Head-to-head: BMW M2 Vs Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Ford’s sledgehammer ‘Stang trades blows with BMW’s scalpel-sharp M2 in this £60,000 rear-wheel drive showdown. Will six or eight cylinders rule the day?

While the worlds of sports and muscle cars rarely meet, Ford’s latest track-focused Mustang puts the iconic pony car squarely inside BMW M2 territory. And, though it might seem unfair to pit the former boulevard cruiser against the decorated BMW M2, the Dark Horse has a habit of clinching unlikely victories.   

Buckle up as old-school brawn meets cutting-edge precision; which will we crown as our favourite £60,000 sports coupe?

Styling

Despite arguably being designed to appeal to different markets and customers, there’s a surprising number of similarities between the two machines. With their bulging bodywork, quad-tailpipes, flared arches, and enormous alloys, both look furious at the world.  

In the BMW’s case, the transformation from causal coupe to all-out performance weapon is more profound: little of the original car remains. However, the M2’s strangely pinched nose and sharply truncated rear haven’t been well received by many M-car purists.

Conversely, the latest Mustang epitomises the name and gets a thumbs up from most petrolheads, but the uneducated may confuse it for a lesser model. Which is more handsome? That’s all down to your personal taste and tolerance for flashiness.

Performance

As you’d expect, these machines live to be driven hard and offer the sort of driver involvement that’s soon expected to die out entirely. Outright power is also a nearly identical 460 bhp, although the pair take very different routes to get there.

The Ford’s horses come courtesy of one of the last V8 engines on sale: the 5.0-litre Coyote. Typically torquey and with an iconic soundtrack to boot, you’ll soon forget that the UK’s more stringent emissions regs mean our Dark Horse loses nearly 50 bhp in transit across the Atlantic. Nevertheless, acceleration to 60 mph is expected at an impressive four seconds, while 170 mph is possible at the top end.  

Despite being two cylinders and three litres down on the Mustang’s thumping great motor, the M2’s twin-turbocharged inline six is equally potent. Plus, with a similar weight to fire towards the horizon (around 1800kg), and an optional six-speed manual box just like the Dark Horse, the 0-60 sprint is achieved in the same four seconds – top speed is up to 180 mph, if you pay BMW extra to lift the limiter.

Those are admirable numbers, but nowadays many hot hatches can match them. It’s the endlessly adjustable rear-drive handling that you’re really paying for. As you might expect, on a racetrack both performers will deliver tail-out fun on demand, the BMW should be the more focused offering, though. 

Sitting on Michelin’s award-winning Pilot Sport 4 S tyres as standard, the M2’s widened track and active M differential should utilise the Michelins’ vast grip reserves with aplomb – while the 50:50 weight distribution offers a dynamism and precision exclusive to BMW M cars.

That’s not to say the Mustang is a blunt instrument. With the performance pack equipped the Dark Horse benefits from some serious kit including new shocks, bigger brakes, and a limited slip differential.  

Ultimately, BMW’s M2 should set the quicker lap time, but both machines will leave you grinning from ear to ear.

Practicality

Nobody buys a two-door sports coupe for its number of cupholders or rear legroom. However, some added usability never goes amiss – especially on longer road trips. With that in mind both cars sport surprisingly capacious load bays. A 408-litre boot makes the Mustang marginally more useful than the BMW for hauling golf clubs or a couple of overnight bags, although the rear seats in both cars are best kept for children or extra storage.

Value

Value is a relative term at this end of the market: neither car is what most would call a bargain. Strangely though, it’s the BMW which offers a slightly lower entry price of £64,000 – the Mustang starts at £1,000 more. Ultimately, once you’ve added a few options both prices should be broadly similar.

Our Pick

Fast two-door coupes with large petrol engines and manual gearboxes are as rare as hen’s teeth these days, and for true petrolheads, BMW’s M2 and Ford’s Mustang Dark Horse are as close to automotive nirvana as you can get for less than six figures. 

Which is better? That all comes down to what you’re looking for in a sports car. If it’s a classic muscle car feel, soulful powerplant, and effortless point-to-point performance, Ford’s Mustang Dark Horse is the car for you. However, BMW’s squat and compact M2 wins this head-to-head for its unparalleled, unique driving dynamics, and more complete overall package. 

Do you think a V8 trumps a straight six, or does the BMW’s more agile handling win your vote?

Hero image credit: BMW / Ford