What are the key differences between the Mustang S650 and the outgoing S550? There are actually a number of changes, more than most owners expect. Just looking at them side by side, the Mustang S650 can look like the S550 but with a facelift, but we’ve compared both, and here is what we found.
The biggest shift sits under the bonnet. The S650 introduces a fourth generation 5.0 litre Coyote V8, and depending on trim it produces meaningfully more power than the outgoing S550, with the flagship Dark Horse variant pushing into the 500 horsepower range thanks to forged internals and a dedicated performance exhaust. The 2.3 litre EcoBoost four cylinder is a more modest update, staying close to the S550’s output while picking up small gains in efficiency.
For owners who cared about straight line performance and engine note, this is the generation where the Mustang S650 pulls ahead of its predecessor. For everyday driving, the difference is smaller, and plenty of S550 owners would be perfectly happy with either engine.
Visually, the S650 moves away from the S550’s softer nose and adopts slimmer, more rectangular headlights, a longer and lower bonnet, and Mach 1 inspired fender vents that improve cooling on performance variants. At the rear, angular tri bar tail lights and a standard boot lid spoiler on GT models replace the S550’s simpler treatment.
Ford also gave each trim level its own distinct front end look on the S650, rather than the subtle badge and grille differences that separated S550 trims. It is a small change, but it means an EcoBoost, GT, and Dark Horse are now easier to tell apart at a glance.
This is where the generational gap feels biggest. The S650 features two large screens (12.4-inch gauge cluster + 13.2-inch touchscreen), that flow together under one piece of glass.
In comparison, the older S550 Mustang relies on a smaller optional digital cluster and a modest infotainment screen, making the S650 a massive upgrade in usable screen real estate. The jump in usable screen space is significant.
Inside, the S650 also swaps some of the S550’s physical switches for button based controls, adds a flat bottom steering wheel, and moves to an electronic handbrake. Depending on your taste, this either feels like a proper step forward or one step too far away from the analogue feel long time Mustang owners liked about earlier cars.
Despite everything that changed above, Ford largely reused the S550’s platform underneath the S650, including a similar wheelbase and front suspension layout. The car is longer overall, with wider front and rear tracks, and carries a small weight increase depending on model. Performance Pack cars gain an electronic drift brake and a rear suspension setup borrowed from previous S550 Shelby models, along with larger Brembo brakes for extra clearance.
Here is the part that matters most for existing owners: because the Mustang S650 carries over so much of the S550’s front end architecture, a decent range of S550 Mustang parts, particularly suspension components, remain compatible or nearly compatible across both generations. That is genuinely good news if you already own an S550 and are weighing up an upgrade, since your existing knowledge of the platform, and in some cases your parts, still count for something.
It is also why a properly engineered spare wheel kit is worth checking regardless of which generation you drive. The DriveSava kit is built to fit both S550 and S650 Mustangs, clears Brembo brake packages where fitted, and gives you a real highway rated spare rather than relying on a tyre mobility kit alone, something neither generation includes as standard from the factory.
There is no single right answer here. If engine output, screen updates, and updated styling matter to you, the newer car is a genuine step forward. If you are happy with your current car and simply want it properly set up for Australian roads and road trips, spending on the right accessories, starting with a decent spare wheel kit, will get you most of the way there without needing to change cars at all.
Either way, if you are comparing the two generations or just making sure your current Mustang is ready for the next long drive, you should look into the DriveSava Spare Wheel Kit, or get in touch with the team to check fitment for your specific model.
