The battle between the best pony cars is at an all-time high. with upgraded features, more powerful engines, and high-tech specs that will make even the biggest tech giant say "wow!", we have found two of our top pony cars on the market today: The Chevy Camaro and the Ford Mustang.
In the market for a pony car? Check out this low mileage, restored, 1969 Ford Boss 429 Mustang. Or you could try the Baldwin-Motion 1973 Chevy Camaro 454 LS6. But which one is really better?
From the previous years, the Mustang and Camaro have remained largely unchanged, with the Camaro offering a V6 option, and the Mustang offering 4- and 8-cylinder engine choices for buyers.
Let's dive a little deeper into the battle of the pony cars, and which one wins out this year...
History of Competition
The Mustang and Camaro have been fighting ever since their inception, both in the 1960s. They have been keyed into a battle for supremacy for decades now - so the real question is, who finally wins?
With the Mustang arriving in 1965 and the Camaro in 1967, the fight still hasn't let up in over 50 years. Both automakers offer big and flashy versions of their flagship muscle cars, with both companies having enough smarts to know to keep the V8 engine out of this story - hence, the pony car battle.
Exterior Comparison
Both car models offer retro-inspired designs that are at least slightly reminiscent of the 1960 origins, although the Camaro has gone the more modern route in recent years, keeping up with the changing trends and styles.
The Mustang decides to keep it mainly traditional, doling out a rounded and softer look, while the Camaro has tough lines and a hard edge. Due to this styling cue, the Mustang also has improved visibility, complete with upward slanting headlights and a strong muscular look on the sides. Paying homage to the 1960s, the Mustang tries to keep what made it famous in the first place - a black bar that joins both taillights, and styling that has stayed virtually unchanged over decades.
However, with the Camaro, they have abandoned their conservative and traditional look, and have instead gone for an aggressive and stylish change - a change that has garnered both positive and negative reviews. The Camaro has a large grille, narrow headlights, LED lights, and a small greenhouse.
Head to head, we like the traditional aspects of the Mustang, and we really appreciate the enhanced visibility. Mustang wins out here.
Interior Comparison
In most trims for both vehicles, they offer room for four passengers - albeit via a squished back seat. Hopefully, your kids are small, or your friends have short legs. Neither one of these cars is a great choice for long car rides, bringing loads of gear on a camping trip, or carting your friends around.
Despite the lack of comfort in the back seat, both cars contain similar interior styling cues as they did on the exterior. The Mustang is more retro, complete with a logo on the wheel, circular air vents, and brushed aluminum - a feature used on the muscle cars of the 60s.
Similar to the exterior, the interior of the Camaro is more modern and angular, complete with dramatic shapes and lines. However, the interior of the Camaro is a bit smaller, which may limit the comfort factor and drive some buyers away.
Regarding similarities, both of these cars have an infotainment system that are up to date with modern technologies, despite the Mustang keeping everything else retro. The only difference here is the Camaro's controls are a little bit easier to use and functionally placed.
Head to head, we still like the Mustang better. With 4.4 more cubic feet of cargo space, a roomy interior, and the vintage feel, the Mustang wins on the interior spectrum.
Performance Comparison
The Mustang replaced their old V6 with a turbocharged 4-cylinder, with all other potential models containing a V8 - one that can produce 760 horsepower for the GT500 model. The Camaro, on the other hand, features a 6.2-liter V8 in their top of the line model - let's see which model offers more engine variants for every need.
The Ford Mustang engines include an eco engine that earns you 31 miles per gallon on the highway, a 5.-liter V8 with 460 horsepower, a 5.2-liter V8 with 526 horsepower, and a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 with 760 horsepower.
The Camaro options include a 2.0-liter turbocharged with 31 miles per gallon highway, 3.6-liter V6 with 335 horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 with 455 horsepower, and a 6.2-liter supercharged with 650 horsepower.
Although the Camaro has a little bit more variety in terms of engines and power, the Mustang lineup is more powerful. For a head to head comparison, the Mustang's 4-cylinder wins.
Verdict
There you have it - the Mustang wins out on every category. Next time you are in the market for the newest and best pony car, you know which one to purchase.