Compare the2026 Subaru WRXVS 2026 Ford Mustang

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Subaru WRX are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Ford Mustang doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The WRX has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Mustang doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The WRX Limited Auto/GT has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Mustang doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The WRX has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Mustang doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the WRX and the Mustang have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru WRX is safer than the Ford Mustang:

	WRX	Mustang
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	156	161
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Subaru WRX is safer than the Mustang Fastback:

	WRX	Mustang
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	110	147
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	5 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	.9/.8 kN	2.8/1.4 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	0%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Tibia index R/L	.62/.57	.74/.66

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru WRX is safer than the Ford Mustang:

	WRX	Mustang
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	166	386
Abdominal Force	135 lbs.	154 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	255	519
Spine Acceleration	48 G’s	75 G’s
Hip Force	514 lbs.	955 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	154	283

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru first in overall reliability. Ford is ranked 13th.

Engine

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the WRX lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Mustang doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

The WRX has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Mustang. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

The WRX offers an optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Mustang doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The WRX stops shorter than the Mustang:

	WRX	Mustang
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	129 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	130 feet	144 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the WRX has larger tires than the Mustang (245/40R18 vs. 235/50R18).

The WRX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Mustang’s standard 50 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The WRX tS handles at .97 G’s, while the Mustang GT Premium Fastback pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the WRX tS/Series.Yellow’s turning circle is .4 feet tighter than the Mustang’s (36.1 feet vs. 36.5 feet). The WRX’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Mustang GT/Dark Horse’s (36.7 feet vs. 37.8 feet).

Chassis

The Subaru WRX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 450 pounds less than the Ford Mustang.

The WRX is 5.6 inches shorter than the Mustang, making the WRX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces. The WRX is 5.9 inches shorter than the Mustang Dark Horse.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the WRX a Mid-size car, while the Mustang Fastback is rated a Subcompact.

The WRX has standard seating for 5 passengers; the Mustang can only carry 4.

The WRX has 16.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Mustang Fastback (98.9 vs. 82.8).

The WRX has 2.2 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear headroom, 7.5 inches more rear legroom, 1.9 inches more rear hip room and 3.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Mustang Fastback.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the WRX easier. The WRX’s trunk lift-over height is 28.7 inches, while the Mustang’s liftover is 30.2 inches.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 35% lower rating, Ford is ranked 22nd.

Ergonomics

The WRX’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them. Ford does not offer a locking feature on the Mustang’s standard power windows.

The WRX Premium/Limited/GT/tS/Series.Yellow’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Mustang’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the WRX’s exterior PIN entry system. The Mustang doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its 911 Assist can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The WRX has two rear doors to provide better access for cargo and rear passengers. The Mustang doesn’t offer rear doors.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the WRX Limited/GT/tS/Series.Yellow has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Mustang doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The WRX’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Mustang offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The WRX Premium/Limited/GT/tS/Series.Yellow has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Mustang doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the WRX has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Mustang doesn’t offer rear vents.

Compared to the Ford Mustang, the Subaru WRX eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Compared to traditional radio, the Subaru WRX’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio costs extra on the Mustang.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru WRX and the Ford Mustang, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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