in the front and two in the back, with its focus on its two front seats. Both the driver and passenger have plenty of comfortable space and well-bolstered seats. Cloth seats are standard, but higher models offer full leather upholstery with heated and ventilated front seats.
The 2022 Chevrolet Camaro’s cabin is stylish and front seating is also spacious, but its interior is less impressive with lower quality materials than the Mustang. This Camaro seats four people with a decent amount of space up front, but the trunk only gives you 9.1 cubic feet of space in coupe models and 7.3 cubic feet in convertibles. With its tight seating, its back seats are less than desirable for most passengers. You'll have a hard time carrying any large cargo in this trunk. Driver visibility is limited because of small windows and a high beltline, so you may want to get safety features like blind spot monitoring to help you out.
Power and Trims
The Mustang gives you plenty of options, from the fun and energetic GT Convertible to the 2021 Shelby GT500, which hosts the most power-dense supercharged V8 production engine in the world. At 310 hp to 760 hp, the engines on the Mustang boast a higher range of horsepower compared to the Camaro's 275 hp to 650 hp. There are four main engine options for the 2021 Ford Mustang: the base 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, found in EcoBoost trims, gets you moving quickly with 310 horsepower. The optional 5.0-liter V8 engine in the Mustang GT packs a punch and doesn’t slow you down with its 460 hp. Both the four-cylinder and V8 engines come standard with six-speed manual transmission or a refined 10-speed automatic. The high-performance Shelby models are the stars of the show. The Shelby GT350 boasts 526 horsepower from its 5.2-liter V8. It's the most powerful engine that Ford has ever built for a street-legal car. If that’s not enough, the Shelby GT500 makes its appearance for 2021. Its supercharged V8 engine makes an astounding 760 horsepower. This is Ford’s most powerful production car ever. With the standard EcoBoost engine, you will get an EPA-estimated 21/30 mpg in the city and highway. The V8 Mustang GT gets up to 15/24 mpg in the city and highway. Fuel economy is probably not the biggest concern for buyers of the Shelby GT350, which gets an estimated 12/18 mpg city/highway. With nine available trims, the starting price for the base EcoBoost Fastback is $27,205 and ranges to $72,900 for the Shelby GT500.
The Camaro comes standard with a 275-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine. There are three available engines that have plenty of power and quick acceleration: a 335-horsepower V6, a 455-horsepower V8, and a 650-horsepower V8. The track-oriented 1LE package is now available with the 10-speed automatic transmission on V-8-powered SS models. Camaro’s base engine averages 22/31 mpg city and highway. You’ll see a reduction in mileage on more powerful engines, with the V6 at 19/29 mpg city and highway and the V8 13/21 mpg city and highway. With eight trims to choose from, Camaro’s starting price for the 1LT is $26,695 and ranges to $64,195 for the ZL1.
Safety and Tech Features
A rearview camera is a standard driver assistance feature in the Mustang. Available options include an adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam headlights, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, forward automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Wi-Fi hotspot is available as well as Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system. Its latest technology has a clean design and a simple interface that comes with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an impressive stereo. Ford Sync Connect comes standard, which allows users to control and monitor their vehicles through a smartphone app.
The Chevy Camaro comes standard with a rearview camera and the Teen Driver system. Available safety features include forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Chevrolet Camaro comes with the Infotainment 3 system and a 7-inch touch screen, a six-speaker audio system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, two USB ports, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Convertible models also come with a power-folding soft top.
Overall
These two sports cars offer many similarities and are top picks when looking for a sports car but the 2021 Ford Mustang features a richer interior and has a larger trunk, making it more comfortable and usable for everyday driving than the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro. Ford’s offering of more powerful engines also makes this sports car a sure pick. If you are in the Colorado area, don’t pass up your opportunity to test drive a Mustang at Brighton Ford.