2024 Ford Mustang GT Drags and Rolls Honda Civic Type R, There's No Absolute Winner

What does an American pony car have to do with a Japanese hatchback? Aside from the fact that both of them are sold on the US automotive market, you would think: "Nothing." But that's not the case here, as it turns out.

So, the Honda Civic – now in its eleventh generation, is offered in America as an affordable compact sedan and hatchback starting from just $24k and $25k, respectively. You can't get too sporty with it because there's just a Civic Si variant from a little bit more than 429k if you want more oomph. However, if you are willing to shell out $45k, there's also the iconic Honda Civic Type R playing in the hot hatchback league against natural rivals like the Toyota GR Corolla. The FL5 Honda Civic Type R rocks the liftback body like a champion, complete with a 316-hp 2.0-liter K20C1 turbocharged inline-four under the hood and front-wheel drive.

People had better not think this is a slouch, though, as Honda loves bragging about its track records – both at home and abroad. However, it's still not exactly on par with a Ford Mustang, right? Well, the devil is in the details. In fact, the 2024 Ford Mustang Fastback EcoBoost also has a 2.3-liter turbo inline-four and sends precisely 315 horsepower to the rear wheels. But it's much cheaper than a Civic Type R as its starting MSRP is just $31k.

Instead, the $40k-something league ($42,710 or $47,230 for the Premium version) is occupied by the much more powerful 2024 Ford Mustang GT equipped with the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 and sending to the rear wheels up to 486 horsepower when opting for the performance exhaust. Naturally, the TFL guys went for the Mustang GT when charging at the Honda Civic Type R in a series of confrontations, hoping their deserted airstrip located a mile above sea level and the lower weight would save the Japanese hot hatch from disaster.

Well, as it turns out, that wasn't possible. During the initial trial – a classic quarter-mile dragstrip-style challenge, the spin-happy Honda Civic Type R managed to secure an early lead during the first few feet, but when the Ford Mustang GT launched and happily revved to its maximum power, it was not only music to the ears of V8 enthusiasts but also quite unstoppable. As such, it won the dig with flying colors.

Secondly, they tried a roll race to see if the lighter and turbo hot hatch could get leverage against the heavier, naturally aspirated muscle car. Nope, it was the same story all over again. The only victory for the smaller and nimbler Honda came during the brake test, where the weight of the Mustang GT was too much to handle. Also, the TFL guys also decided the daily driver was the Ford, but the true canyon carver was the Honda.

Of course, we can also decide for ourselves. So, which one is the vehicle you would keep in the garage – the up-to-486-hp Ford Mustang GT with its V8 or the lighter and nimbler but also less powerful Honda Civic Type R? For me, frankly, it's the GT…