No one brings up four-cylinder Camaros and Mustangs in a conversation about cool pony cars, and yet these small displacement-engined versions exist for a reason.
The downsized turbocharged fours make both models more affordable and fuel efficient, as well as more cheap to run, especially in countries where big engines are heavily taxed.
That said, which one of these four-cylinder pony cars is worth getting? The guys from Throttle House pitted the 2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost against the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT to find out. The Dodge Challenger, which would have made things more interesting, is not available with a four-cylinder, so it’s just the two of them.
Also watch: 2019 Ford Mustang GT PP2 Battles 2018 Chevy Camaro SS 1LE On The Road
The Mustang EcoBoost and the Camaro 1LT tested here are priced similarly, are mated to automatic transmissions (a 10-speed for the Mustang and an 8-speed for the Camaro), and feature many creature comforts. However, there’s a significant power difference between them.
The Ford’s 2.3-liter EcoBoost makes 310 HP and 350 lb-ft (475 Nm) of torque, while the Chevy’s 2.0-liter produces 275 HP and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm). Do the Mustang’s superior power and torque levels make much difference in real life, though? If drag racing is a big part of your life, yes – otherwise, not that much.
Unfortunately, none of the two produces a pleasant sound, and you’d better stick with the standard manual gearboxes instead of shelling out for the optional autos. Without spoiling the video too much for you, we’ll just say that the Mustang is more comfortable, while the Camaro handles more like a sports car compared to its rival.