2026 Ford Mustang · Trim vs trim · Fastback coupe
2026 Ford Mustang GT Premium vs Dark Horse: what's the difference?
The Dark Horse costs $13,000 more. It starts at $65,080 as a Fastback coupe with the Modified 5.0L Coyote and an automatic. The GT Premium starts at $52,080 with the 5.0L Coyote V8 and a six-speed MT82-D4 manual with rev matching. The Dark Horse adds , a name-brand sound system and a . It comes without . In all, 11 parts differ, listed below. It gets 17 , 1 less than the GT Premium's 18. It makes 500 , 20 more than the GT Premium's 480.
Our Mustang data has all seven US 2026 families, both bodies, both gearboxes, High groups, RTR, TLD, GT Performance, Dark Horse Handling, SC Track Pack, MagneRide, active exhaust, RECARO seats and wheel choices. It doesn't have the Mach-E, GTD, race-only Dark Horse R/S, dealer conversions, the announced SC convertible, special editions, paint, interior, and standalone options yet, so something missing from this page may still be offered.
What changes, as they come
| What | GT Premium | Dark Horse |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | GT Premium480 hp | Dark Horse500 hp |
| Combined mpg | GT Premium18 mpg | Dark Horse17 mpg |
| City mpg | GT Premium15 mpg | Dark Horse14 mpg |
| Highway mpg | GT Premium23 mpg | Dark Horse22 mpg |
| What | GT Premium | Dark Horse |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | GT Premium5.0L Coyote V8 | Dark HorseModified 5.0L Coyote V8 |
| Transmission | GT Premiumsix-speed MT82-D4 manual with rev matching | Dark Horse10-speed SelectShift automatic |
| Rear axle | GT Premium3.55 standard limited-slip rear differential | Dark Horse3.55 Torsen limited-slip rear differential |
| Suspension | GT PremiumStrut front / integral-link independent rear | Dark HorsePerformance springs, sway bars and chassis tuning |
| Dampers | GT PremiumPassive hydraulic gas-pressurized dampers | Dark HorseMagneRide adaptive damping |
| Wheels | GT Premium19-inch premium wheels | Dark Horse19-inch dark wheels |
| Tires | GT Premium255/40R19 all-season | Dark Horse255/40R19 front · 275/40R19 rear summer |
| Seats | GT PremiumActiveX · heated and cooled power front seats | Dark HorseDark Horse cloth/vinyl · heated power front seats |
| Spoiler | GT PremiumNone | Dark HorseDark Horse rear spoiler |
| Grille | GT PremiumGT front fascia and grille | Dark HorseDARK front fascia and grille |
| Audio | GT PremiumNine-speaker amplified audio | Dark HorseB&O · 12 speakers including trunk subwoofer |
| What | GT Premium | Dark Horse |
|---|---|---|
| Cooled front seats | GT PremiumYes | Dark HorseNot included |
| Electric drift brake · track only | GT PremiumNot included | Dark HorseYes |
| Active valve performance exhaust | GT PremiumNot included | Dark HorseYes |
| Magnesium-framed panoramic curved display | GT PremiumNot included | Dark HorseYes |
| Co-Pilot360 Assist+ · supervised adaptive cruise | GT PremiumNot included | Dark HorseYes |
The same on both: cargo behind the rear seats (13.3 cu ft).
More Mustang answers
- EcoBoost vs EcoBoost Premium
- EcoBoost vs GT
- GT vs GT Premium
- GT Premium vs Dark Horse
- Dark Horse vs Dark Horse Premium
- Dark Horse Premium vs Dark Horse SC
- All-wheel drive
- A six-speed manual transmission
- An automatic transmission
- A V8 engine
- The supercharged 5.2L V8
- A limited-slip rear differential
- A Torsen rear differential
- MagneRide adaptive damping
- A convertible roof
- Electronic line-lock
- The electric drift brake
- Active valve performance exhaust
- Heated front seats
- Cooled front seats
- A heated steering wheel
- B&O 12-speaker audio
- RECARO sport seats
- The factory RTR package
- The GT Performance Package
- The Dark Horse Handling Package
- The SC Track Pack
Build your own
Switch to the GT Premium in the trim list to see what goes away, or add to either and watch the drawing change.
The Dark Horse Fastback coupe, as it comes
↑ The answerDark Horse
Fastback coupe
Dark Horse
Fastback coupe
Hover or tap a part, or use the arrow keys, to see what this build has there.
- MPG
- mpg
- ·
- Power
- hp
- ·
- Wheels
- ″
- ·
- Screen
- ″
- ·
- Combined mpg
- mpg
- 14 city · 22 highway · EPA powertrain reference
- Horsepower
- hp
- Rated using 93-octane fuel
- Wheel size
- ″
- 255/40R19 front · 275/40R19 rear summer
- Touchscreen
- ″
- 12.4″ instruments · curved frame varies
- Curb weight
- ≈lb
- Ford estimated base reference; options add weight
- Has Heated seats
- No Cooled seats
- Has Heated wheel
- Has B&O audio
Choose a trim
Packages & options
Power & handling
Comfort & tech
What your options change
This is a stock Dark Horse. Pick a package and every part it swaps shows up here, and in orange on the car.
- Has Heated seats
- No Cooled seats
- Has Heated wheel
- Has B&O audio
- Engine
- Modified 5.0L Coyote V8
- Transmission
- 10-speed SelectShift automatic
- Drive
- Rear-wheel drive only
- Torque
- 418 lb-ft · premium fuel
- Rear differential
- 3.55 Torsen limited-slip rear differential
- Damping
- MagneRide adaptive damping
- Tires
- 255/40R19 front · 275/40R19 rear summer
- Seats
- Dark Horse cloth/vinyl · heated power front seats
- Audio
- B&O · 12 speakers including trunk subwoofer
- Roof
- Body-color fastback roof
- Trunk
- 13.3 cu ft · rear seats up
- Seating
- 4
- Ground clearance
- Unpublished · no numeric drawing claim
- Track functions
- Line-lock + drift brake · track only
