2016 Ford Mustang Convertible vs 2020 Holden Commodore: Modelled Drag Race
Two very different Australian-market icons meet on DragGap's consistent, modelled estimates: the rear-driven 2016 Ford Mustang Convertible and the all-wheel-drive 2020 Holden Commodore. Every figure below comes from a simulated DragGap estimate, not an instrumented real-world test.
Ford Mustang Convertible
Ford Mustang Convertible wins the modelled 1 km race by 0.408 seconds, with a 18.6 metre gap at the first finish.
DragGap comparison data
| DragGap result | 2020 Holden Commodore | 2016 Ford Mustang Convertible |
|---|---|---|
| Rated power | 235 kW | 245 kW |
| Horsepower | 315 hp | 328 hp |
| Mass | 1672 kg | 1652 kg |
| Drivetrain | AWD | RWD |
| 0–60 mph | 4.42 s | 4.38 s |
| 0–100 km/h | 4.68 s | 4.56 s |
| 1/4 mile | 13.063 s | 12.822 s |
| 1 km | 24.288 s | 23.881 s |
DragGap comparison data
The table below summarises the key modelled figures from DragGap's simulation. Each value is an estimated output from a consistent simulation model, not a measured result.
| Metric | 2016 Ford Mustang Convertible | 2020 Holden Commodore | |---|---:|---:| | Output | 245 kW / 328 hp | 235 kW / 315 hp | | Mass | 1652 kg | 1672 kg | | Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive | All-wheel drive | | 0-60 mph | 4.38 s | 4.42 s | | 0-100 km/h | 4.56 s | 4.68 s | | 1/4 mile | 12.82 s | 13.06 s | | 1 km | 23.88 s | 24.29 s | | Top speed | 211.0 km/h | 208.8 km/h |
Two different ideas of a fast car
The 2016 Ford Mustang Convertible leans on a modest output advantage: 245 kW (328 hp) against the 2020 Holden Commodore's 235 kW (315 hp), a 10 kW gap. It is also the lighter of the pair at 1652 kg versus 1672 kg, and it drives the rear wheels. Convertible bodywork and a raucous personality are part of its appeal.
The 2020 Holden Commodore answers with all-wheel drive and a slightly higher 1672 kg kerb mass. It gives away a little on paper, but its traction-first layout is engineered to put its power down cleanly, which is exactly the quality a straight-line model rewards.
Power-to-weight is close between them: roughly 148 kW per tonne for the Mustang Convertible against about 141 kW per tonne for the Commodore, all derived from the canonical figures above.
Straight-line pace: the simulated race
In the DragGap simulation the 2016 Ford Mustang Convertible is the quicker car at every checkpoint. Its modelled 0-100 km/h is about 4.56 s, versus roughly 4.68 s for the 2020 Holden Commodore; the quarter-mile estimate is 12.82 s against 13.06 s; and over one kilometre the Mustang Convertible projects 23.88 s to the Commodore's 24.29 s.
The estimated top speed also edges toward the Mustang Convertible at about 211.0 km/h, with the Commodore close behind at roughly 208.8 km/h.
Taken together the model hands the Mustang Convertible a margin of about 0.41 s at the line, finishing roughly 18.6 metres ahead. As always, these are simulated projections, not measured real-world results.
Off the line: power versus traction
The 2020 Holden Commodore's all-wheel-drive system is the most interesting counterweight to the Mustang Convertible's output lead. In a straight-line model AWD helps deploy available power from a standstill, which is why the Commodore stays so close despite the horsepower deficit.
Real-world launch behaviour would add variables a straight-line model cannot fully capture, from surface grip to tyre condition and temperature. The drag-race estimate is a useful, consistent comparison, not a guarantee of what either car would do on a particular road.
Which one should you choose?
If straight-line pace is your priority, the 2016 Ford Mustang Convertible is the clear pick in this modelled comparison: more output, less mass and a projected win at every checkpoint.
If you value everyday usability and all-weather traction, the 2020 Holden Commodore is the more rounded choice. Its all-wheel drive and softer focus make it the easier car to live with, even though it trails in the simulated drag race.
The acceleration, quarter-mile and 1 km figures on this page are deterministic DragGap simulation estimates, not instrumented track measurements. Real results vary with vehicle specification, tyres, surface, weather and driver.
Frequently asked questions
Which car is faster in a straight line?
In the DragGap simulation the 2016 Ford Mustang Convertible is faster, with a modelled 0-100 km/h of about 4.56 s versus roughly 4.68 s for the 2020 Holden Commodore. These are estimated figures, not measured real-world results.
How much more power does the Mustang Convertible have?
The 2016 Ford Mustang Convertible produces 245 kW (328 hp), while the 2020 Holden Commodore produces 235 kW (315 hp), a modelled gap of about 10 kW.
Why is the Commodore competitive despite less power?
The 2020 Holden Commodore runs all-wheel drive at a comparable mass, so it deploys its power off the line more easily, keeping it close in the simulation despite the horsepower gap.
Are these real-world test results?
No. All acceleration and race figures are simulated and modelled DragGap estimates. Useful for comparison, but not instrumented real-world measurements.
Which is the better daily driver?
The 2020 Holden Commodore is the more everyday-friendly car, with all-wheel drive and a less extreme focus. The 2016 Ford Mustang Convertible is sharper and more eventful to drive, but trails on practicality.
Sources and method
- U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov for certified U.S. configuration and economy records.
- NHTSA vPIC for manufacturer-submitted make/model identity.
- Open Vehicle Specs (ODbL 1.0) for clearly labelled supplemental fields.
- DragGap methodology for the simulation assumptions, calibration and limitations.