Compare the2024 Ford MustangVS 2024 BMW M4

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Mustang have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW M4 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Mustang are reminded to check the back seat. The M4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Mustang and M4 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Mustang has Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The M4’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Mustang and the M4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Mustang 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the M4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the M4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 8 times as many Ford dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Mustang’s warranty.

The Mustang has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The M4 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the car’s engine.

On the EPA test cycle the Mustang Fastback gets better mileage than the M4 Coupe:

On the EPA test cycle the Mustang Convertible gets better mileage than the M4 Convertible:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Mustang uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The M4 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Mustang has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The M4 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Ford Mustang comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the M4.

The Mustang stops shorter than the M4:

For better traction, the Mustang Dark Horse’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the M4 (F:305/30R19 & R:315/30R19 vs. F:275/40R18 & R:285/35R19).

The Mustang Dark Horse’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the M4’s optional 35 series front tires.

The Mustang offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the M4; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Mustang is 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the M4.

The Mustang Dark Horse handles at 1.07 G’s, while the M4 Coupe pulls only 1.03 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Mustang’s turning circle is 3.5 feet tighter than the M4’s (36.5 feet vs. 40 feet). The Mustang GT/Dark Horse’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the M4’s (37.8 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Ford Mustang may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the BMW M4.

The Mustang Convertible uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The M4 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Mustang Fastback has 2.8 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the M4 Coupe.

The Mustang Convertible has 2.7 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the M4 Convertible.

The Mustang Fastback has a much larger trunk than the M4 Coupe (13.5 vs. 12 cubic feet).

The Mustang Convertible has a larger trunk with its top down than the M4 Convertible with its top down (11.4 vs. 10.6 cubic feet).

The Mustang Coupe’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The M4 Convertible’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

The Mustang has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The M4 has no towing capacity.

The Mustang’s optional Easy Entry and Exit glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The M4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Mustang’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The M4 has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Mustang has standard extendable sun visors. The M4 doesn’t offer extendable visors.