2020 Ford Mustang vs 2021 Chevrolet Camaro

The 2020 Ford Mustang Bullitt paid homage to its cinematic roots, drawing inspiration from the iconic 1968 Mustang GT fastback driven by Steve McQueen in the movie "Bullitt." This special edition Mustang was painted in Dark Highland Green, mirroring the original, though it was also available in Shadow Black. The car's exterior was clean and classic, featuring subtle chrome accents and retro Torque Thrust-style 19-inch aluminum wheels. Inside, unique touches like green stitching in the leather upholstery, a white cue-ball shifter knob, and a serialized plaque on the dashboard added to its nostalgic appeal.

In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro offered buyers the choice between a coupe and a convertible, both exuding a fierce and sporty look. The Camaro came in eight trim levels, with the ZL1 being the most performance-focused and the SS providing a balanced daily-driver experience. The tester for this review was a 2SS Coupe, which rode on standard 18-inch silver-painted aluminum wheels. The Camaro's interior, refreshed in 2019, had a stylish design but raised some functionality questions. The car also offered various Wild Cherry design packs, adding unique wheel and graphics designs, ground effects, carbon fiber accents, and suede knee pads.

The 2020 Ford Mustang lineup ranged from the 310-horsepower EcoBoost Fastback to the 760-horsepower Shelby GT500. The Mustang Bullitt, based on the Mustang GT, featured a 5.0-liter V8 engine producing 480 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. This power came from an intake manifold and throttle bodies from a Shelby GT350, an Open Air Induction system, and a revised powertrain control module. The Bullitt's six-speed manual transmission, with downshift rev-matching, provided a thrilling driving experience. Fuel economy for the Bullitt was 14 mpg city, 23 highway, and 17 combined. The GT Performance Package included structural bracing, improved engine cooling, a Torsen limited-slip rear differential, modified steering and suspension tuning, Brembo brakes, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S performance tires.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro started with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Buyers could upgrade to a 3.6-liter V6 with 335 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque, or choose from two V8 engines: a 6.2-liter V8 with 455 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque, or a supercharged version delivering 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The Camaro's manual transmission was less fuel-efficient than its automatic options, with the turbo-four manual achieving 19 mpg city, 29 highway, and 22 combined. The V8 engines had similar fuel efficiency with either transmission. The Camaro 2SS featured a direct-injection V8 and Brembo brakes, but the manual transmission's long channels and numb clutch detracted from the driving experience. The Camaro's drive mode selector offered Tour, Sport, Snow/Ice, and Track modes.

The 2020 Ford Mustang prioritized style and performance over practicality. The rear seat was cramped, and storage space was limited. However, the Mustang Fastback was comfortable for two adults and offered a 13.5-cubic-foot trunk. Standard black leather seats featured six-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. Recaro performance sport seats were optional, providing better bolstering but sacrificing power adjustment and heating. Starting the car in second gear was recommended for smoother city driving.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro came with standard cloth upholstery and front bucket seats, with an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a four-way manual front passenger seat. Recaro sport seats, leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, and heated and ventilated front seats were available. The front seats were comfortable, but visibility was hindered by the narrow windscreen and oversized hood over the instrument cluster. The rear seats were unsuitable for adults, and the trunk's high load height and narrow opening limited usability. The Camaro's leather-wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel and manual tilting and telescoping steering column added to its appeal. Single-zone climate control was standard, with dual-zone available in higher trims. The center console's cupholders were inconvenient for manual transmission drivers.

The 2020 Ford Mustang excelled in performance technology, offering adjustable steering effort, multiple active exhaust modes, various driving modes, Line Lock, Launch Control, and Track Apps. These functions were accessed through a 12-inch digital instrumentation cluster. The Sync 3 infotainment system, though aging, provided Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, voice recognition, and a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. Separate stereo and dual-zone climate controls limited interaction with the touchscreen.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro featured a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth, voice command, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, a six-speaker audio system, 4G LTE WiFi hot spot, and keyless entry and start as standard. Available upgrades included a head-up display, navigation, Bose premium audio system, satellite radio, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless charging, and a rear-camera mirror. The driver-information center and infotainment touchscreen were functional but suffered from glare due to their forward lean. USB ports were hidden in the center console, and the wireless charging pad was awkwardly positioned.

The 2020 Ford Mustang Bullitt lacked semi-autonomous safety features, appealing to purists. It included a reversing camera, MyKey technology, and optional blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning. The Mustang received good crash-test ratings from the IIHS and five stars from the NHTSA.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro had mixed safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA. Available safety features included rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and rear parking sensors. Some features were unavailable on convertible models.