2021 BMW 4 Series vs 2021 Ford Mustang

The 2021 BMW 4 Series coupe's styling was dominated by its massive new twin-kidney grille, which BMW claimed improved engine cooling. While beauty is subjective, it was challenging to find anyone who found it attractive. The rest of the car adhered to standard BMW styling, featuring LED headlights and taillights, and a familiar overall shape. The new front end was aerodynamic, with a drag coefficient of 0.25, compared to 0.29 for the previous model. The 4 Series shared a platform with the BMW 3 Series sedan, with slight increases in length, width, and height compared to the 2020 model. The interior followed BMW's clean and uncluttered design, with standard front sport seats offering 10-way power adjustment and driver’s memory. However, the materials, while decent, fell short of true luxury standards.

The 2021 Ford Mustang had unmistakable curb appeal with its flowing lines and scowling front-end, blending retro and modern styles. The cabin combined classic-style switches with modern digital screens, offering solid fit-and-finish and a mix of soft-touch surfaces and brightwork. The Mustang's interior quality was a noticeable step up from the Camaro's. Trims included EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium, GT, GT Premium, and the new Mach 1, with the range-topping Shelby GT500 classified separately. Standard features on the base EcoBoost included 17-inch alloy wheels, manual seats, pushbutton start, and a six-speaker stereo. The EcoBoost Premium added 18-inch alloy wheels, a black decklid spoiler, and LED fog lights, among other features. The GT trim added a 5.0-liter V8 engine, dual exhaust tips, and unique badging. The Mach 1, which we drove, featured performance enhancements from the discontinued Shelby GT350 and GT350R, a fully-digital instrument panel, and several visual cues to differentiate it from the GT.

The 2021 BMW 4 Series offered two powertrains. The 430i model had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 294 pound-feet of torque. The M440i featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, along with a 48-volt starter/generator for better fuel efficiency. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 430i RWD coupe could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, while the AWD 430i xDrive shaved 0.2 seconds off that time. The M440i xDrive coupe reached 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. Despite these impressive numbers, the driving experience was hampered by a hesitant transmission and uninspiring engine sound. The optional Adaptive M Suspension and other performance upgrades provided a composed chassis and plenty of grip, but the steering lacked feedback, and the overall driving experience was underwhelming.

The 2021 Ford Mustang EcoBoost trim came with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 310 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. The EcoBoost High-Performance Package increased output to 330 hp. The GT trim featured a 5.0-liter V8 engine with 460 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. The new Mach 1 had the GT’s V8 with an additional 20 hp, totaling 480 hp. Both engines were available with a six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission, and all models were RWD. The Mach 1's V8 produced an incredible roar under hard acceleration and a menacing burble at idle. The 10-speed automatic transmission kept the engine in the desired rev range and responded quickly to throttle inputs. The Mach 1 also featured a drive-mode selector with various settings, Brembo performance brakes, and chassis components from the GT350, providing a balance of cornering and comfort.

The 2021 BMW 4 Series offered reasonable practicality for a coupe, with more front headroom and trunk space than competitors like the Audi A5, Infiniti Q60, Lexus RC, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupes. However, it had less legroom front and rear compared to most rivals. The rear seats were only suitable for children or occasional adult use. The cockpit was logically laid out, with an infotainment touchscreen integrated into the dashboard and easy-to-reach controls. Front-seat space was adequate, making it a good choice for those who found traditional sports cars too cramped.

The 2021 Ford Mustang provided decent cargo space, with the fastback coupe offering 13.5 cubic feet and the convertible 11.4 cubic feet. This was better than the Camaro coupe's 9.1 cubic feet and the Camaro convertible's 7.3 cubic feet. However, the rear seats were not suitable for full-size adults, with minimal legroom when the front seats were adjusted for typical adult use. The front seats offered solid support for long drives or hard cornering, but the power adjustment options were quirky, with power adjustment for sliding the seat but manual adjustment for the seat-back.

The 2021 BMW 4 Series came standard with the iDrive 7 infotainment system, featuring an 8.8-inch touchscreen and a 5.1-inch display screen in the instrument cluster. The optional Live Cockpit Professional setup included a 10.25-inch central touchscreen and a 12.3-inch all-digital instrument cluster. Our test car had Live Cockpit Professional, which offered nicely-rendered graphics and sensibly-designed menus. The iDrive rotary controller made navigating the infotainment system easy, and the system also supported voice control with the prompt “Hey BMW.” Other standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. A head-up display and wireless phone charging were available at extra cost.

The 2021 Ford Mustang's base model came with a 4.2-inch color display and voice controls. The Premium trim or optional packages included the Sync 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Sync 3 had a great layout, crisp graphics, and large buttons and icons. However, when CarPlay or Android Auto were in use, they completely took over the screen, and there was no home button to easily return to the Sync system. This was a notable omission compared to Chevrolet vehicles, which had a hard home button above the touchscreen. Sync 4 in newer Ford vehicles allowed for other items to share the screen space with Apple and Android apps, a feature that would be welcome in the next-generation Mustang.

Crash-test ratings for the 2021 BMW 4 Series from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) were not available at the time. Standard driver-assist features included lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, and speed-limit information. Adaptive cruise control was available as part of the $1,700 Driving Assistance Professional Package, which included a sophisticated system capable of bringing the car to a complete stop and setting off again in traffic, as well as steering assist to keep the car centered in its lane.

The 2021 Ford Mustang came standard with the CoPilot360 suite of driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. It also had rain-sensing wipers and automatic high beams. However, features like adaptive cruise control and parking sensors were optional. The Mustang had good visibility compared to other American sports cars, with solid sight lines that made it easier to see out of than the Dodge Challenger or Chevrolet Camaro.