The 2020 Ford Mustang is one of the most recognizable sports cars of all time. It comes in coupe or convertible models, and delivers powerful engines, sharp handling, and an upscale interior. The 2020 Dodge Challenger measures up well to Ford’s Mustang; but it is large for the sports car class, making it less fun to drive. If you are in the Colorado area, don’t pass up your opportunity to test drive a Mustang at Brighton Ford.
The 2020 Ford Mustang continues to deliver eye-catching style and driving excitement. Its interior is better than ever, with a retro design that brings back the Mustangs of old. 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. 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 Dodge Challenger is well built with quality materials, but doesn’t have the most stylish interior in the sports car class. It’s a two-door sports car that provides comfort and support in both front and rear seats. The Challenger seats five and comes standard with cloth upholstery and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. Leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats plus a heated steering wheel are available. It features 16.2 cubic feet of trunk space and rear seats that fold down for hauling large items. The trunk's high lip, though, can be awkward loading items in the trunk.
The Mustang delivers excellent performance packages, from the fun and energetic GT Convertible to the 2020 Shelby GT500, which hosts the most power-dense supercharged V8 production engine in the world. There are four main engine options for the 2020 Ford Mustang: the base 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, found in EcoBoost trims, gets you moving quickly with 310 horsepower. A new option package for 2020 gives you an engine output of 330 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 2020. 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 21/32 mpg in the city and highway. The V8 Mustang GT gets up to 16/25 mpg in the city and highway. Fuel economy is probably not the biggest concern for buyers of the Shelby GT350, which gets an estimated 14/21 mpg city/highway. With nine available trims, the starting price for the base EcoBoost Fastback is $26,670 and ranges to $72,900 for the Shelby GT500.
There are five engine choices for the Challenger, starting with the 305 horsepower V6 base engine that is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine isn’t quite as energetic as the turbocharged base engines, but can still hold its own. The available Hemi V8s come with a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional eight-speed automatic. There is an eight-cylinder 5.7-liter V8 found in R/T models that produces 372 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. The 6.4-liter V8 makes 485 horsepower and the 6.2-liter V8 puts out 717 horsepower. One last engine choice produces 797 horsepower and only comes paired with an eight-speed automatic. All of the engines have more than enough power for most driving situations, but handling is its weak spot. It is composed around turns, but its size makes it less nimble than competitors. You will get an estimated 19/30 in the city and on the highway with the V6. The Hemi V8 engines range between 13-16/21-25 mpg city and highway. Pricing starts at $29,000 for the base SXT and ranges to $72,000 for the SRT Hellcat Redeye.
For your safety, a rearview camera is a standard driver assistance feature in the Mustang. Available options include 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. A 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.
Safety features of the Challenger include a standard rearview camera, with available features that include adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and forward collision warning. The Uconnect 4 infotainment system comes standard with Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. A six-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, and two USB ports are also standard.
Overall
These two sports cars offer many similarities; but the 2020 Ford Mustang features a stylish interior, better handling, and a fun ride. Its convertible option and classic look put this sports car over the top. Come take a ride at Brighton Ford and you can see for yourself.