Compare the2023 Toyota SupraVS 2023 Ford Mustang

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Supra offers optional Emergency 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 backup collision prevention brakes.

The Supra offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Mustang doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

Both the Supra and the Mustang have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Supra for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Mustang.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Ford is ranked 18th.

As tested in Car and Driver the Toyota Supra turbo 6 cyl. is faster than the Ford Mustang (manual transmissions tested):

In a Car and Driver race course test, the Toyota Supra 3.0 was clocked 5.1 seconds faster than the Ford Mustang EcoBoost Fastback (179.3 sec. vs. 184.4 sec.).

On the EPA test cycle the Supra gets better mileage than the Mustang Fastback:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Supra’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Mustang doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Supra higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Ford Mustang (3 to 5). This means the Supra produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Mustang every 15,000 miles.

The Toyota Supra comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Mustang.

For better stopping power the Supra’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Mustang:

The Supra stops much shorter than the Mustang:

For better traction, the Supra has larger tires than the Mustang (F:255/35R19 & R:275/35R19 vs. 235/55R17).

The Supra 2.0’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 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Supra 2.0 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Mustang.

The Supra’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.5% to 48.5%) than the Mustang’s (54.6% to 45.4%). This gives the Supra more stable handling and braking.

The Supra 3.0 Premium handles at 1.07 G’s, while the Mustang GT Premium Fastback pulls only .96 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Supra 3.0 Premium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Mustang EcoBoost Premium Fastback (23.7 seconds @ .82 average G’s vs. 25.1 seconds @ .75 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Supra’s turning circle is 2.4 feet tighter than the Mustang’s (34.1 feet vs. 36.5 feet). The Supra’s turning circle is 5.9 feet tighter than the Mustang w/20” tires’ (34.1 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Toyota Supra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 550 pounds less than the Ford Mustang.

The Supra is 1 foot, 4 inches shorter than the Mustang, making the Supra easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Supra 3.0 Premium is quieter than the Mustang Mach 1:

The Supra uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Mustang uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Supra 3.0 Premium/A91-MT has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and warning readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Mustang doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Supra’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Mustang has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

If the windows are left open on the Supra the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Mustang can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Supra has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Mustang doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Supra’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Mustang Premium/Mach 1.

When the Supra is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Mustang’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Supra’s standard 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 has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Supra has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Mustang.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Supra 3.0 Manual has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Mustang doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Supra, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its November 2020 issue and the Toyota Supra 2.0 won out over the Ford Mustang EcoBoost Premium Fastback.

The Supra was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023 and 4 more times in the last 41 years. The Mustang GT/Bullitt hasn’t been picked since 2019, and the Mustang GT/Bullitt has only been chosen once.