• Very good value. • Exceptional road presence. • Great breadth of ability.
• Low-rent interior. • Not the best to drive. • V8 rumble underwhelming.
“Head-turner, sprinter, cruiser… and a V8. Ford’s pony car is a genuine muscle-car bargain. What would it take to pry my stepfather’s Holden Monaro out of the favoured place in his garage?” - CarsGuide
You really cannot say ‘Ford’ without thinking of the Mustang. Although it has been the reserve of left-hand drive markets around the world for most of its life, it hasn’t stopped the pony car becoming an icon in and of itself, so much so that the Blue Oval admits that it wouldn’t quite have the power it does without the Mustang.
With Australian order lists for the muscle car going as far as the end of 2017, the Mustang has very clearly hit a note in our market. Unsurprisingly, a bulk of Oz orders are for the 5.0-litre V8, although takeup of the smaller EcoBoost engine is reasonably healthy. But is it worth all the hype, or is this pony just a Trojan?
Exterior
“With its long hood, short trunk, sloping rear glass and tri-bar taillights, the 2016 Ford Mustang could never be mistaken for anything other than Ford's pony car.” - Kelly Blue Book
If you judged a car based entirely on looks and presence, the Mustang is a hard car to beat. With a sharp gaze and a purposeful rump, the ‘Stang looks like a million dollars from every angle. And with appearance packages available from the manufacturer, the Mustang can be made to look more plush or more aggressive, pandering to your hearts’ desire. This is a car that evokes an emotional response, and we suspect that those emotions may be why so many buyers are going for those aesthetic options.
The angled nose is a nod to every notable Mustang in recent history (we’re purposely leaving out the third and fourth generations here), while the ‘vertical bar’ taillights ensure design cohesion from front to back. Our market misses out on the sequential indicators, but rest assured that a Mustang will still be recognised in the darkest of nights. Its squat stance and menacing fascia harks back to the cars of the ‘60s, and ought to age well with time.
Drivetrain
“V8 Mustang is fast, turbo model is punchy and the chassis has a great mix of handling and comfort.” - AutoExpress UK
Down under, the legendary pony car is available in two very distinct flavours. For the charismatic eco-warrior, there’s a turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder producing 233kW and 432Nm; Losing 4-cylinders doesn’t make too much of an impact, with strong acceleration and plenty of torque, covering the century sprint in as little as 5.6-seconds. In the real world, you’d be hard-pressed to feel what you’re missing out on over the V8, and for those who want a more usable Mustang, this might just be it. Fuel economy (combined) is rated at 9.3l/100km.
The headliner here is the V8, of course. 308kW and 530Nm of torque easily bests 4-pot, and gains a rorty exhaust note that eggs on keener drivers whenever possible. Although fuel consumption is rated at a thirsty 12.6l/100km, if it’s a V8 you’re after, this won’t really matter. The engine is punchy on the high end, and holding on to gears a little longer will see it burble happily.
Both cars are available with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic.
Interior
“Build quality isn’t going to rival the TT and nor is design (it contrasts starkly with the Audi’s ‘virtual cockpit’ sophistication), but that’s not the Mustang’s schtick – it’s all about delivering a laidback feelgood factor, and it does that pretty darn well.” - TopGear
The Mustang is, above all else, a lifestyle car. It’s meant to cater to people who want a bite of Americana, people who buy a Mustang for what it means, rather than rationalise it with logic. The interior is similar to the exterior, where it adds modern flair to tried-and-tested designs that have stood the test of time. There’s the upright dashboard (replete with a silver ‘Since 1964’ plaque on the passenger’s side), the rotary dials for the volume and tuner controls, as well as a line of toggle switches that nod to the older ‘Stangs of the ‘60s.
All Mustangs benefit from an excellent SYNC2 system, dual-zone climate control, automatic lights and wipers, and electric leather seats (with ventilation).
It must be said, that despite its large exterior dimensions, the interior isn’t the most commodious it could be. Its Mondeo-like length might seem like a good idea, but the rear seats are only really suitable for children, with headroom and knee room coming in as quite a premium. Quality on the inside is reasonable overall, but the plastics do feel a little low-rent below knee level.
Behind the Wheel
“There’s an assumption that V8-powered American sports cars are fast in a straight line and hopeless in the corners, but the new Ford Mustang knocks that theory for six.” - AutoExpress UK
The Mustang, for the first time, does not embarrass itself on the road. Previous generations have felt ponderous and slovenly, but the new car is as tight as a drum. For the first time, the Mustang does away with a live rear axle and employs an independent suspension setup in all four corners. Steering is direct and accurate, though slightly lacking in feel.
The suspension was set up to be both fun and comfortable, and the Mustang deals with all but the most terrible surfaces with the kind of poise you’d expect from a more expensive grand tourer. Despite the refined ride, the Mustang can easily be made to play. Switching off the traction control will see the back end step out quickly, though it’s easily kept under control with the linear power delivery from both power plants.
Safety & Technology
“This rating is not intended to shock or surprise...” - ANCAP CEO James Goodwin
The Mustang continues to deliver great value in this regard. All cars come standard with things like eight airbags, keyless entry and go, a multi-stage traction control system (with varying settings for road and track use), whilst the V8 benefits from larger six-piston Brembo brakes. There are also ISOFIX tethering points for the back seats, ensuring that the only real passengers one could shoehorn into the back of a Mustang will be properly fastened in.
Some things are missing on the Mustang, though. There’s no autonomous emergency braking or blind spot monitoring, nor are there things like lane-keep assist or other active driver aids. Although the Mustang received acceptable ratings from US crash safety regulators, EuroNCAP and ANCAP have given the pony car just 2-stars.
Verdict
Judging by sales figures, it’s clear that Ford’s pony car took far too long to arrive Down Under. With waiting times now stretching into late 2017, the Mustang takes the crown as the most popular sports car in Australia by a comfortable margin, and the enthusiasm doesn’t appear to be letting up any time soon. This is a piece of American pie that we’ve been starving for, and now, the Blue Oval can finally satisfy the needs of our market.
Our pick of the range is, rather surprisingly, the 2.3-litre EcoBoost. Although the Mustang is known best for its V8 burble, the reality of it is, the turbocharged 4-cylinder is perfectly adequate for most uses. It has plenty of torque right through the rev range, and the weight it saves (45kg over the front axel) lends to a more involved driving experience. And on top of all that, you can smile longer between pumps, with much better fuel economy than the more expensive V8 motor.
The Car Connection - 8.4/10 - The Ford Mustang is in its second year in its best life ever. The latest version of the classic American pony and muscle car was new in 2015—and this generation is easily the best ever, with the most sophisticated suspension, the most powerful and efficient drivetrains, and the most comprehensive set of safety and technology features ever offered under the nameplate.
Kelly Blue Book - 9.2/10 - Shoppers looking for a classic American pony coupe or convertible can't go wrong with the Mustang. But even if you aren't trying to release your inner Steve McQueen, the Mustang offers up a good-looking car with lots of creature comforts, and even decent fuel economy, for a reasonable price.
CarAdvice - 8/10 - "The new Mustang really does stay true to the legend, delivering on the promise many who haven’t ever had access to a classic ‘Stang will be hankering for. The only problem if you really want to buy one is going to be the wait…"
CarsGuide - 8/10 - "Ray gives the Mustang his tick and that's almost good enough for me. He is about to place his order and is arguing about the price. The Mustang V8 also deserves The Tick from me. And gets it."
AutoExpress - 8/10 - "There aren’t many cars at this price level that can turn as many heads as the Mustang, while the great performance means it’s also something of a fast car bargain."
TopGear - 7/10 - "The Mustang is landing. It’s big, brash and oozes confidence, but might be a little too much for some."
