For more than 55 years, the Mustang has built a reputation for stirring performance at prices that the average shopper could afford. Sure, there have been countless improvements along the way, but the tried-and-true formula of two doors, lots of power and rear-wheel drive remains. This doesn't include the curiously named Mustang Mach-E, which is a completely different all-electric, four-door quasi sedan/SUV.
There are a few changes for the 2021 Ford Mustang. The Bullitt edition is gone, but in return Ford has brought back another historically inspired version: the Mach 1. This revived Mach 1 is the most well-rounded and capable yet and fills in the gap between the GT and the monstrous GT500. It comes standard with many of the performance features that are optional on the GT plus specifically tuned MagneRide adaptive shock absorbers and an available Mach 1-specific Handling package for even greater capability. The Mach 1 also gets a 20-horsepower bump over the standard GT (up to 480 hp from 460 hp) and can be had with the six-speed manual from the GT350 or a quick shifting 10-speed automatic. This Mach 1 is definitely more than just a nostalgic sticker pack.
Overall, the Mustang remains our top muscle car pick, eclipsing the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Charger. How does it do that? Check out our Expert Rating below to read our in-depth evaluation.
Want more real-world information? Check out our long-term test of a 2019 Mustang GT Convertible where we cover the ownership experience over the course of a year. Many of our observations still apply to the current Mustang, whether it's a drop-top or coupe.
Our verdict | |
The Mustang convertible is a thoroughly capable machine, able to deliver high levels of performance and comfort in equal measure. The GT's 5.0-liter V8 offers an unyielding amount of power should you ask for it, yet it's sedate while driving around town. Make sure to opt for the Performance package if you want a pony car that drives as good as it looks. | |
How does the Mustang drive? | |
The Mustang GT's 460-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 provides more than enough thrust to get in trouble. The 0-60 mph sprint comes in 4.6 seconds, just half a second slower than the 707-hp Dodge Challenger Hellcat. Our test car was equipped with sloppy handling all-season tires, but the optional Performance package bolsters the Mustang with increased grip and more stable handling. Tapping into that power can prove a bit frustrating since the 10-speed automatic transmission shifts into high gears too quickly (it upshifts to ninth at 40 mph!), and it's slow to downshift. Driving in Sport mode is more natural. | |
How comfortable is the Mustang? | |
This drop-top pony car shakes a bit over bumps, but the ride isn't brittle. Rather, it is cushiony without feeling floaty like the Challenger. The Performance package mildly increases ride harshness. The seats are plush and have tilt-adjustable headrests, but we'd like to see four-way lumbar adjustment. The optional ventilated seats effectively cool the leather on days you leave the top down. The available performance exhaust opens up the Mustang's otherwise too-quiet taps at low speeds, but it gets loud with any level of acceleration and can get grating after a while. At highway speeds, wind, engine and road noise is omnipresent but not overwhelming, and the exhaust note finally settles. | |
How’s the interior? | |
The Mustang's cabin is spacious for two, with plenty of shoulder room, head- and legroom and a wide center console armrest. The rear seat is tight, and most will use it as a shelf for storage. Still, a family of four could fit — provided they don't need a ton of legroom — and a lowered convertible top helps with getting in and out. Once inside, drivers will find logically laid-out controls and the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system. While it offers a good range of adjustment, the front seat doesn't properly envelop the driver. It gives the sensation of sitting on the seat rather than in it. The thick front and rear pillars moderately hamper outward visibility. | |
How’s the tech? | |
The intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system controls a nine-speaker audio system that delivers clear audio and good bass response. But it doesn't get loud enough for us. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is included on both Premium trims. Sync's voice control system features some limited natural speech detection. The Mustang's advanced driver safety aids performed well in our testing, but adaptive cruise can't be activated until about 20 mph and turns off below 10 mph. | |
How’s the storage? | |
Because the top doesn't fold into the trunk like in luxury convertibles, the Mustang convertible's cargo area is only marginally smaller than the coupe's (11.4 cubic feet versus 13.5 cubes). Still, there's more room here than in the Camaro drop-top (7.3 cubic feet). The trunk opening shape and downward sloping trunk roof make it tough to load large items, but you can still fit a large suitcase in the trunk. You can also use the back seat for ad hoc storage. Cubbies and pockets inside the cabin are small but plentiful. There's not a ton of room in the back for car seats, but the car seat anchors are easy to access. Lowering the top naturally makes it much easier to install a car seat. | |
How’s the fuel economy? | |
The Mustang GT convertible gets an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined. The V8-powered Camaro, in contrast, is a little more efficient, by an additional 1-3 mpg all around. Our test Mustang averaged 23.5 mpg on our mixed-driving evaluation route, which indicates that you should be able to get the EPA numbers fairly easily — assuming, of course, you've got a light foot. | |
Is the Mustang a good value? | |
You'll find some hard-plastic panels inside, but in general the Mustang's interior is nicely trimmed. Our test car had soft-touch material on the dash and faux leather on the doors, plus soft leather for the front seats. (The rear seats had simulated leather.) Our test vehicle exhibited no squeaks or rattles, which can be tricky for a convertible. Overall value is average. A loaded-up Mustang costs a lot of money, but a similarly equipped Camaro costs more. | |
Wildcard | |
Like other muscle cars, the Mustang GT convertible is a lot of fun to drive and exudes attitude. In its standard form, the convertible doesn't have the sharp handling of the coupe — it's more of a laid-back cruiser with gobs of power and a cushy ride. It's the kind of car you'd be happy to commute in every day or take out for a Sunday cruise. To improve the car's handling, make sure to get the optional Performance package. It's expensive, but the extra bracing and retuned suspension help reduce body roll and control cowl shake. The wider summer performance tires also give you more control. Best of all, ride comfort is almost totally unaffected. | |
The 2021 Ford Mustang is available in five main trim levels: EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium, GT, GT Premium and Mach 1. The standard body style is a two-door coupe. A folding fabric-top convertible version is also offered in all but the Mach 1 trim. Convertibles add more security features and active noise cancellation, but the rear seatbacks are not foldable. There's also the Shelby GT500 that's such a giant leap forward in performance that we cover it in a separate review.
2021 Ford Mustang
2021 Chevrolet Camaro
The Chevy Camaro is the Mustang's most direct rival. They're the automotive equivalent of the Hatfield-McCoy feud, with shots being traded with each model year. The Mustang remains our favorite muscle car by a slim margin since price and performance are in lockstep. One of the main Camaro drawbacks is poor outward visibility.
The Dodge Challenger is a bigger muscle car than the Mustang or Camaro. As a result, it benefits from more passenger space and a larger trunk. The Challenger, however, is not available as a convertible. Just like the Ford and Chevy, there are plenty of models, from affordable with potent performance to expensive with absurd levels of power. The same holds true of the Dodge Charger, which is essentially a sedan version.
The Kia Stinger could be an intriguing alternative to the traditional muscle car. It's a sedan instead of a coupe, but it delivers many of the same thrills as a midtier Mustang or Camaro. The extra doors add plenty of convenience and space, plus the cargo capacity is much larger. Read Edmunds' long-term road test of the Kia Stinger.
The Mach 1 is back. After ending its previous run in 2004, Ford welcomes the storied nameplate once again to the Mustang family. The newest Mach 1 is equipped with a brand-new front end, wings and spoilers from the mighty Shelby GT500, and flashy black stripes with contrasting colors to make your Mustang pop.
Previous Mach 1s were just as famous for what was on the hood as under it. For decades, the Mach 1 was visually distinguished from lesser Mustangs with the inclusion of a Shaker hood, an elevated air intake that pokes through the top of the hood. But there will be no Shaker hood on the 2021 Mach 1 — the company decided it didn't provide a performance or acoustic benefit. But the Mach 1 indisputably became synonymous with the style, and losing it for 2021 will be a blow to some fans.
The Mach 1 gets a few special interior features, such as new doorsill plates and a badge on the dash inscribed with the car's chassis number. There are also unique Mach 1 welcome graphics on the 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. Ooh. Ahh. Choosing the leather interior adds black-colored seats with an accent stripe, and a classic white cue-ball shift knob is available with the manual transmission.
The Mach 1 might be retro, but its tech offerings are anything but. Every Mach 1 comes standard with the Sync 3 infotainment system, which is optional on lesser Mustangs. We've rated Sync 3 highly in recent years for its ease of use and excellent voice controls. As you'd expect of a fully featured modern vehicle, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility is included.
Edmunds saysThe Mach 1 is a legendary name that will excite muscle car fans and bridge the gap between the Mustang GT and its lofty Shelby GT350 cousin. However, the fact that it doesn't include the traditional Shaker hood, or gain any extra power over the understated Bullitt, could make this reunion bittersweet for some die-hards. That said, we're eager to get this latest Mach 1 onto the track, especially with the handling package and its high-downforce capabilities. A Mustang with this much Shelby in it is something to get excited about.
The Ford Mustang has been America's most iconic muscle car since its introduction in the mid-1960s. While today's Mustang doesn't enjoy the Earth-shattering success as its forebear, the modern version is one of the most enjoyable and affordable sports cars on the market today.
The Mustang's faultless blend of athleticism and practicality wins it the top spot in our ranking of muscle cars. It effortlessly marries the sportiness of the Chevrolet Camaro with the utility offered by the Dodge Challenger while avoiding the pitfalls of both. Depending on how you spec it, the Mustang can be a hardcore track star, a comfortable cruiser or something in between. All powertrains offer quick acceleration, whether you select the base turbocharged four-cylinder or one of the several available V8s.
We don't expect any major changes to the core Ford Mustang offerings. However, a new Ford Mustang Mach 1 is rumored to bow in 2021. The last Mach 1 — available in the 2003-2004 model years — modified the standard GT with a more powerful V8, along with a Shaker hood, sport-tuned suspension and exterior graphics package. A modern interpretation would likely follow in the path blazed by the current Mustang Bullitt, itself a performance-oriented take on the GT.
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 Ford Mustang:
The least-expensive 2021 Ford Mustang is the 2021 Ford Mustang EcoBoost 2dr Convertible (2.3L 4cyl Turbo 6M). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $32,655.
Other versions include:
