Ford Mustang GT Convertible: Hands-on review
One Mustang, 454 ponies.
In August last year, we were invited to Tailem bend to test the on-track credentials of Ford's latest iteration of the Ford Mustang GT Fastback. We found it to be extremely forgiving and a bunch of fun. In our review, we also highlighted its updated look, which is inspired by eagles.
While looks and track performance are important, we wanted to know what the Ford Mustang was like to live with. So we managed to get a hold of the 2018 Ford Mustang GT Convertible to find out.
Ford Mustang Convertible pricing
The Ford Mustang GT Convertible is priced at $74,709. Here is a price break down of the full Mustang range:
| EcoBoost | 5.0-litre V8 |
|---|---|
| Ford Mustang EcoBoost Fastback (manual): $49,990 | Ford Mustang GT Fastback (manual): $62,990 |
| Ford Mustang EcoBoost Fastback (automatic): $52,990 | Ford Mustang GT Fastback (automatic): $66,259 |
| Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible (automatic): $59,490 | Ford Mustang GT Convertible (automatic): $74,709 |
On the road
Maintaining the 5.0-litre V8 matched to a 10-speed gearbox, the Ford Mustang Convertible has more than enough power to get you from A to B, and if you're not careful, into a bit of trouble on the way. Pushing out 339kW and 556Nm, enjoying this V8 is bittersweet when you drive with the knowledge that V8 engines such as these aren't going to be around for that much longer.
As far as efficiency is concerned, we had the figures as low as 12.6L/100km, which is in line with Ford's claim of 12.7L/100km. We averaged around 13L/100km, which included our completely necessary, scientific tests to see how the car handles and accelerates.
In "Normal" mode the ride is quite comfortable. But, as expected, when switching to "Sport+" or "Track" mode on Sydney roads, the ride becomes a bit more jarring.
We've also enjoyed some great weather in Sydney as of late (unfortunately this began to wane towards the end of our time with the Mustang) making the convertible all the more a compelling option. Roof down and seat coolers on, the Mustang just invites you to drive it.
Having the roof down was my favourite set-up in this variant. Not because of the sun or the wind in your hair, but because of the sound that the engine produces. It is a vast improvement on the previous model, and without the roof, you're able to hear and enjoy it even more. Because of this, the exhaust never really left the "Track" setting.
This brings me to "Quiet" mode. I understand that the feature, dubbed "good neighbour" mode, is a great addition, and one which my neighbours appreciated. But once configured, I couldn't believe that anyone in their right mind would switch the car to "Quiet" outside of these times. Of all the features ever added to a car, I think (and hope) this would have to be the least used of them all. Ever.
In "Sport+" and "Track" mode, everything gets a little sharper, gears are held a little longer and downshifts get a whole lot more addictive. You aren't going to use these much on the open road, but they are incredibly fun and I'd rather have them on hand than not.
Ford's Sync 3 System is easy to use and pair up with your phone and it includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. You get two USB points and a 12-speaker shaker sound system, not that you are going to use it.
A 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster is also a talking point of this vehicle. You can customise your display between "Normal", "Sport+" and "Track" modes, each becoming racier as you select them. You are able to tinker with a range of settings as well, from exhaust settings to which ambient colour illuminates the cabin.
The handbrake remains on the wrong side of the car from its right-hand drive conversion. You might find yourself brushing your passenger's leg, but apart from a few strange looks, this isn't a deal breaker.
What is life like for passengers?
A passenger sitting in the front is going to have a great time. They've got dual-zone climate control along with heated and ventilated seats. There's a USB charger too if the open road is too boring and they've been on their phone.
The back seats are a different story. Realistically, no one can fit in the back. No passenger could fit in the back with the driver's seat in my driving position, and people will have just as hard a time behind the front passenger. We did a short trip with someone squeezed into the back behind the front passenger but the front passenger seat needed to be a fair way forward. The rear passenger did comment that the seats in the back were quite snug.
Would kids fit in the back seats?
As mentioned, leg room in the back comes at a premium. The car includes Isofix mounting points in the two rear seats, so you can travel with young children in the car. But once they are out of those, I wouldn't be confident in saying they would fit.
Storage
The boot in the Ford Mustang is roughly equivalent to what you get in the Kia Stinger. However, the 259-litre capacity boot is quite shallow, which will limit what you are able to throw in there. But with some creativity, you can get more. There is extra storage in the second row where passengers should be able to sit.
The configuration of the boot makes things a little difficult too. Shopping and suitcases are going to easily fit, but wider IKEA flat packs are going to need some maneuvering to fit in there.
How easy is it to put the roof down
This process is actually quite quick. There is a handle on the roof where you would expect the sunglasses holder to be, which you simply have to fold down and twist. After that, there is a button in the same area that, once pressed, will retract the roof in just a few seconds.
What safety technology does it have?
You will find a decent amount of safety technology in the Mustang GT Convertible, including:
- Adaptive cruise control
- AEB (autonomous emergency braking)
- Lane keep assist
- Pre-collision assist
Thankfully, we only got use out of the adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, which both did their jobs well.
The added tech has helped to upgrade the Mustang to a 3-star ANCAP safety rating, which quite frankly isn't great.
The verdict
I have never really been a convertible person, but I do have a new appreciation for them after our time with this inviting 5.0-litre V8.
It looks great and sounds even better. If you can get past the 3-star ANCAP safety rating and minimal rear legroom, this could actually be a good daily driver. It's fairly easy to live with, just be aware of the storage and passenger room limitations.
Another observation we made during our time with the convertible is that this could be the best car for Australian summers.
