Compare the2026 Honda Civic Type RVS 2026 Ford Mustang

Safety
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
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 Honda Civic Type R 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.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Civic Type R deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Civic Type R’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Mustang’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the Civic Type R and the Mustang have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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

	Civic Type R	Mustang
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	24 lbs.

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 Honda Civic Type R is safer than the Mustang Fastback:

	Civic Type R	Mustang
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
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	.5/.7 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	.33/.64	.74/.66
Tibia forces R/L	2.4/1.9 kN	3.3/2.5 kN

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 Honda Civic Type R is safer than the Ford Mustang:

	Civic Type R	Mustang
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	195	386
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.7 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	268	519
Hip Force	516 lbs.	955 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
HIC	260	283

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

The Honda Civic Type R achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2026 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, pedestrian crash prevention testing, and vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention testing. The Mustang is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in long-term dependability. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda fourth in overall reliability. Ford is ranked 11th.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Civic Type R 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.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Civic Type R’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the Mustang:

	Civic Type R	Mustang
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	12.6 inches

The Civic Type R stops shorter than the Mustang:

	Civic Type R	Mustang
100 to 0 MPH	307 feet	312 feet	Car and Driver
70 to 0 MPH	151 feet	153 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Civic Type R has larger tires than the Mustang (265/30R19 vs. 235/50R18).

The Civic Type R’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Mustang’s standard 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Civic Type R has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Mustang.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Civic Type R is 1.9 inches wider in the front than the average track on the Mustang.

The Civic Type R handles at 1.04 G’s, while the Mustang EcoBoost Fastback pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The Honda Civic Type R may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 800 pounds less than the Ford Mustang.

The Civic Type R is 8.5 inches shorter than the Mustang, making the Civic Type R easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces. The Civic Type R is 8.8 inches shorter than the Mustang Dark Horse.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Civic Type R a Large car, while the Mustang Fastback is rated a Subcompact.

The Civic Type R has standard seating for 5 passengers; the Mustang can only carry 4.

The Civic Type R has 16.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Mustang Fastback (99 vs. 82.8).

The Civic Type R has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 2.3 inches more rear headroom, 8.4 inches more rear legroom, 1.5 inches more rear hip room and 3.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Mustang Fastback.

Cargo Capacity

The Civic Type R has a much larger trunk than the Mustang Fastback (24.5 vs. 13.5 cubic feet).

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Honda service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 20% lower rating, Ford is ranked 22nd.

Ergonomics

The Civic Type R’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children from operating them. Ford does not offer a locking feature on the Mustang’s standard power windows.

If the windows are left open on the Civic Type R the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or 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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Civic Type R has a standard rear wiper. The Mustang doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Civic Type R’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford charges extra for heated mirrors on the Mustang.

The Civic Type R Sedan 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 Civic Type R has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Mustang doesn’t offer rear vents.

Compared to traditional radio, the Honda Civic Type R’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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Civic Type R has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Mustang doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

The Civic was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2025 and 10 more times in the last 42 years. The Mustang has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Civic as the 2025 North American Car of the Year. The Mustang has never been chosen.

The Honda Civic outsold the Ford Mustang by over five to one during 2025.

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