The Ford Mustang
is the world’s most iconic and popular muscle car had never been sold
in the UK. That all changed because, after half a century, the Mustang
finally went on sale in right-hand drive at Ford dealerships in the UK
during 2015.
The Mustang has come a long way from the original version, too – it
now goes around corners as well as it powers down straights. Ford hasn’t
forgotten the most important selling point either, which has always
been huge performance for not a lot of cash. The 2.3-litre EcoBoost
model with 286bhp starts at around £34,000, while the Mustang GT, with
its 5.0-litre V8 and 444bhp, starts at around £38,000.
For 2018, the Mustang received a raft of mid-life upgrades, most
notably swapping the six-speed automatic gearbox for an advanced
10-speed transmission. The V8 power figure above also received a boost
and there are now 12 new designs of alloy wheels and a sleek new nose to
help the car stand out.
If you’re considering one of the Mustang’s German rivals for a
similar amount of money, you’ll be looking at a relatively low-spec Audi A5 or BMW 4 Series,
with less power and road presence, but with better cabin quality. Some
of the materials inside the Mustang don’t look as good as you’d hope,
but they’ve been improved somewhat in the facelifted car, and but at
least its SYNC 3 infotainment system is very good.
The car might be cheap to buy but running costs are likely to see it
lose out to some rivals. The V8 has high emissions, and while the
2.3-litre EcoBoost is better in that regard, fuel consumption is still
high for both. Exact figures haven’t been revealed for the 2018 version,
but until now, the cleanest version returned 35.3mpg and the thirsty
5.0-litre manual posted a figure of 20.9mpg.
Despite the running costs, we can’t help but pick out the V8 manual
as the best Mustang. You might have to spend a lot on fuel, but if you
want the authentic Mustang driving experience, it’s the only option.
While the 2.3-litre isn’t a bad engine per se, the rumble of the V8 and
its sweeping power delivery make it far more enjoyable.
While it’s an option in the USA, all right-hand drive cars get Ford’s
Performance Pack as standard, with enhanced brakes and firmer
suspension. The Mustang certainly feels planted, resisting body lean in
tight corners, but the ride is also firmer than many competitors. Still,
even taking its size and weight into account, the Ford is serious fun.
If you want it to be even faster, you can also dip into Ford’s
Performance Parts catalogue, without invalidating your warranty. Options
here include a Roush supercharger that elevates the V8's power to
around 600bhp.
Look in the Mustang’s boot and it’s easy to convince yourself it’s a
practical car, with room for two large suitcases, but the rear seats are
cramped, with poor knee room making them virtually off-limits for
adults.
