Ford and General Motors have discontinued most of their sedan models, but the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro remain alive and well. There’s a good reason for this. Consumers love these old-school pony cars and still buy plenty of them, especially Mustangs.
And what’s not to love? Each of these rear-wheel-drive coupes (and convertibles) moves out quickly and makes great sounds when you floor the gas pedal, particularly with a V8 engine under-hood. No, you won’t get much use out of their cramped back seats, but with only two doors, it’s hard to get back there anyway.
If there’s a muscle car in your future, this 2022 Chevrolet Camaro vs. 2022 Ford Mustang comparison will help you spot the differences that matter.
Price and Value
2022 Chevrolet Camaro SS & LT1
Consumers will find that the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro comes in midsize coupe and convertible body styles with seating for four. The Chevy Camaro convertible has a power-operated cloth top that comes only in black regardless of your paint choice.
Pricing on the 2022 Camaro ranges from $26,195 to $70,195, not including the $1,195 destination charge. Trim levels include 1LS, 1LT, 2LT, 3LT, LT1, 1SS, 2SS, and ZL1; all come in either body style, except the base 1LS, which is coupe-only.
If you want a V8 engine, you’ll need to step up to at least the LT1 trim (not to be confused with the 1LT). The lower trims give you a choice between a turbocharged 4-cylinder and a V6 engine. You might have heard about a sales ban on the Camaro SS and ZL1 in California and the state of Washington during 2021, but with the adoption of copper-free brake pads, all versions are available for 2022.
All 2022 Chevrolet Camaros have access to connected services, but the free trial for many features lasts only one month, after which time you’ll need a paid OnStar subscription to keep using them. Services include remote locking and engine-start, live emergency and weather-related crisis assistance, automatic collision notification, rapid access to roadside services, and stolen-vehicle location services. There’s also a Wi-Fi hotspot. Additionally, there’s a Teen Driver feature that doesn’t require a subscription. Teen Driver allows you to set limits for new drivers and then generates an in-vehicle report card that you can review with your teenager.
Chevrolet provides one complimentary scheduled maintenance visit during the first 12 months that you own a Camaro.
In the J.D. Power 2020 Resale Value Awards, the Camaro ranks third among Midsize Sporty Cars.
Consumers will find that the 2022 Ford Mustang comes in fastback coupe and convertible body styles and has seating for four. Like the drop-top Camaro, the Mustang Convertible has a power-operated, black soft top.
Ford hasn’t released pricing on the 2022 Mustang but expect slightly higher pricing than the 2021 model, which ranges from $27,205 to $72,900, not including the $1,195 destination charge.
Trim levels include a base Mustang known as the EcoBoost (in reference to its turbocharged 4-cylinder engine) followed by the EcoBoost Premium, GT, GT Premium, Mach 1, Mach 1 Premium, and Shelby GT500. You’ll need to buy at least a Ford Mustang GT to get a V8 engine. All EcoBoost and GT trims come in either body style, but the Mustang Mach 1 trims and the Mustang Shelby GT500 are coupe only.
The 2022 Ford Mustang comes with a limited menu of connected services. You can use the FordPass app to lock the doors and schedule remote engine starting, and there’s no subscription required. You can also use the app to summon roadside assistance if you’re within the warranty period. A Wi-Fi hotspot with a 3-month trial subscription comes with every new Mustang.
Ford does not offer free scheduled maintenance, though you can redeem points accumulated in the FordPass app for service discounts.
In the 2020 Resale Value Awards, the Mustang ranks second among midsize sporty cars.
Advantage: Ford Mustang
Reliability and Quality
2022 Ford Mustang Mach 1
The Chevrolet Camaro ranks highest among Midsize Sporty Cars in the J.D. Power 2021 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) but is not among the top three models in its segment in the J.D. Power 2021 Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2022 Chevrolet Camaro comes with the following warranty and roadside assistance coverage:
- Standard warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles
- Roadside assistance: 5 years or 60,000 miles
The Ford Mustang does not rank among the top three models in its segment in either the 2021 VDS or the 2021 IQS. The 2022 Ford Mustang comes with the following warranty and roadside assistance coverage:
- Standard warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles
- Roadside assistance: 5 years or 60,000 miles
Advantage: Chevrolet Camaro
Performance and Efficiency
2022 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Selecting an engine is the best part of configuring a 2022 Chevrolet Camaro. The base engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder rated at a respectable 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Note that the turbo 4-cylinder makes more torque (and develops it at a lower rpm) than the Camaro’s available 3.6-liter V6, which rates 335 hp and 284 pound-feet of torque. But this V6 has an especially good soundtrack, so that might tip your decision in its favor.
A 6-speed manual transmission is standard with both engines, but most buyers choose the optional automatic transmission. You can get an 8-speed automatic with the turbo 4-cylinder and a 10-speed auto with the V6.
If your budget can accommodate it, a V8 is far and away the best choice on a 2022 Chevy Camaro. The LT1 and SS trims come with a 6.2-liter V8 that cranks out 455 hp and 455 pound-feet of torque and sounds terrific doing it. If you’re thinking about going with the standard 6-speed manual, know that Chevy includes an automated rev-match feature on downshifts. Or, you could go with the 10-speed automatic transmission, which provides slightly quicker acceleration and includes paddle shifters.
If you want a brutally quick Camaro, the ZL1 is it. The Camaro ZL1 coupe and convertible have a supercharged version of the 6.2-liter V8, making 650 hp and 650 pound-feet of torque. You can have your pick of the 6-speed manual or the 10-speed automatic. If you select the automatic transmission on a Camaro SS or Camaro ZL1, you also get launch control with a line-lock mode aimed at owners trying to warm up the rear tires at a dragstrip.
Turbo 4-cylinder Chevrolet Camaro coupes and convertibles rate 22 mpg in combined city and highway driving with the manual transmission and 25 mpg with the 8-speed automatic transmission. Equipped with the V6, the Camaro rates 20 mpg in combined driving with the manual and 22 mpg with the 10-speed automatic.
The naturally aspirated V8 in the Ca
maro LT1 and SS isn’t far off the V6’s numbers, as it rates 19 mpg combined with the manual and 20 mpg combined with the automatic. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says the 2022 Chevy Camaro ZL1 will return 16 mpg in combined driving with either transmission.
The base engine on the 2022 Ford Mustang is also a turbocharged 4-cylinder, but it displaces 2.3 liters, and that makes a difference. On the Mustang EcoBoost, it’s rated at 310 hp and 350 pound-feet of torque. An available High Performance Engine package bumps horsepower to 330.
You have your choice of a 6-speed manual transmission or a 10-speed automatic on the Mustang EcoBoost. Manual-transmission Mustangs include launch control. The high-performance engine requires an additional option package with a more aggressive final drive ratio (which improves off-the-line acceleration at the expense of fuel economy), summer tires (instead of the standard all-season tires), larger brakes, and sport-tuned steering and suspension.
Although the turbo 4-cylinder provides impressive performance, consumers wanting a classic Ford Mustang experience will be happier with the V8. The 2022 Mustang GT has a 5.0-liter V8 engine rated at 460 hp and 420 pound-feet of torque. The Mustang Mach 1 coupe has a 480-hp version of the 5.0 V8.
You can have a 6-speed manual transmission or 10-speed automatic with the V8, and both offer automated rev matching on downshifts. Option packages on these models provide shorter final-drive ratios and various chassis enhancements aimed at buyers wanting to have fun on back roads or take their Mustang to track days.
Ford’s analog to the Chevy Camaro ZL1 is the Mustang Shelby GT500. The Shelby uses a supercharged, 5.2-liter V8 engine rated at 760 hp and 625 pound-feet of torque. It hooks up to a 7-speed, dual-clutch automated manual transmission (DCT), and launch control with a line-lock feature is included. An available track package provides ultra-grippy Michelin Pilot Cup Sport 2 summer tires, manually adjustable suspension struts, and deletes the rear seat (to reduce weight).
The EPA has not released fuel-economy ratings for the 2022 Ford Mustang, but mileage should be identical to the 2021 model. For 2021, the 4-cylinder Mustang EcoBoost coupes rate 22-25 mpg in combined driving, depending on how they’re equipped. The EcoBoost Mustang convertibles are heavier and rate 21-23 mpg combined.
The Ford Mustang GT rates 19 mpg with the 10-speed automatic and 18 mpg with the 6-speed manual. The Mustang Mach 1 rates 18 mpg (automatic) and 17 mpg (manual) in combined driving. To no one’s surprise, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is quite thirsty and rates 14 mpg combined.
Advantage: Chevrolet Camaro
Safety and Driving Assistance
2022 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Consumers seeking advanced driving assistance aids (ADAS) on the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro will find that Chevy reserves them for the higher-equipment trim levels. This is potentially frustrating if you’re considering the Camaro LT1 or 1SS, as neither comes with any ADAS.
If you select the 3LT, 2SS, or ZL1, your Camaro will come with a forward-collision warning (FCW) system, a lane-departure warning (LDW) system, and a blind-spot warning (BSW) system with rear cross-traffic warning.
The 2022 Chevrolet Camaro earns an overall 5-star rating—the highest possible—in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety testing. It rates 4 stars for frontal-impact crash protection and 5 stars for side impacts. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing, the structurally similar 2021 Camaro earned the highest-possible Good rating in most of the Institute’s crashworthiness categories.
The 2022 Ford Mustang comes standard with a Ford Co-Pilot 360 package that includes FCW, automatic emergency braking (AEB), a BSW system with rear cross-traffic warning, LDW, and lane-keeping assistance (LKA).
The 2022 Ford Mustang earns a 5-star overall NHTSA crash rating with a full 5 stars awarded for both front-impact and side-impact crash protection. In IIHS testing, the 2021 Mustang fared well in most crash categories but rated only Acceptable in the small-overlap front-offset crash test.
Advantage: Ford Mustang
Infotainment and Technology
2022 Chevrolet Camaro LS & LT
The entry-level infotainment interface in the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro has a 7-inch touchscreen display with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration. Many trims come standard with a higher-resolution 8-inch touchscreen display that also has wireless smartphone integration. A factory navigation system is optional.
If you select a base EcoBoost or base GT version of the 2022 Ford Mustang, you’ll get a basic 4.2-inch audio interface with Bluetooth. Optional on these trims and standard on other Mustangs is an 8-inch touchscreen display backed by Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment platform. It includes wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. A navigation system is optional.
Advantage: Chevrolet Camaro
Comfort and Utility
2022 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Inside, both the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro and the 2022 Ford Mustang offer various retro design elements while integrating modern conveniences. Both cockpits look good at a glance, but once you get inside, you’ll find more hard plastic than you might expect, especially on the higher trim levels.
Comfort takes a back seat to performance in these muscle cars. If you like to take long road trips, you’ll want to test-drive both thoroughly. Recaro seats are optional across both model lines (and standard in the Camaro ZL1). They’re a great idea if you’re planning to retrofit the driver seat with a 5-point racing harness, but Recaros often feel too confining for relaxed driving, especially if you have a larger frame.
There’s minimal storage in either car’s cabin, so you’ll need all the trunk capacity you can get. The Camaro coupe offers 9.1 cubic feet, while the convertible offers 7.3 cubic feet. External struts hold up the Chevy’s trunk lid, so at least you can take advantage of all the available space.
The same is true of the Mustang’s trunk lid, and it provides more capacity. Mustang coupes have 13.5 cubic feet, while the Mustang convertible maxes out at 11.4 cubic feet.
Advantage: Ford Mustang
