Ford Mustang GT 2016 Review

2016 Ford Mustang GT Fastback

Australian Launch Review,
Hunter Valley, NSW

Well, we've been waiting for a while... The arrival of the Mustang has been the most hotly anticipated new car happening in Australia for years. It's already sold out for 12 months and there are cars popping up for re-sale at ridiculous prices. But separate reality from hype and what do we find: a car in which a lot of Australians will feel right at home.

No point keeping you in suspense here. If you like Falcon V8s then in all likelihood you are going to like the Mustang GT Fastback. Okay, so they look vastly different, but the reality is there are significant similarities too; like rear-wheel drive, V8 power and pricing that's in the same ballpark.

It's good news because come the early months of 2017, the Yankee icon is going to be the only show in town for Ford V8 lovers once the last supplies of the FG X Falcon have dried up.

No, you won't be able to fit adults in the back of the Mustang; no it's not ideal for towing; and no, it's not locally built. But in Ford's brave new world in which it will be importing every car it sells, it's nice to know there is a vehicle that appeals at least somewhat to traditional sensibilities.

We're basing this assessment on our first Australian road drive this week, which encompassed urban driving in Sydney's northern suburbs, some freeway driving, a bit of exposure to the rough roads of the southern Hunter Valley and even a short closed road section.

To be honest we would have liked a bit more back road and a bit less freeway. But at least it gave us a taste of how well this iconic bit of American iron adapts to local conditions.

This drive follows on from our first taste of the EcoBoost four-cylinder Mustang on local soil at Ford's You Yangs test facility in December and a US drive in September 2014 soon after the sixth generation Mustang first appeared.

We've also gone through the pricing and equipment, while also taking into account that Ford bumped the Manufacturer List Price of the car in December, just as the first orders were filled. We've also made the point in the last two days that pricing isn't being adhered to by everyone.

In total there are six Mustang variations on sale in Australia. They break down into 2+2 coupe (Fastback) and Convertible body styles and 2.3-litre EcoBoost and quad-cam 5.0-litre Coyote V8 engines. The Fastback is offered as a six-speed Getrag manual as well as an auto; the convertible is auto only.

Standard equipment includes front, side and dual knee airbags; tyre pressuring monitoring; a reversing camera displayed through an 8.0-inch touch screen that also runs the SYNC2 infotainment system and voice control; nine-speaker audio; dual zone climate control; sat-nav; heated, cooled and powered leather front seats; a rather cheap looking stop-start button and a whole heap of performance and technical info which you can scroll through on the trip computer.

There are no fancy driver-assist systems like radar cruise, blind-spot detection or lane departure warning. At the other end of the technology spectrum, there is no spare tyre either.

Aussie V8 Mustangs do, however, get most elements of a performance pack that is optional in the USA. These include six-pot Brembo callipers up-front, a limited slip differential, staggered 19-inch wheels, a K-brace under the bonnet, uprated chassis tuning including heavy duty front springs and an upsized rear anti-roll bar.

Pricing ranges from as low as $45,990 to $66,490 for the six Mustang models. The manual GT we're driving is $57,490, which means in rear-wheel drive V8 terms there's no coupe on-sale in Australia that really stacks up against it. Really, you have to look to four-door sedans from Chrysler, Holden... and Ford itself.

Digest all that and hit the road and what you discover is the V8 is an all-round performer. It really does deserve the Grand Tourer tag in the true sense of the words.

It's not a scalpel sharp sports-car. The electric-assist steering lacks that ultimate keenness and it doesn't change whether you're in comfort, normal or sport mode. Weighting heavies up but that is about it.

And when pushed hard, the tune of the all-independent suspension reveals a soft edge that ensures a certain amount of comfort, but also produces some pitch and roll. The staggered 19-inch Pirelli PZero tyres add grip but detract from initial bump compliance.

Active dampers such as the MRC units used by Holden Special Vehicles would add further dynamic depth to this car. Currently, the different drive modes (Comfort, Sport+ and Track) work brake-related controls such as stability control, as well as throttle and transmission shift points.

Even so, punting along quite briskly on a rugged Hunter Valley back-road, the Mustang GT felt planted and secure. Perhaps surprisingly, it felt pretty much equivalent to the EcoBoost in terms of ride and handling despite its heavier nose weight. But it doesn't quite 'shrink wrap' as the very best sporting cars do and it was noticeable that important details like feedback of the Brembos varied from 'wooden' to compliant depending on the car.

Considering the Mustang GT weighs in at 1739kg as a manual, it's no surprise the naturally-aspirated Coyote V8 doesn't feel that strong. It sounds really meaty and goes pretty hard, but it is sub-sonic compared to the supercharged version of the same engine you will find in the Falcon XR8 – or the LSA Chevy in HSV offerings.

But it is smooth and certainly liveable every day. Peak torque of 530Nm arrives at a pretty high 4250rpm, but this engine still doesn't mind digging out by its boot straps in a tall gear.

The six-speed auto is a decent unit, which changes character depending on the drive mode selected. In Normal it is relaxed and slurry in its changes and every much suited to cruising. It gets more and more hyperactive as you cycle up through Sport+ and Track and can really thunk when changed manually via the paddles (there is no manual shift at the lever).

But if you don't need the auto then don't dismiss the six-speed manual out of hand. The shift is clean and not too heavy and the clutch action won't require training at the gym to depress. An added bonus is the manual comes with launch control.

From the driver's seat the Mustang certainly presents a unique view in modern motoring. That's because you can actually see a huge expanse of bonnet stretching into the distance. At 4784mm it's also pretty long and at 1916mm this is a wide car too. The 12.2m turning circle also ensures you'll be working it in tighter spaces.

The right-hand drive version translates pretty well -- only the parking brake position on the far side of the centre console is a give-away.

The rest of the interior is remarkably straight forward and certainly lacks the drama of the exterior. Aircraft-inspired chunky dials and switches predominate and for the most part work well. But the lack of a digital speedometer is a mistake, some of the switch graphics are impossible to read in direct sunlight (ditto the trip computer between the tacho and speedo) and there are a couple of flimsy and ill-fitting plastic bits and bobs, as well as a mixture of rock-hard and slightly softer interior materials.

The seats, however, are supportive and the steering wheel adjusts through reach and rake. Storage is not a strong point of the Mustang. Rear-seat space is a joke (2+2 remember) and the lack of overhead grab handles is annoying. The 383 litre boot provides enough space for a suitcase or two, and the 50:50 split-fold seat adds further versatility.

Not that carrying capacity will be the primary concern of Mustang buyers. Styling and design is the number one buying criterion, according to Ford's own research.

On that score the Mustang clearly succeeds. No-one would ever question that, or its red, white and blue origins. Yet while the Mustang is a true American, it's great it works so well in Australia, a place where Ford has such a proud V8 and rear-wheel drive history.

2016 Ford Mustang GT Fastback pricing and specifications:
Price: $57,490 (estimated)
Engine: 5.0-litre petrol V8
Output: 306kW/530Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 13.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 305g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: N/A

Also consider:
>> Ford Falcon XR8 (from $53,490 plus ORCs)
>> Holden Commodore SS-V Redline (from $53,990 plus ORCs)
>> Chrysler 300C SRT-8 (from $59,000 plus ORCs)