2024 Ford Mustang GT S650 vs. 2023 Chevrolet Camaro SS Specs Comparison

With the introduction of the 2024 Ford Mustang GT  (codenamed S650), we immediately had to figure out just how it compares to the latest 2023 Chevrolet Camaro . The S650 Mustang is a clear evolution of the design of the sixth-generation S550, but they are cosmetically and mechanically different enough from each other to warrant another look. Meanwhile, the 2023 Camaro is still more or less the same as it was in 2016 when its fifth-generation model was first released. Let's take a closer look at both to see if the new Mustang is better than the "old" Camaro, or if the competition is still alive. Well, on paper, at least.

Both the GT and SS will be powered by V-8 engines, but both are still radically different from each other. The LT1 in the Camaro SS is still the pushrod Small Block design used by Chevrolet since the 1950s, albeit with changes to make this a very potent powerhouse under the hood of every General Motors vehicle that shares it. With a 4.06 inch bore and 3.62 inch stroke, the LT1 measures out to 6.2 liters that produces 455 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 455 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm.

Ford hasn't released the SAE power figures for the S650's updated 5.0 liter V-8 , which is still the 3.63 inch bore and 3.65 inch stroke to make its 5.0 liter displacement and is similar to the outgoing S550 engine. Last year, that engine was good for 460 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, but this was using a single throttle body and an indirect air box system. The new 5.0 uses dual 80mm throttle bodies that are fed directly by the "nostrils" of the grille and the connecting rods. A similar V-8 is used in the new Dark Horse and that's good for an estimated 500 hp, and we expect 10-20 hp less in the 5.0-liter GT.

Both the new Mustang GT and current Camaro SS will be offered with six-speed manual transmissions and 10-speed automatics. However, the Mustang will come with two rear gear options for each transmission where the Camaro SS only comes with one for each.

The SS comes with a 3.73:1 for the manual-equipped setup while the automatic gets the 2.77:1 ratio. The new Mustang GT gets a 3.31:1 for the manual-equipped car, 3.55:1 for the automatic (both coming with limited slip). A 3.55:1 Torsen will come in the automatic GT and a 3.73 Torsen comes in the six-speed GT in their available Performance Pack versions. These are all similar to the 2023 Mustang, so we expect similar performance from the GT in terms of acceleration .

Both cars are fitted with MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspensions, losing their solid axles long ago. Both also get the MagneRide suspension as an optional active damping system and use electronic steering assist with selectable effort levels.

Brakes, on the other hand, are different between the Camaro SS and Mustang GT. The Camaro wears a set of 13.6 inch front rotors with four piston fixed calipers. The Mustang gets 13.86 inch rotors up front with four piston fixed calipers, and an optional setup for the GT is a set of 15.35 inch rotors with six piston Brembo calipers. This is similar to the S550, but the optional Brembos have grown roughly 0.40 inch (the rotors were 14.96 inches), and are now available in three paint finishes.

The Camaro SS uses a set of 20x8.5 front and 20x9.5 wheels with P245/40R20 front and P275/30R20 rear summer tires . The S650 Mustang GT comes standard with 18x8.5 wheels all around wearing 255/45R18 tires. There are also optional 19x8.5 wheels in 255/40R19 and 20x9.0 in 265/35R20. The Mustang GT with the Performance Pack gets 19x9.0 front and 19x9.5 rear wheels in 255/40R19 front and 275/40R19 Y-rated summer tires.

Parking either car will probably not be a problem for most people, but their footprints will give a decent idea of how much road holding each performance model will provide . The S650 Mustang GT has a wheelbase of 107 inches with an overall length of 189.4 inches, overall width of 75.4 inches (until the mirrors, which it then increases to 81.9 inches), and an overall height of 55 inches for the coupe and 54.8 for the convertible. It also has a track width of 62 inches in the front and 64.7 inches in the rear.

The Camaro SS has a slightly longer wheelbase of 110.7 inches, barely shorter overall length of 188.3 inches, overall width of 74.7 inches, and lower overall height of 53.1 inches for both the coupe and droptop. The SS also has a one-inch-wider track width of 63 inches up front and slimmer 62.9 inches at the rear.

Power is nothing if you're carrying too much weight . The Camaro SS hits the scales at 3,685 lbs for the six-speed coupe and 3,747 lbs for the 10-speed auto. The convertible version comes in at 3,932 lbs for the manual and 3,993 lbs for the automatic.

For the 2024 Mustang GT, the coupe comes in at 3,730 lbs with the manual transmission and 3,752 lbs for the auto. The convertible version is 3,916 lbs for its manual and 3,932 lbs for its automatic.

Both the coupe and convertible versions of the Camaro SS gives its front occupants 38.5 inches of headroom and 43.9 inches of legroom. While you can technically put four people in the SS, it's probably not a great experience as you'll give them 33.5 inches of headroom in the coupe and 33.4 inches in the convertible. Both versions only give rear occupants 29.9 inches of legroom.

The 2024 Mustang GT is also technically a four seater, as its coupe version offers its front passengers 37.6 inches of headroom and 44.5 inches of legroom and 34.8 inches of headroom and 29 inches of legroom for the rear. The convertible version is nearly the same, but rear passengers will get 35.7 inches of headroom and 29.2 inches of legroom.

You're probably not going on a long, cross country road trip with more than maybe one other person in either car, but you can carry some luggage in the trunk of both vehicles . The Mustang is capable of carrying 13.3 cu ft of cargo while the convertible shrinks to just 10.3 cu ft. This is far better than the Camaro with only 9.1 cu ft of trunk volume for the coupe and 7.3 cu ft for the convertible.

The maturing 2022 Camaro SS doesn't have the latest safety and driver assist features we're seeing from other Chevrolet vehicles coming out as renewed or refreshed in 2023, at least not yet. As such, it does come with an HD Rear View camera, heads-up display, forward collision detection (coupe only), rear park assist, rear cross traffic alert, and lane change alert with side blind zone alert on the 2SS package.

The S650 Mustang GT comes with adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and speed sign recognition as an option while auto high beams, blind spot information with cross traffic alert and braking, lane keep assist, pre-collision assist with auto braking (includes pedestrian detection), rear view camera, and rain-sensing wipers are all standard driver assist features.

However, when it comes to fun stuff that makes the new Mustang such a track-worthy car, it's the modes that make the Mustang GT stand out from the Camaro SS. By going through its menu system, the S650 has electronic line lock for burnouts , track-focused apps, an acceleration timer, accelerometer, brake performance meter, lap timer function, and launch control, and the new Mustang is equipped for OTA updates (branded as Ford Power-Up software updates) to potentially expand upon its features and settings.