Chevrolet Camaro vs Ford Mustang: the pony car rivalry
Updated Report an error By Oleksandr Hnatiuk
Chevrolet · 2016–2024
Camaro VI
Price from €40,400 (2016)
- Power
- 339 kW461 PS
- Kerb mass
- -
Ford · 2014–2023
Mustang S550
- Power
- 343 kW466 PS
- Kerb mass
- 1,832 kg
At a glance
Who suits what, worked out from the catalog figures of the versions above.
- City Too close to call Length: 4,783 mm vs 4,788 mm
Verdict Opinion
Historically this was a duel of equals, and the 1969 cars prove it with identical top ratings. In the modern era the Camaro had the lighter Alpha chassis and, in the ZL1, 881 Nm of torque, but the market decided against it: sales fell year after year until production ended.
Today the Mustang wins by default for new-car buyers: it is in production, built for right-hand drive as well and available from a 2.3 four-cylinder to the 608 kW GTD. A used Camaro SS or ZL1 remains a strong V8 alternative, especially in North America.
- Oleksandr Hnatiuk
The Mustang created the pony car. Ford presented it in New York on 17 April 1964, and more than a million were built within 18 months. General Motors needed an answer, and the Chevrolet Camaro arrived for the 1967 model year on the F-body platform. Since then the two have been compared in showrooms, on drag strips and on race tracks.
Their recent histories diverge. The Mustang has never been out of production; the seventh generation (S650) has been built at Flat Rock since 1 May 2023. The Camaro disappeared from 2002 to 2009, came back, and ended again on 14 December 2023, when the last sixth-generation car left Lansing Grand River. The story of the Ford is told in our history of the Ford Mustang.
Chevrolet Camaro vs Ford Mustang: then and now
The 1960s: equal at the top
By 1969 both companies had reached the same rated peak. The Camaro SS 396 offered 280 kW (375 hp, SAE gross), exactly matching the Mustang Boss 429; one rung lower, the small-block Boss 302 and the Camaro Z/28 302 were both rated at 216 kW (290 hp). The 1967 Shelby GT500 was Ford's big-block halo car of the same era.
The last generations side by side
The sixth-generation Camaro (2016–2024 model years) used GM's Alpha platform, also found under the Cadillac ATS and CTS, and weighed over 91 kg less than the fifth generation. Engines ran from a 2.0-litre turbo with 205 kW to the 3.6 V6 (250 kW), the SS with the 6.2 LT1 V8 (339 kW, 617 Nm) and the supercharged ZL1 with 485 kW and 881 Nm. The S550 Mustang of 2015–2023 was the first designed for right-hand drive and sold worldwide; its GT reached 343 kW in 2018, and the Shelby GT500 of 2020 had 567 kW.
Length and wheelbase of the last generations
The two are almost the same length: 4,783 mm for the Camaro and 4,788 mm for the S550 Mustang, according to our catalogue. The Camaro sits on the longer wheelbase, 2,812 mm against 2,720 mm.
After the Camaro
Ford kept developing its car after Chevrolet stopped. The S650 GT has 358–362 kW and the Dark Horse 373 kW; at the top, the 2025 Mustang GTD gets 608 kW and 900 Nm from a supercharged 5.2-litre V8.
Sales and the end of the Camaro
Camaro sales in the United States fell from 72,705 in 2016 to 21,893 in 2021, a drop of about 70 percent by our calculation, before the end of production. The Mustang still sold 45,333 cars in calendar year 2025.
Size and weight
Side view to scale, all cars from the front bumper.
| Camaro VI | Mustang S550 | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,783 mm188.3 in † | 4,788 mm188.5 in +5 mm +0.2 in +0.1% |
| Width | 1,897 mm74.7 in † | 1,915 mm75.4 in +18 mm +0.7 in +0.9% |
| Height | 1,349 mm53.1 in † | 1,379 mm54.3 in † +30 mm +1.2 in +2.2% |
| Wheelbase | 2,812 mm110.7 in † | 2,720 mm107.1 in −92 mm −3.6 in −3.3% |
| Fits a standard garage? | Tight | Too wide |
Difference vs Camaro VI (±). Garage check: a standard single garage takes a car up to about 5.0 m (16 ft 5 in) long and 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) wide (width as listed in the catalog; some makers include the mirrors). Leave about 0.6 m (2 ft) to open the doors. † from another version of this generation.
Full specifications
| Chevrolet Camaro | Ford Mustang | |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Version | Camaro VI · 6.2 V8 (SS, LT1) · 339 kW (461 PS) | Mustang S550 · GT 5.0 V8 · petrol · 343 kW (466 PS) |
| Production years | 2016–2024 | 2014–2023 |
| Body | Hatchback, Coupe | Coupe |
| Class | Sports car | No data |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Performance | ||
| Power Why it matters: More power means stronger acceleration and easier overtaking, especially with a full load. | 339 kW (461 PS) 455 hp | 343 kW (466 PS) 460 hp |
| Power, all versions | 66–485 kW (90–659 PS) 89–650 hp | 66–608 kW (90–827 PS) 89–815 hp |
| Torque Why it matters: Torque is the pulling force you feel when accelerating from low revs, towing or climbing hills. | 617 Nm 455 lb-ft Better | 569 Nm 420 lb-ft |
| Power per tonne | No data | 187 kW/t 228 hp/ton calculated |
| Engine and transmission | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Engine | 8 cyl | 5,000 cc · 8 cyl 5.0 l |
| Gearbox | 10-speed automatic | No data |
| Drive | Rear-wheel drive | Rear-wheel drive |
| Dimensions and weight | ||
| Length | 4,783 mm 188.3 in † | 4,788 mm 188.5 in |
| Width | 1,897 mm 74.7 in † | 1,915 mm 75.4 in |
| Height | 1,349 mm 53.1 in † | 1,379 mm 54.3 in † |
| Wheelbase | 2,812 mm 110.7 in † | 2,720 mm 107.1 in |
| Kerb weight Why it matters: A lighter car is usually more agile and uses less energy. | No data | 1,832 kg 4,039 lb |
| Boot Why it matters: A bigger boot fits more luggage, shopping or a pram. | 258 l 9.1 cu ft † | No data |
| Economy and running costs | ||
| Fuel consumption Why it matters: Lower consumption cuts running costs and CO₂ emissions on every trip. | No data | 11.5 l/100 km 20.5 mpg US |
| CO₂ | No data | 263 g/km |
| Fuel cost per year | No data | €3,020/year estimated |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP | No data | ★★★☆☆ (2017) |
| Price | ||
| Price | from €40,400 (2016) | No data |
These cars do not differ in the data we have.
Equal rows hidden (3): Country, Fuel, Drive.
Better marks the stronger figure - only for measurable specs (power, torque, 0–100 km/h, consumption, boot, weight).
Estimated at 15,000 km a year with fuel at €1.75/l petrol. † from another version of this generation.
In plain words
Ford Mustang has more power: 343 kW (466 PS) against 339 kW (461 PS) for Chevrolet Camaro. Ford Mustang is 5 mm longer than Chevrolet Camaro (4,788 mm vs 4,783 mm). Ford Mustang is the older design (from 1964); Chevrolet Camaro arrived in 1966. Ford Mustang is still in production; Chevrolet Camaro is not. Our catalog has no kerb mass for the Chevrolet Camaro yet, so some checks above leave it out.
Which one to choose
Choose the Chevrolet Camaro if you are buying used, value the lighter Alpha chassis or want 881 Nm in the ZL1, or if you collect first-generation F-bodies.
Choose the Ford Mustang if you want a new car with factory support, right-hand drive or the widest choice of engines and special editions.
More American V8 cars are collected in our muscle cars section.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Chevrolet Camaro still made?
No. The last sixth-generation Camaro was built on 14 December 2023 at Lansing Grand River, Michigan, as a 2024 model.
Is the Mustang older than the Camaro?
Yes. Ford's car was unveiled on 17 April 1964, while Chevrolet's answer reached showrooms as a 1967 model.
Which is more powerful, the ZL1 or the GT500?
The 2020 Shelby GT500 has 567 kW (760 hp). The Camaro ZL1 has 485 kW (650 hp) but 881 Nm of torque.
Which sold better?
Over the long run, the Mustang. Ford built its ten-millionth Mustang in August 2018, and in 2025 it still sold 45,333 cars in the United States.