Ford Mustang Dark Horse vs Chevrolet Camaro ZL1: 2026 Mustang vs the Last Camaro

In this article 9 sections

1. How We Evaluated the Mustang Dark Horse and Camaro ZL1
2. Fact Check: What Exists for 2026 and What Does Not
3. Prices: New Mustang vs Used Camaro ZL1
4. Specs Side by Side
5. Interior, Practicality and Tech
6. Safety Ratings and Recalls
   1. Used ZL1 buying checklist
7. Pros and Cons
8. Who Should Buy Which
9. Frequently Asked Questions
   1. Is there a 2026 Chevrolet Camaro?
   2. Is there a 2026 Ford Mustang GT500?
   3. Which is more powerful, the Mustang Dark Horse or the Camaro ZL1?
   4. How much does a Mustang Dark Horse cost compared with a ZL1?

There is no 2026 Chevrolet Camaro and no 2026 Shelby GT500. GM retired the sixth-generation Camaro after the 2024 model year, and the last cars left the Lansing Grand River plant in January 2024. That leaves two real choices in 2026: a new 2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse (500 hp, from $64,080 on Ford’s configurator) or a used 2024 Camaro ZL1 (650 hp supercharged V8). If you want the ZL1’s power or more in a new car, Ford’s answer is the 795-hp Mustang Dark Horse SC, from $106,585.

How We Evaluated the Mustang Dark Horse and Camaro ZL1

NextCarReview did not drive or test either car, and nothing here comes from a track session of ours. For the Camaro, we used GM’s official March 2023 end-of-production announcement and Chevrolet’s 2024 Camaro ZL1 fact sheet. For the Mustang, we used Ford’s US configurator and model pages and Ford’s own From the Road site. EPA ratings come from fueleconomy.gov, and safety and recall data from NHTSA. Original Camaro pricing and one recent auction result come from GM Authority, and the article names it wherever it is used. The full list of links is at the end.

Fact Check: What Exists for 2026 and What Does Not

• Chevrolet Camaro: GM said on March 22, 2023 that the sixth-generation Camaro would retire at the end of the 2024 model year, with final production in January 2024 at Lansing Grand River Assembly in Michigan. To mark the end, Chevrolet offered a Collector’s Edition package on the 2024 RS and SS and on a limited number of ZL1s. GM said “this is not the end of Camaro’s story” but did not announce a successor.
• Mustang GT500: the GT500 is not part of Ford’s 2026 Mustang lineup on ford.com. The models listed are EcoBoost (315 hp), GT (480 hp), Dark Horse and Dark Horse Premium (500 hp), and the supercharged Dark Horse SC.
• Mustang Dark Horse SC: Ford lists a 5.2-liter supercharged cross-plane-crank V8 with 795 hp and 660 lb-ft, a Tremec 7-speed dual-clutch and a carbon-fiber driveshaft. Ford’s From the Road site said in April 2026 that order banks were open and the car would be available in summer 2026.
• Mustang GTD: Ford’s top Mustang has a supercharged 5.2L V8 rated at 815 hp and 664 lb-ft, an eight-speed dual-clutch and a rear transaxle. Ford calls production “very limited,” says ordering applications have closed, and does not publish a price.

Prices: New Mustang vs Used Camaro ZL1

Model	How you buy it	Price
2026 Mustang Dark Horse	New	$64,080 starting (ford.com)
2026 Mustang Dark Horse Premium	New	$69,570 starting (ford.com)
2026 Mustang Dark Horse SC	New	$106,585 starting (ford.com)
2024 Camaro ZL1 coupe	Used only	$73,695 original MSRP incl. $1,395 destination (GM Authority)
2024 Camaro ZL1 Collector’s Edition	Used only	$88,690 original MSRP; package was $14,995 (GM Authority)

Ford’s configurator shows these as “starting at” prices, but the page we checked does not say whether destination is included, so confirm the final figure on the window sticker. Used ZL1 prices depend on mileage, transmission and packages. Rare cars can go well above the original sticker. GM Authority reported that a 125-mile 2024 ZL1 Collector’s Edition, serialized No. 23 of 300, sold for $125,400 at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas in September 2026.

Specs Side by Side

Spec	2026 Mustang Dark Horse	2024 Camaro ZL1
Engine	5.0L Coyote V8, naturally aspirated	6.2L LT4 V8, supercharged
Horsepower	500 hp	650 hp
Torque	418 lb-ft	650 lb-ft
Transmissions	10-speed automatic (std); Tremec 6-speed manual with rev matching (avail.)	6-speed manual (std); 10-speed automatic (avail.)
Drive	Rear-wheel drive	Rear-wheel drive
Front brakes	Brembo six-piston calipers	Brembo six-piston monobloc calipers, 15.35-in two-piece rotors
Standard tires	255/40R19 front, 275/40R19 rear, summer	Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar, summer-only
EPA city / hwy / comb	14 / 22 / 17 mpg (manual and automatic)	14 / 20 / 16 mpg (manual); 13 / 21 / 16 mpg (automatic)
Screens	12.4-in cluster, 13.2-in center display	8-in touchscreen; wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

On paper the ZL1 has 150 more horsepower and 232 lb-ft more torque, thanks to its supercharger. The Dark Horse answers with a high-revving naturally aspirated V8 (Ford quotes 100 hp per liter), a Torsen limited-slip rear axle with 3.55 or 3.73 gearing, MagneRide adaptive dampers, an electronic “Drift Brake” hand brake, launch control and an electronic line-lock for track use. Ford’s optional Handling Package adds wider 19 x 10.5-inch front and 19 x 11-inch rear wheels with 305/30R19 and 315/30R19 Michelin tires, adjustable strut-top mounts, extra aero and revised tuning. Chevrolet says the ZL1 comes standard with 11 heat exchangers for powertrain cooling, and it offered the 1LE Extreme Track Performance Package. Neither Ford nor Chevrolet publishes an official 0-60 mph time for these models, so we have not listed one.

The Dark Horse SC is the Mustang that outguns the ZL1: 795 hp and 660 lb-ft, with Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes available and a Track Pack whose carbon-fiber wing makes 620 lb of downforce at 180 mph, according to Ford. When we checked, fueleconomy.gov did not yet list a Dark Horse SC. The GTD is rated at 10/17/12 mpg.

Interior, Practicality and Tech

The Mustang’s cabin is the newer design. Ford pairs a 12.4-inch digital cluster with a 13.2-inch center screen in a curved panel, and offers RECARO seats with microsuede inserts. The rear seat is a 50/50 split folding bench. The Dark Horse Premium adds leather-trimmed seats with heating and cooling in front and a 12-speaker B&O audio system.

The ZL1’s interior dates from the sixth-generation Camaro design, with an 8-inch touchscreen that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a wireless charger. Chevrolet’s 2024 ZL1 fact sheet lists RECARO heated and ventilated front seats, a heated sueded flat-bottom steering wheel, a head-up display, Rear Park Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert as standard. Forward Collision Alert is coupe-only and is removed when the Performance Data Recorder is fitted. The trunk is small: 9.1 cubic feet in the coupe and 7.3 in the convertible.

Safety Ratings and Recalls

NHTSA: NHTSA gives the 2025 Mustang coupe 5 stars overall, with 5 stars for frontal crash, side crash and rollover. When we checked, it listed no separate star rating for the 2026 Mustang or the 2024 Camaro. NHTSA’s database shows several recall campaigns for 2026 Mustangs, including a wiper problem in cold weather (26V418) and fractured engine-compartment ground connections that can cause a loss of drive power (26V547). Some campaigns apply only to certain engines. Our lookup returned no campaigns for the 2024 Camaro. Check any specific car by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, and see crash results at nhtsa.gov/ratings and iihs.org/ratings.

Used ZL1 buying checklist

• Run the VIN for open recalls and get the service history.
• Check the summer-only tires. GM warns against using them in winter conditions.
• Find out if the car has the 1LE package, a Collector’s Edition (Panther Black Matte paint, serialized badging, carbon-fiber spoiler), or the Garage 56 Edition (front dive planes and a rear spoiler wicker bill).
• Look for signs of track use: brake wear, tire wear and aftermarket parts.

Pros and Cons

Car	Pros	Cons
2026 Mustang Dark Horse	New-car warranty; manual or automatic; Torsen LSD and MagneRide; large digital displays; still in production	150 hp less than the ZL1; several 2026 recall campaigns to check
2024 Camaro ZL1	650 hp and 650 lb-ft; manual standard; Brembo six-piston front brakes; final-year collector appeal	Used only; no successor announced; small trunk; 16 mpg combined; summer-only tires
2026 Mustang Dark Horse SC	795 hp; 7-speed DCT; available carbon-ceramic brakes	Starts above $106,000; no manual listed

Who Should Buy Which

• Buy the Dark Horse if you want a new car with a warranty, a manual option and modern tech, and 500 hp is enough.
• Buy a used ZL1 if outright power for the money matters most and you are comfortable buying a used high-performance car with a careful inspection.
• Buy the Dark Horse SC if you want the modern equivalent of a GT500 and the budget is above $100,000.
• Collectors: low-mileage 2024 ZL1 Collector’s Editions trade as collectibles, so expect to pay more than the original sticker.

Related reading: our best sports cars of 2026 and best new cars of 2026, plus the Ford reviews hub and Chevrolet reviews hub. Estimate monthly payments with the auto loan calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a 2026 Chevrolet Camaro?

No. GM ended sixth-generation Camaro production after the 2024 model year, and the last cars were built in January 2024 at Lansing Grand River Assembly. GM said it was “not the end of Camaro’s story” but did not announce a successor.

Is there a 2026 Ford Mustang GT500?

No. The GT500 is not in Ford’s 2026 Mustang lineup. The most powerful 2026 Mustangs are the 795-hp Dark Horse SC and the limited-production, 815-hp Mustang GTD.

Which is more powerful, the Mustang Dark Horse or the Camaro ZL1?

The Camaro ZL1. Its supercharged 6.2L V8 makes 650 hp and 650 lb-ft, while the Dark Horse’s naturally aspirated 5.0L V8 makes 500 hp and 418 lb-ft. The Dark Horse SC (795 hp, 660 lb-ft) beats both.

How much does a Mustang Dark Horse cost compared with a ZL1?

Ford’s configurator lists the 2026 Dark Horse from $64,080 and the Dark Horse Premium from $69,570. The 2024 ZL1 coupe stickered at $73,695 including destination when new, according to GM Authority, and is now sold only used, at prices that vary with mileage and equipment.

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