2021 Ford Mustang vs 2022 BMW 4 Series

The 2021 Ford Mustang was a car that exemplified iconic American muscle with a modern twist. Its flowing lines and aggressive front-end design were unmistakable and enduring. The styling paid homage to its retro roots while incorporating contemporary aesthetics. Inside, the Mustang continued this blend of old and new, featuring classic switches and knobs complemented by advanced digital screens. The cabin boasted solid fit-and-finish, with a good mix of soft-touch surfaces and brightwork, significantly elevating it above its Camaro counterpart, which often felt laden with dull plastics.

Trim levels for the Mustang included EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium, GT, GT Premium, and the Mach 1, with the high-performance Shelby GT500 as a separate model. The base EcoBoost featured standard 17-inch alloy wheels, manual seats, pushbutton start, power amenities, and a basic Ford Sync infotainment system with a 4.2-inch touchscreen. Moving up to the EcoBoost Premium added 18-inch wheels, ambient cabin lighting, dual-zone climate control, and the more sophisticated Sync 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The GT trim further enhanced the Mustang’s mechanical features with a 5.0-liter V8 engine, unique badging, and grille design. We tested the Mach 1, which borrowed performance elements from the Shelby GT350, and included a fully digital instrument panel, power-adjustable front seats, and illuminated door scuff plates.

In contrast, the 2022 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe aimed for a more sophisticated, albeit controversial, design. Our Sunset Orange 430i came with an extra-cost paint charge, leather seats, and a plethora of packages adding to its premium feel. The new Gran Coupe was larger and more aerodynamic than its predecessor, featuring a long hood, fast windshield, and sporty roofline. However, the dramatically enlarged flared-nostril grille drew mixed critiques, often perceived as garish, especially when paired with a rectangular North American license plate.

Inside, the 4 Series Gran Coupe featured a modern, asymmetrical design brimming with quality. The interior's geometric shapes were pleasing, but the ergonomics were slightly compromised by the challenging-to-read silver climate control buttons. The test model’s shocking omission of power-adjustable front seats could be forgiven if not for the car's considerable price tag. The 4 Series made a better impression with its practical use of space, such as the 16.6 cubic foot trunk expanding to 45.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, offering substantial versatility.

The 2021 Ford Mustang presented a wide range of power options to suit various levels of driving enthusiasm. The base EcoBoost trims were powered by a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 310 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. The EcoBoost High-Performance Package nudged the horsepower to 330. This engine gave the Mustang a more European feel, thanks to its lighter front end. However, for many, the heart of the Mustang was its V8 engine. The GT trim's 5.0-liter V8 churned out 460 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, ensuring exhilarating straight-line performance and potent corner exits. The Mach 1 upgraded this to 480 horsepower, with an incredible exhaust note underscoring its performance capabilities.

Our Mach 1 test car, equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission, showcased the car’s adaptive nature through various driving modes, including Normal, Sport Plus, Track, and Snow/Wet, each adjusting the throttle response and handling characteristics. Brembo brakes and components from the GT350 further enhanced the car's ability to deliver thrilling performance without compromising safety and control.

Similarly, the 2022 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe excelled in injecting excitement into the drive, particularly the 430i model we tested. Its turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine produced 255 horsepower and 294 pound-feet of torque and briskly propelled the car from 0 to 60 mph in a quoted 5.8 seconds. The 430i's performance felt responsive, aided by a seamless eight-speed automatic transmission, ensuring that shifts aligned perfectly with driving demands.

The 430i boasted a Dynamic Handling Package featuring M Sport brakes, an Adaptive M suspension, and an M Sport differential, pivotal for maintaining agility and composure on sinuous roads. The Drive Mode Selector offered Eco Pro, Comfort, and Sport modes, though our real-world fuel economy test average of 25.3 mpg fell short of the EPA estimate of 28 mpg combined, a likely result of our spirited driving on California’s Deer Creek Canyon Road. The impressive 50/50 weight distribution and capable suspension setup helped maintain poise even under rigorous conditions, reaffirming BMW’s reputation for balanced handling.

Ford Mustang’s practicality was notable among its peers. The fastback coupe offered a respectable 13.5 cubic feet of trunk space, while the convertible provided 11.4 cubic feet. This compared favorably to the Chevrolet Camaro’s meager 9.1 cubic feet (7.3 cubic feet for the convertible) but fell short of the Dodge Challenger’s 16.2 cubic feet. However, the Mustang’s rear seats offered limited utility for adults, with rear legroom becoming sparse once the front seats were adjusted for average-sized adults. The situation improved slightly in the upper trims with power-adjustable front seats, although the mix of power and manual adjustments felt inconsistent and somewhat cheap.

The 2022 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, while ostensibly more practical than a 4 Series coupe or convertible, still struggled with space efficiency. The small door openings and a low roofline complicated entry and exit, particularly in the rear. Measuring up to a 3 Series sedan, the Gran Coupe fell short in rear-seat comfort and convenience. Despite these limitations, the 4 Series offered solid cargo capacity. The hatchback design revealed a 16.6 cubic foot trunk, which could expand to 45.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, similar to some compact SUVs, thus significantly boosting its practicality quotient.

The 2021 Ford Mustang started with a basic 4.2-inch display and voice controls in its base model. To access a more comprehensive infotainment experience, one needed to upgrade to the Premium trim to get the Sync 3 system with an 8-inch touchscreen, supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The interface was user-friendly, with large, responsive buttons and crisp graphics. However, when using CarPlay or Android Auto, the screen dedicated entirely to these functions, requiring navigation back to the Sync interface for other features, which was somewhat cumbersome.

By contrast, the 2022 BMW 4 Series featured the iDrive 7 system, integrated seamlessly with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The system allowed for physical controls on the center console and voice commands with the Intelligent Personal Assistant, yielding an excellent user experience. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and Amazon Alexa were part of the package, along with a suite of connected services. The system's versatility was notable, although some premium features like the Harman Kardon sound system and a head-up display required an upgrade to the M440i.

The 2021 Ford Mustang came equipped with Ford’s CoPilot360 suite of driver assistance features, standard across all trims. This included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Rain-sensing wipers and automatic high beams were also standard, though adaptive cruise control and parking sensors required additional expenditure. The Mustang’s visibility was better than its peers, particularly compared to the blind spots in the Camaro and Challenger.

BMW’s 2022 4 Series Gran Coupe offered safety through its BMW Assist eCall and SOS Emergency Request, along with an enhanced collision notification system. The Active Driving Assistant package included forward-collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. The M440i model added advanced features like adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and emergency stop assistance within the Driving Assistance Professional Package. Additional features included Icon Adaptive LED Headlights and Back-Up Assistant technology.