2021 Ford Mustang vs 2021 Chevrolet Camaro

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro offered buyers the choice between a coupe and a convertible, both of which shared a similar aggressive design. The coupe had a fierce look, while the convertible, with its soft roof, appeared ready for leisurely coastal drives. 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 2SS Coupe, tested for this review, featured standard 18-inch silver-painted aluminum wheels, a limited-slip differential, and dual-outlet stainless steel exhaust. However, the interior, despite a 2019 refresh, had some functionality issues and a mix of stylish and generic elements.

The 2021 Ford Mustang had a distinct curb appeal with its flowing lines and scowling front-end, blending retro and modern design elements. The cabin combined classic-style switches with modern digital screens, offering a noticeable step-up in quality from the Camaro’s interior. The Mustang came in several trims, including the EcoBoost, GT, and the new Mach 1, with the range-topping Shelby GT500 classified as a separate model. Standard features on the base EcoBoost included 17-inch alloy wheels, manual seats, and a six-speaker stereo, while higher trims added more luxurious and performance-oriented features. The Mach 1, tested for this review, included performance enhancements and a fully-digital instrument panel.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet 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, and a supercharged version delivering 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The manual transmission was less fuel-efficient than the automatic options, with the turbo-four manual achieving 19/29/22 mpg city/highway/combined, and the automatic getting 22/30/25 mpg. The V6 manual achieved 16/26/20 mpg, while the automatic got 18/29/22 mpg. The V8 engines had similar fuel efficiency, with the 6.2-liter manual getting 16/24/19 mpg and the automatic 16/26/20 mpg. The supercharged V8 achieved 16 mpg combined regardless of transmission. The Camaro 2SS tested had a direct-injection, non-supercharged V8, but the manual transmission was cumbersome and detracted from the driving experience. The Camaro came standard with rear-wheel drive and offered a drive mode selector with up to four selectable modes.

The 2021 Ford Mustang’s EcoBoost trim featured a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 310 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, with an optional High-Performance Package increasing output to 330 hp. The GT trim’s 5.0-liter V8 made 460 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, while the new Mach 1’s V8 produced 480 hp. Both engines were available with a six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission, and were rear-wheel drive. The Mach 1, tested for this review, had a 10-speed automatic that kept the engine in the desired rev range and featured paddle shifters for precise gear changes. The Mach 1 also included a drive-mode selector with multiple modes, including Normal, Sport Plus, and Track. The V8 Mustang felt powerful and responsive, with Brembo performance brakes and chassis components from the GT350 providing a balanced and comfortable ride.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro came standard with cloth upholstery and front bucket seats, with an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a four-way manual front passenger seat. Leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel were available. The front seats were comfortable but not particularly sporty, and the narrow windscreen limited visibility. The rear seats were not suitable for adults, and the trunk space, though decent for a muscle car, had a high load height and narrow opening. The convertible model had even less cargo space. The Camaro’s climate control system was functional, but the design of the vents made them difficult to adjust. The position of the cupholders was problematic for manual transmission models, making it difficult to shift with drinks in the holders.

The 2021 Ford Mustang offered 13.5 cubic feet of trunk space in the fastback coupe and 11.4 cubic feet in the convertible, better than the Camaro’s 9.1 cubic feet in the coupe and 7.3 cubic feet in the convertible. The rear seats were not suitable for full-size adults, with limited legroom when the front seats were adjusted for typical adult use. The Mustang’s front seats were well-bolstered and provided solid support, with a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a four-way power front passenger seat available. The seats had power adjustment for all but the seat-back, which felt cheap. Despite this, the seats were comfortable for long drives and hard cornering.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro came standard with a 7-inch infotainment system 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. Available features 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 had a forward lean that caused glare. The USB ports were hidden in the center console, and the wireless charging pad was awkwardly positioned.

The 2021 Ford Mustang’s base model came with a 4.2-inch color display and voice controls, with the Sync 3 infotainment system available on higher trims. Sync 3 included an 8-inch touchscreen and supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system 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 switch back to the Sync system. This was a notable omission compared to the Camaro, which had a hard home button above the touchscreen. Sync 4, available in newer Ford vehicles, allowed for multiple items to share the screen space, a feature that would be beneficial in future Mustang models.

The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro had mixed safety ratings, with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) giving it a mix of "Good," "Acceptable," and "Basic" ratings, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarding it five-star and four-star ratings. Available safety features included rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and rear parking sensors. Some features were not available on convertible models.

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. Adaptive cruise control and parking sensors were available as options. The Mustang had good visibility compared to other American sports cars, with solid sight lines.