Ford Mustang (2015 – 2022) Review

Ford Mustang (2015 – 2022) At A Glance

3/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The first Ford Mustang to come with right-hand drive and it’s a corker, with looks, drama and performance all as you’d expect.

+Guaranteed to get attention. 5.0-litre V8 engine sounds fantastic.

-V8 is thirsty. Interior quality. Uncharismatic 2.3 Ecoboost engine. Handling needs care in the wet.

New prices start from £33,645
Insurance Groups are between 41–47
On average it achieves 96% of the official MPG figure

There were cries of “at last!” from UK enthusiasts when the sixth generation of Ford Mustang was announced in 2015. Finally, America’s iconic sports car was offered with right-hand drive, and UK drivers lapped it up. Although available with a more economical 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine, most customers opted for the full 5.0-litre V8 experience. Admittedly, the Ford Mustang is not as sophisticated as rivals such as the Audi RS5, exciting BMW M4 or stylish Mercedes-AMG C63, it scores big on looks and drama. Read on for our full Ford Mustang review.

It took Ford 50 years before it officially brought its iconic muscle car to Europe, and – surprise, surprise – it was an enormous success. The UK is the Ford Mustang’s second biggest European market after Germany, outselling the Porsche 911.

What other iconic V8-powered sports car could you have bought in 2015 for less than £45k? The Ford Mustang is a car that makes a statement, screaming “look at me” at all times. It’s a car you should buy if you want to stand out in a car park full of monotone German cars.

Updated for 2018, the Ford Mustang was given a slight facelift, with a more aggressive front end made up of a larger front splitter and revised LED headlights. To the rear, a revised bumper, optional rear spoiler and quad-tailpipes for the V8 provided an even more boisterous appearance.

That V8 – the engine most people want – delivered up to 450PS (up from 416PS when first launched), and provides exactly the driving experience you’d expect from a Ford Mustang.

It’s loud and deep on start-up, while being aggressive with the throttle will get the ’Stang out of shape pretty quickly.

The downside is that this is a car that’s far from relaxing to drive in the way a powerful Audi, BMW or Mercedes can be. The clutch – if you choose a manual – is heavy in traffic, while the gearchange is clunky.

The more wallet-friendly 2.3-litre Ecoboost with 290PS (down from 314PS pre-facelift) has its benefits – it’s more economical, obviously, and more docile. But it’s not what the Ford Mustang is all about, and the majority of buyers went down the V8 route.

We like the 2.3-litre engine in the Ford Focus RS, but it’s underwhelming in the Ford Mustang. The noise is disappointing and the performance is adequate at best.

Although much thirstier than the Ecoboost, it’s hard to justify not going for the full-fat Ford Mustang experience.

Whether you opt for the sleek coupe or the soft-top is down to personal preference. We prefer the appearance of the Fastback, but the multi-layer insulated fabric hood of the convertible does a fine job of hiding wind noise.

And, besides, being able to drop the roof and enjoy the V8 sound in all its glory is a very tempting proposition.

Ford gave the interior a more premium finish for 2018, but it’s still the area that lets the Ford Mustang down compared with more premium rivals. Its naffness is part of what makes it a Ford Mustang, though – it’s still a blue-collar rebel at heart. If you want soft-touch finishes and a slick infotainment system, buy an Audi.

Fancy a second opinion? Read heycar's Ford Mustang review.

Ask Honest John

Will tax remain high on my 2016 Ford Mustang GT?

"I’m looking for advice regarding my 2016 Ford Mustang GT car tax. I know that for similar cars sold after 1 April 2017, the car tax reduces considerably after 5 years but I believe this does not apply to my 2016 car. So does this mean a 2017 Mustang GT will be considerably cheaper to tax after 5 years while a 2016 Mustang GT will remain highly taxed for the rest of its life?"
This is correct. The road tax VED system before 2017 is based on CO2 emissions. Cars registered under the latest system pay a flat fee that increases for 5 years if the list price exceeded £40,000: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/cheap-road-tax/
Answered by Dan Powell

I'm having trouble finding the car I want in NI. How do you suggest I buy it?

"I'm having trouble finding the car I want (Ford Mustang Convertible) in Northern Ireland. If I have to get one from Britain, there's no way I can take it back easily if anything went wrong. How do you suggest I buy it? I was thinking of distance selling then spend a week testing mercilessly, which would be fun, or could I ask for a trade sale at a cheaper price as I won't have or need any comeback. The local Ford specialist dealer wants £500 to bring one over, whether I buy it or not."
It's a difficult one – even if you buy a car via a distance sale (bringing with it your right to return within 14 days), you'll be responsible for the costs of returning the car, and the terms and conditions are likely to impose a maximum mileage you can cover before returning it (this is likely to be around 150 miles but could be as little as 50). Anything over this and you'll have to stump up an excess mileage fee. Basically, don't expect to rag around a Mustang for a few weeks without the dealer trying everything in their power to penalise you for it! I'd be surprised if a dealer's willing to provide one as a trade sale, either. Good used stock is hard to come by at the moment, so dealers are holding out for top money. A dealer can't strictly sell a car to a member of the public as a trade sale, either – even if you promise not to darken their door ever again, you can't waive your rights. It might not be what you want to hear, but I reckon the best way forward is to wait a few months (when Covid will hopefully be relished to history), jump on a flight to England and find the Mustang of your dreams. You could make it an incredible summer road trip...
Answered by Andrew Brady

Are there any affordable to run, fun cars you can recommend?

"Do you have any suggestions for an affordable to run car with more than five cylinders? Otherwise, I have to go down the boring car route to replace my 2005 Volkswagen Golf GT? I'm tall, ruling out some sportscars. I just fancy something that burbles for once in my life before petrol and diesel cars are banned. Fuel and insurance aren't a problem. Don't mind paying more initially if the depreciation, servicing and maintenance is low cost."
Generally, the more cylinders, the more a car will cost to run. If you want something that sounds good and you're not too concerned about fuel bills, consider a Ford Mustang with the 5.0-litre V8 engine. It'll sound incredible and won't lose a huge amount of value in the short term.
Answered by Andrew Brady

What are the pros and cons of leasing a car?

"I'm considering leasing a Ford Mustang and wish to understand the pros and cons of this idea."
Leasing works for lots of people. It is one of the simpler methods of car finance, with servicing and maintenance usually included in the monthly payments. This means you get fixed-cost monthly motoring and do not need to worry about depreciation. You may also be able to change the car every 12 or 24 months. However, leasing monthly costs can be a lot higher than other forms of finance. A deposit is still required and you will be charged if you exceed the agreed mileage limit or break the wear and tear policy. You will also be tied into the lease agreement for a set period of time and will not be able to exit the contract without paying penalty fees. This means you need to be very sure about your choice of car, because you will not be able to cancel the contract if you discover the car is not suitable or too expensive to fuel for your everyday needs. For more information on car finance, see: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/cheap-car-finance-advice
Answered by Dan Powell
More Questions

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