Compare the2025 BMW 8 SeriesVS 2025 Ford Mustang

The 8 Series’ 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 8 Series 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 automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The 8 Series offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Mustang doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The 8 Series offers an optional Surround View Camera 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 8 Series and the Mustang have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The 8 Series 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 8 Series’ corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Mustang’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 8 Series 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.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 With 49 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks BMW higher than Ford.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 5 places higher in reliability than Ford.

The 8 Series has more powerful engines than the Mustang:

	Horsepower	Torque
840i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	335 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
M850i 4.4 turbo V8	523 HP	553 lbs.-ft.
Mustang EcoBoost 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder	315 HP	350 lbs.-ft.
Mustang GT 5.0 DOHC V8	480 HP	415 lbs.-ft.
Mustang GT 5.0 DOHC V8	486 HP	418 lbs.-ft.
Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 DOHC V8	500 HP	418 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the M850i 4.4 turbo V8 is faster than the Ford Mustang (automatics tested):

	8 Series	Mustang GT	Mustang Dark Horse
Zero to 60 MPH	3.4 sec	3.9 sec	3.7 sec
Quarter Mile	11.7 sec	12.2 sec	12 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	120.4 MPH	116.8 MPH	118.4 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the 8 Series Coupe gets better mileage than the Mustang Fastback:

			MPG
8 Series Coupe
RWD	Auto	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
AWD	Auto	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
		4.4 turbo V8	17 city/24 hwy
Mustang Fastback
RWD	Manual	GT 5.0 V8	14 city/23 hwy
		Dark Horse 5.0 V8	14 city/22 hwy
	Auto	w/Start/Stop 5.0 V8	16 city/24 hwy
		5.0 V8	15 city/24 hwy
		Dark Horse 5.0 V8	14 city/22 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the 8 Series Convertible gets better mileage than the Mustang Convertible:

			MPG
8 Series Convertible
RWD	Auto	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
AWD	Auto	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
		4.4 turbo V8	17 city/24 hwy
Mustang Convertible
RWD	Manual	GT 5.0 V8	14 city/23 hwy
		Dark Horse 5.0 V8	14 city/22 hwy
	Auto	w/Start/Stop 5.0 V8	16 city/24 hwy
		5.0 V8	15 city/24 hwy
		Dark Horse 5.0 V8	14 city/22 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the 8 Series’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Mustang doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Regardless of its engine, the 8 Series’ engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. 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 Dark Horse doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The 8 Series has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Mustang (18 vs. 16 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The 8 Series 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.

All wheel drive, available in the 8 Series, 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 8 Series’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Mustang:

	8 Series 840i	8 Series	Mustang EcoBoost	Mustang Dark Horse
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	15.6 inches	12.6 inches	15.4 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	15.7 inches	12.6 inches	14 inches

For better traction, the 8 Series has larger tires than the Mustang (F:245/35R20 & R:275/30R20 vs. 235/50R18).

The 8 Series’ standard 245/40R19 front and 275/35R19 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 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 8 Series has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Mustang.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 8 Series can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Mustang doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The 8 Series M850i has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Mustang doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The M850i offers an available active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Ford doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Mustang.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 8 Series’ wheelbase is 4.1 inches longer than on the Mustang (111.1 inches vs. 107 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 8 Series is 1.9 inches wider in the front and .3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Mustang.

The M850i xDrive Coupe handles at .99 G’s, while the Mustang GT Premium Fastback pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The M850i xDrive Convertible handles at .97 G’s, while the Mustang Convertible pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The M850i xDrive Coupe executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Mustang EcoBoost Premium Fastback (24 seconds @ .84 average G’s vs. 24.9 seconds @ .75 average G’s).

The M850i xDrive Convertible executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Mustang Convertible (24.3 seconds @ .82 average G’s vs. 24.9 seconds @ .77 average G’s).

The front grille of the 8 Series uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Mustang doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The 8 Series Coupe has 1.3 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room and .5 inches more rear legroom than the Mustang Fastback.

The 8 Series Convertible has 1.3 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear legroom and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Mustang Convertible.

The 8 Series Coupe has a much larger trunk than the Mustang Fastback (14.8 vs. 13.5 cubic feet).

The 8 Series Convertible has a larger trunk with its top down than the Mustang Convertible (12.4 vs. 11.4 cubic feet).

The 8 Series’ standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Mustang Convertible doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the 8 Series’ rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Mustang doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its coupe body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 8 Series offers cargo security. The Mustang’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 8 Series’ power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Mustang doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the Mustang, the 8 Series has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The 8 Series’ standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Mustang.

The 8 Series has a standard 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 8 Series’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Mustang’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the 8 Series 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.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the 8 Series has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Mustang doesn’t offer cornering lights. The 8 Series also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The 8 Series’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Mustang Premium/Convertible/Dark Horse.

When the 8 Series 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 8 Series’ 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 offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the BMW 8 Series and Ford Mustang offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The 8 Series features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Mustang’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The 8 Series has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Mustang Premium/Dark Horse.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the 8 Series has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Mustang doesn’t offer rear vents.

The BMW 8 Series has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Ford charges extra for Homelink® on the Mustang.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW 8 Series has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Mustang doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The 8 Series’ 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 8 Series comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Ford Mustang isn’t available as a sedan.