The Ford Mustang is an iconic car. For decades it has been one of the most desirable muscle cars on the planet attracting everyone from celebrities and collectors to veterinary assistants and dental hygienists. It’s a symbol of American prosperity that’s continually being improved, even without major generational change.
The 2020 Ford Mustang is the product of those small but impactful adjustments that make the Mustang a comfortable cruiser with dynamic engagement at the ready. Even as we get close to 2021, the car still has a touch of nostalgia with switchgear that mixes modern design with the aerospace-inspired design aesthetics of the past.
But this isn’t a car that wants to be piloted. It wants to be driven.
The Mustang’s interior has unique design.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
When equipped with the 2.3-liter high performance Ecoboost engine and a six-speed manual transmission, the Mustang is plenty powerful even without the growl emitted from the backend of a Shelby GT 500. Unlike the gearbox in the Chevrolet Camaro, the Mustang’s is tuned to properly encourage driving. Rev high and let the good times roll.
The model came equipped with a Performance pack that included a 3.55-inch limited slip rear axle;19-inch machined-face aluminum wheels with low gloss Ebony-painted pockets; summer tires; an active performance exhaust; black-painted strut-tower brace; an “Engine Spun” aluminum instrument panel; Magnetic-colored exterior mirrors; a Gauge Pack; GT Performance Package front splitter and belly pan; hood accent strip; heavy-duty front springs; larger brake rotors with four-piston fixed calipers; larger radiator; unique chassis tuning; unique EPAS, anti-lock brake system, and stability control tuning; and an upsized sway bar.
The Mustang’s handling is engaging but doesn’t constantly require input. The car sticks to the ground but doesn’t pass on every lump and bump into the cabin.
Ford has given the Mustang a steering wheel that feels good in-hand and has buttons that area easy to operate on the fly.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
Seating is comfortable, at least for front row occupants. The second-row seats of the Mustang remain best left for groceries, puppies, and babies.
The infotainment system is perfectly functional with Ford’s SYNC system that makes picking and choosing what you want the system to do quick and easy. The 8-inch screen is plenty responsive.
Even with the Performance pack and manual transmission, the car remains a perfectly capable daily driver.
In rag top form, the Mustang still has the same appeal it did decades ago. It’s a comfortable cruiser in warm climates but putting the top up creates a soundproof enough barrier in inclement weather that you won’t wish you had the fastback version.
It’s those improvements that make the Mustang, specifically this Mustang, among the best uses for $35,000 in today’s muscle car marketplace. It’s sportier and more fun than the Camaro and with the convertible option, gives buyers who love to drive a reason to get out on the open road int he spring, summer, and fall.
