Car review: 4 days with the 2016 Ford Mustang GT

Car review: 4 days with the 2016 Ford Mustang GT

(Mike Stapley)


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Estimated read time: 12-13 minutes

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SALT LAKE CITY — It’s fitting that I picked up the 2016 Ford Mustang demo-vehicle on the morning of Independence Day. The Mustang has been an American icon since 1964. There is, in fact, a dash placard that reminds every front-seat passenger of the car’s iconic status.

The emphasis with this car is all Mustang, with the exception being under the hood and on the upper windshield where you won’t find a Ford logo. I didn’t notice the windshield logo, behind the rear view mirror, until the second day driving the car. The logo is blended into the shading and antennas on the windshield.

The Mustang logo, however, is everywhere you look. The pony is prominent on the front grill and the steering wheel. It even lights up at night on the ground below, projected from the outside rear view mirrors, when you unlock or open the doors. The word Mustang lights up on each doorsill upon entry at night, as well.

This car is worthy of its iconic status. The pony car design which debuted in 1964 has been much copied since — the long, low hood and short back-end can be found to this day on coupes and sport sedans from Japan and Europe.

The most iconic part of the Mustang greets you with every push-button start: the sound.

Overall grade: B+

Exterior styling

The Mustang was all new last year and added technology improvements for 2016. The fastback design harkens to an era gone by. It is gorgeous. The trunk and rear windscreen are separate from one another — the car is not a hatchback. The rear window divides large fender flares and the trunk, making the car appear wide and more aggressive in its stance.

Photo credit: Mike Stapley
Photo credit: Mike Stapley

One of the best views of the car is from each outside rear view mirror. Those rear fenders dominate the view, so much so that Ford saw the need for wide-angle sections in the upper corner of each mirror.

This particular GT model came equipped with the black accent package. The front grill, 19-inch wheels, and rear deck-face are all blacked out, including the pony logo on the grill and GT logo on the rear.

The angles on the new Mustang are aggressive and sharp everywhere one looks. The hood has sharp risers dividing the hood into threes. From the driver’s seat, the long hood appears to rise as it pushes forward, providing the constant sensation of speed. Vents sit to each side of the middle risers and the hood drops in elevation once more on each side before settling in over the wide, front fenders and headlights.

In addition to the front grill, the lower air intake sits between fog lights at each corner. As with many auto manufacturers today, Ford is adding branding touches to new models. Three diagonal daytime running lights flare out from each side of the front grill, signaling Mustang to all incoming traffic.

In a nod to enthusiasts, Ford brought back turn signal indicators, facing the driver, in the hood vents. I doubt that neighboring cars can see them on the road and the driver can only see the driver’s side indicator due to the aggressive hood design. They seem to serve no real purpose, but harken back to the ’67 and ’68 model styling.

The tail lights are also new. According to Andre Martinez, internet sales manager at Larry H. Miller Ford in Sandy, the tail lights have been less than popular with some Mustang enthusiasts who find them too large and prominent. I found them to be a nice addition that compliments the aggressive styling of the rear end. The three blades on each side light up independently and the turn signal causes each blade to light up in sequence, inside to outside, with each flash of the signal.

Even the leisurely pace of the turn-signal flashes scream American muscle car. There is nothing subtle about the new styling of the Mustang fastback.

Interior styling

Ford has improved the quality of the materials found inside the new Mustang, compared to prior models. There are still some hard plastics where soft-touch materials would be better suited, but the quality feel of most materials is improved.

Photo credit: Mike Stapley
Photo credit: Mike Stapley

Chrome and brushed metal-looking plastics would be better as actual metal parts, but there are few accents that look downright cheap. The dash has two risers, one for the driver and one for the passenger, that resemble those of ‘60s era cars.

Simulated stitching and other accents make for an attractive dash that lies flat in-between the two risers. The large touchscreen for the new Ford Sync system dominates the center of the dash layout and media and climate controls are below that.

The climate and media controls are attractive in terms of their layout, a rounded dial-shaped cluster protruding from the dash. Functionally, many of the buttons are small and easy to miss due to the sometimes harsh ride of the muscle car. Heated and cooled seats are standard in the GT. Optional Recaro racing seats lack the heating and cooling.

One nice touch is that the climate controls are largely physical buttons and the settings will be remembered between trips. If the cooled seats were on, they will still be on when getting back in the car later. A simple thing, but in many cars these days, technology is requiring a multi-step process to reset the car to the driver’s preferences with each new trip.

The leather seats are supportive side-to-side, but lacked some support below and finding the correct angle for the backrest and thigh support can be tricky, as a combination of manual and power adjustments is required. At freeway speeds, I encountered a few bumps that literally lifted me out of my seat.

The steering wheel is fully adjustable and contains buttons for cruise control, media, phone and the driver information at the center of the instrument cluster. The view can be changed to alert to trip and fuel economy functions or track related timers and G-Force monitors. Voice controls for the Sync system can be activated from the wheel as well.

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The instrument cluster is dominated by the two large, round speedometer and tachometer dials at either side. The oil temperature and fuel gauges are housed within the same dials.

The backseat is an afterthought — only small children will be able to use it. The rear seats do fold down, which adds further access to the trunk, which is rather spacious by sports coupe standards.

The Mustang won’t be confused for a European luxury sport sedan, but the interior is much improved and the sporty and aggressive feel of the car’s exterior carries over inside. My only irritation is that the driver seems to have been an afterthought when designing this car. The high door panels combined with low armrest make finding a comfortable place to rest almost impossible. The exterior mirror and window controls are so far forward on the door-rest that few drivers will find them easy to reach while driving.

Reaching the steering wheel from either the door armrest or center console is impossible — and I’m 6-feet-2-inches tall. My arms aren’t exactly short. The touchscreen and climate controls face straight away, rather than being angled toward the driver. They are difficult to reach without leaning forward in the seat.

The voice controls worked well and steering wheel-mounted controls provide options other than the screen and dash. Most of the steering wheel mounted controls are also difficult to reach without repositioning one’s hand on the wheel. A performance-oriented car such as this should be more driver centered.

The cupholders are better positioned to be a center armrest than the actual one, which sits far behind the driver.

Technology

The GT model is well equipped and the new Ford Sync 3 system is the most notable improvement. Ford’s past attempts have been roundly criticized. The layout of the 8-inch touchscreen is intuitive and simple. Tablet-like gestures can be used throughout and icons are large and easy to read.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported, but I had difficulty getting my relatively new Samsung Galaxy Note 5 to sync. The Shaker audio system provided excellent sound. I have yet to be in a car, however, where the Sirius satellite radio lost signal every so often. There was not a single trip without interruptions. This particular car was not equipped with navigation, and it’s possible the problem was related to not having the roof-mounted antennae.

Dual-climate controls worked perfectly and the rear-view camera was clear and precise. An anti-theft system and automatic headlights are standard. This vehicle was also equipped with a blind-spot monitoring system.

This GT Premium model was equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission and paddle shifters. Manual models are available with a launch mode for performance starts.

Performance and handling

My daughter proclaimed herself a Chevy fan before getting into the Mustang for the first time. She could not, however, avoid smiling and even giggling with joy each time the engine was started. The sound of an American muscle car is part of the sensory experience that makes driving one unique. The throaty growl of the engine and exhaust is impressive even at idle. It brings a smile to the face of just about everyone present.

It’s difficult for anything about the Mustang to be a disappointment, following that initial exhaust note. The 5.0 liter V8 is naturally aspirated. Available V6 and four-cylinder power plants are turbo-equipped, but this engine makes 435 horsepower and 400 pound-to-foot of torque without any boost. At less than $40,000, this powertrain is even more impressive.

The Pirelli tires, riding on 19-inch wheels, are stuck to the road like glue. Even with traction control turned off, it takes effort to make the rear-drive tires lose grip. This car swallows up curves with ease, as one Provo Canyon drive proved. The car begs to go faster through the turns. Body roll is almost non-existent and the confidence one has behind the wheel is inspiring.

Ironically, it is at highway speeds, in a straight line, when the car begins to feel light underfoot and its Jekyll and Hyde nature is discovered. The suspension and steering are adjustable with multiple settings, ranging from normal to track. In sport-plus mode, the highway ride is surprisingly good—until it turns bad. I wouldn’t expect this car to handle like a Lincoln, but it was surprising to be lifted out of my seat, at highway speed, by what seemed to be minor bumps.

Acceleration is smooth and the six-speed automatic is right at home when driving decisively. It can be tricky, particularly in sport-plus mode, at low speeds or following a burst of acceleration. In city traffic, the transmission can be left guessing some and it is reluctant to downshift following hard acceleration. Acceleration is always at the ready and passing power is never lacking, however.

Overall, the car is a joy to drive and begs to be driven hard. I can’t fault the Mustang for not being at its best during daily commuting. Ford claims a zero to 60 mph time of 4.3 seconds for the manual transmission. On not-so-level ground, I could only manage a best time, according to the car’s track timer, of 5.2 seconds with the automatic. In ideal conditions, I have no doubt the time would have been better.

Conclusion

The 2016 Mustang fastback is a great looking car. It sounds even better. The interior is comfortable and well appointed. This car loses points for not putting the driver in better position to take advantage of the technology and amenities.

Ford seems to have been intent on building a great car, rather than building a great car around the driver. For a car that is such a pleasure to drive, that is a shame. Granted, I only spent four days with the Mustang, but it seemed much of that time was spent trying to find just the right position for the seats and steering wheel so I could interact more comfortably with the car.

Most manufacturers are still figuring out how best to maximize technology and make it part of the driving experience without compromising it. Ford is to be commended for improving their Sync system and blending new technology with an iconic vehicle. Hints of the past are matched well with the styling and technology of the present.

In the end, the Mustang GT is fun to drive and more comfortable than one would expect. The night of July 4th, during a neighborhood BBQ and fireworks celebration, this car turned heads and drew curiosity from most everyone present. People want to look at it, sit in it and drive it. They want to hear it.

The Ford Mustang is truly an American icon.

Specs

Vehicle type: 2-door, 4-passenger fastback coupe

Engine: 5.0 liter naturally aspirated V8; premium fuel

Transmission: 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic w/ paddle shifters

Power: 453 HP, 400 pound to feet of torque

Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive with traction control

Speed: 4.3 seconds 0-60 mph

Wheelbase: 107.1 inches

Cupholders: Two

Power ports: 1 and 2 USB

Fuel economy: EPA 16/25 city/highway, 19 average

Fuel capacity: 16 gallons

Warranty: 3 year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper; 5 year/60,000 mile powertrain; 5 year/60,000 mile roadside assist

Price as tested: $39,485


![Mike Stapley](http://img.ksl.com/slc/2583/258384/25838475\.jpg?filter=ksl/65x65)
About the Author: Mike Stapley \------------------------------

Mike Stapley is a father of two, a business sales manager for a telecom company and an aspiring novelist living in Salt Lake City. Contact him at mstapley4@gmail.com.

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