Ford Mustang Review

The Ford Mustang debuted in 1964, quickly becoming the largest launch in automotive history. Taking the auto market by storm and leaving competitors dumbfounded, Ford shaped the muscle car market for years to come. There have been many imitators, but the Mustang has outlasted them all, remaining consistently in production since its introduction. The Mustang’s look has evolved over the years, only to return to its roots with the redesigned 2005 model. The current Mustang is a blend of modern technology and classic styling that arguably makes it the sexiest Mustang ever. The Mustang GT was named Car and Driver’s “Best Muscle Car” for 2006.

The BuyingAdvice Team Says:

If you’re looking for performance on a budget, then you can’t go wrong with the Ford Mustang. The 2024 Mustang retains the retro design introduced in 2005, which cleverly echoes the classic heritage of this model. The Mustang’s power and handling rival anything in its price range. These days, Ford has more than its fair share of issues, but the Mustang is one thing they do right.

What’s New For 2024:

All models now feature an auxiliary jack in the audio system. There are two new appearance packages available: The GT California Special and the GT appearance package. The California package includes 18 inch wheels, black leather seats, side scoops, racing stripes, and rolled exhaust tips. The appearance package includes rolled exhaust tips, a Pony engine cover, and a hood scoop. There’s also a new comfort package available, which comes with heated seats, power adjustable driver seat, and an electrochromic rear-view mirror with auto-dimming and compass.

What is the Predicted Reliability:

Ford has a mixed reputation in terms of reliability, but the Mustang has traditionally been one of its strongest models. It’s a testament to their sturdiness that many of the Mustangs from the 1960s are still on the road. This generation of Mustang has been well-received by drivers. J.D. Power and Associates gave last year’s Mustang three out of a possible five stars in initial reliability. There have, however, been two recurrent issues with the Mustang line over the years: Noise and cheap interiors. However, if you’re in the market for a muscle car, noise is most likely not your biggest concern. And the historical cheapness of the Mustang’s interior is easily made up for by the amount of performance you get for the dollar. All in all, expect the Mustang to have an average overall reliability. Ford’s basic warranty lasts for three years or 36,000 miles.

Analysis Of Safety Ratings And Features:

The 2024 Ford Mustang received a rating of five out of five stars in frontal crash tests, and four out of five stars in side impact tests performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does not currently have any information available on this model. However, the Mustang is somewhat lacking in safety features: Although it comes with anti-lock disc brakes, traction control, and front-seat mounted side air bags standard, stability control and side curtain air bags are not available. There has already been a recall issued for the 2024 Mustang due to front suspension issues.

Pros and Cons:

Pros
+ Excellent performance
+ Reasonably safe
+ Great styling

Cons
– Cheap interior
– Lacking available safety features
– High demand

Head-To-Head Competition:

For performance per dollar, the Mustang GT is hard to beat. If you’re a bit more safety conscious, have a look at the Mitsubishi Eclipse GT, which costs about $2,200 less, and comes with standard side curtain airbags. But the Mustang easily beats the Eclipse on performance, with two more cylinders and 37 more horsepower. If you want a bit more power, the Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS costs about $2,000 more than the Mustang, but has a larger engine (5.3L vs. 4.6L), as well as leather seats and theft tracking. If you’re looking for something a bit more practical that still has some power, the Acura RSX costs $1,800 less, comes with standard side airbags, leather seats, a CD changer, a sunroof, and gets about seven more miles to the gallon than the Mustang. But it’s also a lot less powerful than the Mustang; the engine is less than half the size, has four less cylinders, and about 100 less horsepower.

What Others Are Saying:

“Like the original, the Mustang is available with either a six- or eight-cylinder engine, and it turns more heads than any other car that’s less than $30,000. Ford has done an excellent job of baking in a certain nostalgic charm and creating a useful daily driver that runs as good as it looks.”

“Based on brief impressions from one afternoon in California, the redesigned Mustang is poised to be a roaring success. Anytime a company couples 300-horsepower with sharp handling, excellent brakes and a sticker price that’s well below $30,000, it has a winner on their hands.” – The Family Car

“For roughly the same price ($31,000 base), we could have an infinitely more refined Lexus from Toyota Motor (we could get a Lexus ES 330 or IS 300) or an Acura from Honda Motor (a TL or a TSX or, for $10,000 less, an RSX). The Mustang is, of course, a sports car, and its secret lies in offering high horsepower for comparatively low money, but at the expense of sophistication and, in our opinion, the driver’s dignity. The Mustang is not appropriate for upscale events. If you think you look good wearing a tie and driving a Mustang, you are almost certainly having a midlife crisis.”

Read more about the 2024 Ford Mustang at the Ford manufacturer web site.