Compare the2025 BMW M4VS 2023 Ford Mustang

The M4’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Mustang doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The M4’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the front seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The Mustang doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The M4 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Mustang doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The M4 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Mustang doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The M4 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Mustang doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The M4 offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Mustang only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

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

The M4 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Mustang’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The M4’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Mustang’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M4 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Mustang.

The battery on the M4 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the M4’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Mustang’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Ford.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 13 places higher in reliability than Ford.

The M4 has more powerful engines than the Mustang:

	Horsepower	Torque
M4 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	473 HP	406 lbs.-ft.
M4 Competition 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	503 HP	479 lbs.-ft.
M4 Competition xDrive 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	523 HP	479 lbs.-ft.
M4 CS 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	543 HP	479 lbs.-ft.
Mustang 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder	310 HP	350 lbs.-ft.
Mustang 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder	330 HP	350 lbs.-ft.
Mustang GT 5.0 DOHC V8	450 HP	410 lbs.-ft.
Mustang Mach 1 5.0 DOHC V8	470 HP	410 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the BMW M4 3.0 is faster than the Ford Mustang (manual transmissions tested):

	M4	Mustang turbo 4 cyl.	Mustang GT
Zero to 30 MPH	1.5 sec	1.6 sec	n/a
Zero to 60 MPH	3.8 sec	5 sec	4.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	8.3 sec	13 sec	9.7 sec
Quarter Mile	12 sec	13.6 sec	12.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	121 MPH	102 MPH	115 MPH
Top Speed	180 MPH	155 MPH	155 MPH

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

			MPG
M4 Coupe
RWD	Manual	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	16 city/23 hwy
	Auto	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	16 city/23 hwy
	Auto	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	16 city/23 hwy
Mustang Fastback
RWD	Manual	Mach 1 5.0 V8	14 city/22 hwy
	Auto	Mach 1 5.0 V8	15 city/23 hwy

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

			MPG
M4 Convertible
RWD	Manual	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	16 city/23 hwy
	Auto	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	16 city/23 hwy
Mustang Convertible
RWD	Manual	Mach 1 5.0 V8	14 city/22 hwy
	Auto	GT 5.0 V8	15 city/23 hwy
		Mach 1 5.0 V8	15 city/23 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the M4’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Mustang doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the M4’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Mustang doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The M4 has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Mustang. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW M4 higher (5 out of 10) than the Ford Mustang (3 to 5). This means the M4 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Mustang every 15,000 miles.

All wheel drive, available in the M4, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The Ford Mustang is not available with all wheel drive.

For better stopping power the M4’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Mustang:

	M4	M4 CCB	Mustang	Mustang V8 PP/Mach 1
Front Rotors	15 inches	15.7 inches	12.6 inches	15 inches
Rear Rotors	14.6 inches	15 inches	12.6 inches	12.6 inches

The M4 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Mustang doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The M4 stops much shorter than the Mustang:

	M4	Mustang
70 to 0 MPH	146 feet	165 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	102 feet	111 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the M4 has larger tires than the Mustang (F:275/40R18 & R:285/35R19 vs. 235/55R17).

The M4’s standard 275/40R18 front and 285/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Mustang’s standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the M4 has standard 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Mustang.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M4’s wheelbase is 5.4 inches longer than on the Mustang (112.5 inches vs. 107.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the M4 is 1.3 inches wider in the front than on the Mustang.

The M4 Coupe handles at 1.03 G’s, while the Mustang GT Premium Fastback pulls only .96 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The M4 Coupe executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Mustang EcoBoost Premium Fastback (23.7 seconds @ .9 average G’s vs. 25.1 seconds @ .75 average G’s).

The M4’s standard power retractable hardtop allows a seamless transition from an open car, to a completely sealed coupe. The Mustang doesn’t offer a retractable hardtop.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the M4 Coupe is quieter than the Mustang Mach 1:

	M4	Mustang
At idle	45 dB	52 dB
Full-Throttle	83 dB	90 dB
70 MPH Cruising	69 dB	70 dB

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the M4 Coupe a Compact car, while the Mustang Fastback is rated a Subcompact.

The M4 Coupe has 8.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Mustang Fastback (91 vs. 82.8). The M4 Convertible has 4.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Mustang Convertible (84 vs. 79.2).

The M4 Coupe has 2.7 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more rear headroom and 5.7 inches more rear legroom than the Mustang Fastback.

The M4 Convertible has 3 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more rear headroom and 3.3 inches more rear legroom than the Mustang Convertible.

The M4 Coupe has a much larger trunk than the Mustang Fastback (15.5 vs. 13.5 cubic feet).

The M4’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Mustang Convertible doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

With its coupe body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the M4 offers cargo security. The Mustang’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the M4’s trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Mustang doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The M4 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Mustang uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 28% lower rating, Ford is ranked 22nd.

The M4 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Mustang doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The M4’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Mustang has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

If the windows are left open on the M4 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Mustang can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case of a sudden change of weather, the M4 Convertible has a standard remote convertible top that can be raised from a distance to protect the interior of the vehicle from damage. On a hot day the M4 Convertible has a standard remote opening feature, to lower the top from outside. The Mustang doesn’t offer a remote top, so the driver will have to run to the car, get in, turn the ignition on and raise the top to prevent the interior from being damaged.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the M4 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Mustang doesn’t offer cornering lights. The M4 also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The M4’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Mustang Premium/Mach 1.

When the M4 is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Mustang’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The M4’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Mustang has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The M4 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Mustang.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the M4 has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Mustang doesn’t offer rear vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW M4 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Mustang doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The M4’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Mustang doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The BMW 4 Series outsold the Ford Mustang by 2172 units during 2023.