2017 Chevrolet Camaro vs Ford Mustang

When it comes to comparing legendary muscle car icons like the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang, it’s easy for objectivity to go right out the window. Enthusiasts will inevitably fall into one camp or the other, which means getting a balanced comparison of these two legends can be a little difficult. So, here’s a level-headed look at how these two fabulous cars measure up against each other.

One of the biggest factors in deciding which one of these you’re likely to go for will be which one you prefer the look of. The Camaro designers have a slight advantage as they have more room to maneuver because the Camaro doesn’t have to pay homage to its predecessors the same way a Mustang needs to. The current Camaro now boasts almost comic-book styling that’s rapidly becoming part of its DNA, so the current sixth-generation isn’t very different from the previous model. It’s a fabulously distinctive design you’ll either love or hate.

A Mustang definitely has to look like a Mustang first and foremost, but that’s not a bad starting point. The current model is considerably less dramatic and polarizing with its styling than the Camaro, but it’s also not as easy to get excited about. We’re giving the style points here to the Chevy.

Practicality might not the first thing most buyers of cars like these will think about, but as these are cars that are now more likely than ever to be used every day it definitely has to be considered.

Both cars are four-seaters rather than 2+2s, but the Mustang is the bigger car on the outside which translates to more room on the inside. The Mustang has more leg room for passengers in the front and the back seats, and the 13.5 cu.-ft. of trunk volume in the Ford trounces the pretty compact 9.1 cu.-ft. of the Camaro. If you want the car that’s easier to live with on a daily basis, the Mustang has the edge here.

You’ll find a four-pot in the Camaro as the base engine, which is a 2.0-liter turbo developing a very respectable 275 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. Next up is a 335 horsepower 3.6-liter V-6, and the first V-8 is a 6.2 putting out 455 horsepower. However, the full Camaro experience comes from the awesome ZL1 with its 6.2-liter V-8 developing an extremely impressive 650 horsepower. All versions can be had with either the coupe or convertible body style.

The standard V-6 in the Mustang and the EcoBoost four-pot both offer more power than their Camaro equivalents. But these are muscle cars, so the more power the better and the Mustang has no answer for the Camaro ZL1. The best the Shelby GT350 can offer is just 526 horsepower from its 5.2-liter V-6, so this is an easy and important victory for the Camaro over the Mustang.

As these are likely to be daily drivers these days, fuel economy is a consideration, especially at the lower ends of the trim and engine spectrum. The 2017 Chevrolet Camaro is pretty good in this area with the base 2.0-liter turbo-four being rated at 22 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg combined with the automatic transmission.

The Ford isn’t particularly impressive on gas, as even the most frugal versions with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine can only manage best figures of 21 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway and 24 mpg combined. This has to be another win for the Camaro then.