2026 BMW 4 Series vs 2026 Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang wins clearly, 87.8 to 65.8, on tech & comfort, performance. The BMW 4 Series is ahead on safety and fuel & range.
2026 BMW 4 Series
The 2026 BMW 4 Series is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid compact sedan with 12 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 430i Coupe, is EPA-rated a…
2026 Ford Mustang
The 2026 Ford Mustang is sold in the U.S. as a gas coupe with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Mustang, is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combin…
2026 Ford Mustang
Clear winThe Ford Mustang wins clearly, 87.8 to 65.8, on tech & comfort, performance. The BMW 4 Series is ahead on safety and fuel & range.
| Category · weight | 2026 BMW 4 Seriesoverall 65.8 | 2026 Ford Mustangoverall 87.8 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 98.7 | 94.6 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 71 | 67.6 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargonot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 82.1 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 15 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | ||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 65.8 | 87.8 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 4 of 7 categories compared
BMW 4 Series: base trim 430i Convertible RWD · Ford Mustang: base trim EcoBoost Fastback RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Ford Mustang wins
- It lists 16 standard driver-assist features against 0.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (20 points against 3 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It makes 315 hp against 255.
Where the 2026 BMW 4 Series answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (2 against 8 filed with NHTSA).
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 85 against 71).
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
37 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | — | $32,995 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | — | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 1,998 cc | 2,300 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder | 2.3L EcoBoost® 4-cylinder |
| Fuel injection system | — | gdi mpi |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 255 hp | 315 hp |
| Torque | 295 lb-ft | 350 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 27 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 30 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 35 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 3.15 limited-slip rear axle |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 10 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Overall height | — | 55 in |
| Overall length | — | 189 in |
| Overall width | — | 81.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 112 in | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 40.6 in | — |
| Third-row headroom | 36.1 in | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | — | Independent |
| Rear suspension type | — | Independent |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | — | Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) with Selectable Effort |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 320 mm |
| Front brake type | — | Vented disc, 2-piston calipers |
| Parking brake type | — | Electric |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 320 mm |
| Rear brake type | — | Vented disc, single-piston calipers |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | — | 18 in |
| Wheel material | — | Cast aluminum |
| Wheel width | — | 8 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | P235/50ZR18 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 93 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | — | Ford Connectivity Package |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | — | 12 months |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 57.7 in | — |
| Third-row shoulder room | 46.2 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
83 features · differences first, then sharedSafety16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking | — | std |
| Dual Front Airbags | — | std |
| Front-Seat Side-Impact Airbags | — | std |
| Lane Keeping System | — | std |
| Rear View Camera | — | std |
| Rear Parking Sensors | — | std |
| AdvanceTrac® with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | — | std |
| Auto High-Beam Headlamps | — | std |
| Belt-Minder® Front Safety Belt Reminder | — | std |
| Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with Cross-Traffic Alert | — | std |
| Driver's Knee Airbag | — | std |
| Ford Co-Pilot360™ | — | std |
| LATCH Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors For Children | — | std |
| Personal Safety System™ For Driver and Front Passenger | — | std |
| SOS Post-Crash Alert System™ | — | std |
| Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System | — | std |
Infotainment13 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Connectivity Package (Wi-Fi Hotspot) | — | opt |
| 12.4" Cluster Display and 13.2" Center Display | — | std |
| 4G Modem | — | std |
| 6-Speaker Sound System, AM/FM Stereo MP3 Capable | — | std |
| B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen, 12-Speakers, AM/FM Stereo MP3 Capable and HD Radio™ | — | opt |
| Ford App Remote Start | — | std |
| High-Mounted Mirror USB Charging Port | — | std |
| Magnesium Framed Panoramic Curved Display | — | opt |
| Magnesium Paddle Shifters | std | — |
| SiriusXM® with 360L and HD Radio™ | — | std |
| Sync® 4 | — | std |
| Track Apps® | — | std |
| USB Ports - Smart-Charging (2) | — | std |
Convenience1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start | — | std |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin Particulate Air Filter | — | std |
| Dual-Zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control | — | std |
Seating5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cooled Front Seats | — | opt |
| Heated Front Seats | — | opt |
| 4-Way Manual Passenger Seat | — | std |
| 50/50 Split-Bench Folding Rear Seat | — | std |
| Cloth Front Bucket Seats | — | std |
Interior5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated Steering Wheel | — | opt |
| Headroom front / rear: 40.6 in / 36.1 in (Convertible) | std | — |
| Shoulder room front / rear: 57.7 in / 46.2 in (Convertible) | std | — |
| Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column | — | std |
| Floor Mats - 1st Row Carpeted, Black | — | std |
Exterior15 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Active Valve Performance Exhaust with Black Tips | — | opt |
| Body style: Convertible | std | — |
| Configurable Daytime Running Lamps | — | std |
| Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel Filler | — | std |
| LED Projector Headlamps with LED Signature Lighting | — | std |
| LED Sequential Taillights | — | std |
| Mirrors, Sideview - Heated | — | opt |
| Mustang RTR® Package (optional) | — | opt |
| Painted Black Roof (optional) | — | opt |
| Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers | — | std |
| Rear-Window Defroster | — | std |
| Shark Fin Antenna | — | std |
| Tire Inflator and Sealant Kit | — | std |
| Wedge Decklid Spoiler (optional) | — | opt |
| Mini Spare Wheel and Tire | — | opt |
Powertrain18 differ · 18 listed
| Feature | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 0-60 mph: 6 s (430i Convertible) | std | — |
| 10-Speed Automatic Transmission | — | std |
| 2.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder | std | — |
| 2.3L EcoBoost® Engine | — | std |
| 255 hp | std | — |
| 295 lb-ft torque | std | — |
| 3.15 Limited-Slip Rear Axle | — | std |
| 8-speed Sport Automatic transmission with Sport and Manual shift modes, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Launch Control | std | — |
| Displacement: 1998 cc | std | — |
| Fuel economy city: 27 MPG (430i Convertible) | std | — |
| Fuel economy combined: 30 MPG (430i Convertible) | std | — |
| Fuel economy highway: 35 MPG (430i Convertible) | std | — |
| Gasoline fuel type | std | — |
| Launch Control | — | std |
| Limited-Slip Rear Axle | — | std |
| Rear-wheel drive | std | — |
| Selectable Drive Modes | — | std |
| Top speed: 130 mph | std | — |
Chassis8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Hand Operated Parking Brake (Drift Brake) | — | opt |
| Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) with Selectable Effort | — | std |
| Electronic Line-Lock (Track Use Only) | — | std |
| Hydraulic Gas-Pressurized Dampers, Outboard-Mounted | — | std |
| Independent Rear Suspension | — | std |
| MagneRide® Damping System | — | opt |
| Vented Four-Wheel Disc Power Brakes | — | std |
| Wheelbase: 112.2 in (Convertible / Coupe) | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPBMW 4 Series
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 25V643000 · 4 vehicles
Ford Mustang
Top recalls
- high Electrical System 26V547000 · 148,663 vehicles · filed unfixed
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V548000 · 10,001 vehicles · filed unfixed
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V205000 · 278 vehicles
- high Engine 25V828000 · 6 vehicles
- moderate Visibility 26V418000 · 67,994 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| BMW 4 Series430i Convertible RWD | Ford MustangEcoBoost Fastback RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — (base trim) | $32,995 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — 12 trims | $32,995 – $106,090 10 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | 430i Coupe | Mustang |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 31 | 26 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,650 | $2,600 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | 3 yr / 36,000 mi (make terms) |
| Powertrain warranty | — | 5 yr / 60,000 mi (make terms) |
| Roadside assistance | — | 5 yr |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 BMW 4 Series or the 2026 Ford Mustang?
The Ford Mustang wins clearly, 87.8 to 65.8, on tech & comfort, performance. The BMW 4 Series is ahead on safety and fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Ford Mustang scores 87.8 and the 2026 BMW 4 Series 65.8. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 BMW 4 Series or the 2026 Ford Mustang?
2026 BMW 4 Series: no NHTSA rating yet, grade B, 1 recall. 2026 Ford Mustang: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 5 recalls (2 filed with no repair available). Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 BMW 4 Series and the 2026 Ford Mustang?
Where the 2026 Ford Mustang wins: it lists 16 standard driver-assist features against 0, lists more comfort and tech equipment (20 points against 3 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and makes 315 hp against 255. Where the 2026 BMW 4 Series answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (2 against 8 filed with NHTSA) and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 85 against 71).