Auto Show Faceoff: 2010 Camaro vs. 2010 Mustang

Two iconic American muscle cars are on hand at the Los Angeles auto show: the long-awaited 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, which can be preordered now and will hit dealerships next spring, and the redesigned 2010 Ford Mustang, which debuted at the show. So how do these two sports cars — both throwbacks to an earlier time in terms of design but possessing modern technology underneath — measure up to each other? Let's run through the requisite categories.

Styling

Chevrolet was wise not to tinker too much with the Camaro’s design, which was a hit when it debuted in concept form at the 2006 Detroit auto show. The production Camaro is low-slung and muscular, like the Mustang, but features sharper angles overall and a gaping black grille that gives the coupe a little more aggressiveness than the Ford. None of these observations matter all that much, however, as muscle car fans will more than likely separate themselves according to brand allegiance.

Winner: Toss up

Powertrain

The Camaro joins the fray with some heavy-hitting engines to back up its intimidating looks. The base one is a 300-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 that features direct injection. The fabled SS trim level fans the flames in this competition with its 6.2-liter V-8, which makes up to 422 hp and 408 pounds-feet of torque. Both engines come standard with a six-speed manual, but a six-speed automatic transmission is optional.

Ford's Mustang was starting to look a little outgunned in the muscle car horsepower wars, as its standard V-6 produced 210 hp and its optional V-8 generated 300 hp for 2009. For 2010, Ford only bumped the V-8's horsepower rating to 315 hp, thanks in part to a cold-air induction system. Five-speed manual and automatic transmissions are offered with both engines. 

While the numbers say the Camaro has a big advantage in the engine department, the edge doesn't look quite as large when you take vehicle weight into account, as the Camaro is about 300 pounds heavier than the Mustang. Even so, muscle cars are all about power, and the more the better.

Winner: Camaro

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Interior

Chevrolet has concocted a striking design for the inside of the Camaro that's unlike anything else in its lineup. Elements with a unique spin include the supplementary center-console gauges, audio system and air-conditioning controls, and the gauges. The interior also features uncommon types of trim, like the available red door and dashboard accents. 

With the Mustang, Ford has given the interior a more premium feel with the use of upscale soft-touch dashboard trim and a revised layout for the buttons in the middle of the dash, and the car is available with classy features like an aluminum shift knob. Despite the improvements, the Mustang's cabin doesn't offer the visual excitement of the Camaro's, which comes out ahead in this category.

Winner: Camaro

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Features

The Camaro has all the basic amenities you'd expect to find in a modern sports car, like air conditioning, a CD stereo, cruise control and keyless entry, but it doesn't come with any features that offer something unique in the marketplace. The Mustang, by comparison, offers a whole host of features.

Available Mustang features include Ford's Sync entertainment and communication system that allows you to control portable music players and Bluetooth-compatible cell phones with voice commands. It can also have Ford's new navigation system that uses Sirius' Travel Link technology to provide occupants with weather and traffic information, as well as sports scores and local gas prices. In addition, the Mustang's available MyColor feature lets you customize the gauges' backlighting color, and there's an optional glass roof for the coupe.

Winner: Mustang

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We'll have a fuller picture of these cars after we've had a chance to drive them, but on paper it looks like the new Camaro has the edge over the Mustang. If you're a muscle car fan, let us know in the comments which one you'd take.

More on the 2010 Chevy Camaro
More on the 2010 Ford Mustang

Comments

[jlo]

Why not include the Mustangs supercharged 5.4 in the engine comparison? It's good for either 500 or 540 horsepower. If muscle cars are truly all about power, and price and weight do not matter, it would seem Ford has a huge advantage here.

[rl]

i have to agree. the mustang has a little bit more a history with it too. and now with not only shelby making custom mustnags but also roush and saleen there are a lot more options for mustang owners on the market then there are for chevy owners. Yes these options arent factory things necessarly but the shelby saleen and roush cars are all sold at the same dealerships that the regular mustang is sold at so they actually become more like just other options.

[Clinton]

your comparing cars that are priced well about 30k. with that type of money the camero blows it away its not even close. In all reality ford could only could add 15hp!!!! thats pathetic, thats all it could do??? obviously ford doesnt care!

a al verga con todos

el danny es putito i le gusta la toyota

[Mike]

No doubt! The Gt 500 KR is a $80k car, you can't compare that to a 30k camaro! If you want to talk about tuner supercars.. look at the 2000ish camaros produced by gmmg! specifically the berger version. 640hp camaro, that needs no blower, which you could buy at the berger dealership in grand rapids michigan. I'll be it's sale price was in the same range as the kr500.

[Coty]

do you people fail to realize the camaro has been gone for quite a while give chevy a minute, hell i know im waiting for a new iroc or a yenko. im a die hard chevy fan but im sure this artical is talking about affordable models of both cars not hyped up supercharged versions most of us will only see in movies

[Dennis]

I really can't separate them although my heart leans towards the chevy. Both are classics! Good selection. Cheers!

Have a great Mustang Parts Day.

[pancha]

i am a chevy fan so it doesnt matter whos better i still go for the camero ;-p

[Danno]

Well boys, The Camaro still looks plain jane compared to the Mustang and the Challenger looks like a clone of the Camaro. Now I'm hearing that GM can't muster enough money to bring out the V8 for a long while. I guess thell have to keep bragging about that extinct Pontiac G8! Have a nice day!

[Spunky]

I effed a Camaro and a Mustang in their tailpipes! It was a 3 way...

[up yours]

Can't muster enough money for the V-8, where the hell are you getting your facts from? Make sure you're not getting confused about the version that's suppose to have well over 500hp. I believe it was the z-28.

[rnk]

camaro interior looks cheap,cheezy!!

[nick]

everyone has a mustang, who has a 2010 camaro?

[Joker]

who wants to buy a car form gm? they dont even have money to stay in business....lol mustang all the way!!!!!

[Belly]

I cannot understand how the Camaro comes out on top with the interior comparison. I think the engines are pretty clear, but no way the Camaro comes out on top with its interior.

[Nathan]

sure include the gt500 but then they would have to include the upcoming camaro z28 model which will outdo the gt 500

[_]

"who wants to buy a car form gm? they dont even have money to stay in business....lol mustang all the way!!!!!"

wow,

ford, gm, chrysler were failing. not only gm.
reeeeetad

[Tyler]

"wow,

ford, gm, chrysler were failing. not only gm.
reeeeetad"

hahahaha well first learn how to spell "retard". especially when calling someone that, it just makes it look like YOU'RE the retard. Anyway, Ford is the one on top right now and GM is the worst off of all 3. So get your facts straight you dumb bitch.

[John A]

I'll take the Mustang over the Camaro any day.

[John A]

Better get some good life insurance if you drive either one of these cars. Especially if you live in Atlanta, NY or LA.

[Life Insurance Atlanta]

Mustang > Camaro

The GM just doesn't have the sexy appeal the stang has.

[Karl, Charlotte NC]

Both of the new cars are beatiful. My mazdaspeed 3 will be swapped for one of these cars next year. Im leaning towards the Camaro just for the indy rear end and 400+ hp 8

[jared]

u guys are jokes. Camaro obviously kicks the mustangs butt

[onceachevyloverturnedford]

Ok Ok guys. there are a lot of different articles some say chevy has the edge some say Ford has the edge. it really just depends on what vehicle was your favorite as a kid. I have driven both and researched them both alot and they both have a bunch of great muscle car options, Ford has the track pack that gives you a better rear end. but one thing I do know is going thru production chevy had a lot of safety issues wich is why it was pushed back so far. and another thing if it is gfonna take that long to come up with a car that was your bread and butter. Why is it so cheap feeling? take the time to go into both dealerships and sit in and maybe drive both. then make your choice. u can customise both pretty well. I have been a Camaro guy my entire life but the cheap feeiling of the camaros interior disgusted me. they went backwards literally.

[mike]

Must be all women speaking for the mustang cause the rustang was designed for a woman,the 300lbs lighter mustang still cant get the job done!!!!!!!!! lol, and the mustang handles like its on rails....guard rails,sure the mustang is a good straight line car, but put it on a winding road and bye bye mustang.

[jc]

hahahaha well first learn how to spell "retard". especially when calling someone that, it just makes it look like YOU'RE the retard. Anyway, Ford is the one on top right now and GM is the worst off of all 3. So get your facts straight you dumb bitch.

they are all in the hole , the reason ford didnt take the bail out money is because they have smart and non-greedy management.
gm is more respected simply because they were the first to help out in WWII.
america is GM now... lol saddly

[Ralph]

Need I remind everyone it is the Camaro that is called a fat-girls car. And since this country has continued to get fatter there will be plenty of fat chicks at the Chevy dealers. That is why the Camaro needs the extra ponies, to haul the extra... My wife is 5'6" and 125 lbs, so she wasn't interested in the Camaro. Sorry for the reality check.