Ford Mustang Mach 1 2021 Review

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 looks formidable in ‘Twister Orange’ with black stickers, and let us say first up that it delivers a memorable driving experience.

But at $83,365 plus on-road costs, is it really 20 grand better than the GT?

That’s a question everyone should ask themselves right from the get-go, as we dive right in and consider what you get for your cash in this homage to the 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1, which celebrated US pilot Chuck Yeager’s famous sound-barrier-breaking jet-plane record that year.

As well as a bit more eagerness from the throbbing 5.0-litre V8 engine, the biggest fundamental change to the iconic Ford sports car is the suspension upgrade, which changes the way it sits on the road and responds to steering input when cornering (better), but also alters ride comfort around town (worse).

We’ve already done the track test, which told us plenty about the modern-era Mach 1, but not the all-important detail about real-world conditions.

Other upgrades the Mach 1 brings over vanilla V8-powered Mustangs include a few retro touches inspired by the 1969 version, like the 19-inch five-spoke black alloy wheels, the spotlight cut-outs in the front grille and black body stripes on the bonnet and across the flanks.

There’s also Mach 1 badges on the outside, an upgraded exhaust system with quad 4.5-inch outlet pipes, and it all ties together to create a tough-looking American muscle car.

Inside you get, well, not much. There’s a Mach 1 build plate on the dash, Mach 1 scuff plates under the doors and a new cue-ball shifter for manual models.

That said, the addition of the first Tremec six-speed manual (with heavy-duty twin-plate clutch pack) on an Aussie Mustang is a nice touch – and it feels rock-solid. You have to apply a bit of elbow grease to lock it into the gates, which adds to the experience.

The manual gearbox also gets an upgraded oil cooler and an impressive rev-matching feature for those not fluent in heel-and-toe.

Unlike the Ford Mustang BULLITT, the Mach 1 can be ordered with a 10-speed auto, and that gets an air-to-oil cooler to improve at-the-limit resilience as well.

All models get a rear-axle cooling system, a rear limited-slip diff and a larger brake servo as well.

If you want the Recaro leather sports seats – and trust me, you really do – it’ll cost an extra $3000.

Standard features include an impressive 12.3-inch digital instrument display with three different layouts (normal, sports, race), and while the 8.0-inch central touch-screen is looking a bit tired, as are some of the cabin plastics, the main touchpoints are great – gear shifter, steering wheel, pedals.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto help make the drive more personalised, while the 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system is a belter.

The rear-drive American coupe comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and capped-price servicing, which is pegged at $1410 over three years, spread over 12-month/15,000km intervals.

The active valve exhaust system is one of the coolest tech features in the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1, giving it a much meatier sound than the regular V8.

It helps draw you into the driving experience and, now that we’ve heard it, every Mustang V8 should have this beefy exhaust set-up.

Like its donor car, the Mustang Mach 1 has a below-average three-star ANCAP safety rating – but that hasn’t seemed to slow sales of the big beast, which is still Australia’s most popular sports car.

Autonomous emergency braking (AEB), automatic high beam headlights, a lane departure warning system and reversing camera are among the safety suite, but there’s no active lane keeping system.

Adaptive cruise control is missing too, which is a shame, with the Mach 1 instead fitted with regular cruise control.

Mach 1-branded floor mats fitted to US versions of this sports car are nowhere to be seen either. If I can get my face emblazoned on a T-shirt for $20, surely Ford can get a Mach 1 logo on a square of carpet?

Just in case you haven’t been following the furore among the Ford faithful, let us also mention that Aussies do not get the Handling Package offered to US buyers? Wider wheels, bigger rear spoiler, front splitter… the list goes on.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 engine gets a handful of upgrades to increase its basso profundo acoustics, including a bunch of components taken from the 392kW Shelby GT350, like a new intake manifold, revised (open-air) induction system, auxiliary engine oil-cooler and 87mm throttle bodies.

But even when tied together with new engine mapping software, the 5.0-litre Coyote V8 gets a meagre 6kW power boost and no increase in torque (556Nm at 4600rpm), which feels like an opportunity missed.

That said, peak power of 345kW hits at 7500rpm, up from 339kW at 7000rpm. A top speed of 267km/h isn’t to be baulked at, either.

There have also been some unhappy customers who placed orders for the Mach 1 based on a list of features that are offered on US-spec versions, but never made the journey to Australia.

We’re talking about a Torsen (torque-sensing) limited-slip differential with 3.73:1 final drive ratio. Aussie Mach 1s make do with a 3.55:1 slippery rear diff, the same kit as standard Mustang GT models.

The Brembo brakes with the uprated brake booster do a decent job of decelerating the car, but if there are long white-knuckle drives or track days on your schedule, fitting high-performance brake pads might be a prudent upgrade.

The upgraded suspension rig on the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 consists of stiffer front springs, which improve steering response and reduce body roll, as do revised anti-roll bars. A stiffer rear subframe also tightens up the rear a little.

Chuck in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres and you’re looking at a much sharper, more engaging Mustang to drive than the standard GT.

The 9.5-inch-wide front hoops (255/40) and 10-inch-wide rears (275/40) deliver good levels of grip and it certainly feels more planted and predictable mid-corner than the regular Mustang.

That’s not to say you can’t wag the tail if you want – 556Nm of torque is not insignificant – and we had loads of fun with this car.

The connection between car and driver is compelling in an old-school kind of way. It’s heavy, noisy and fast in a straight line, but needs to be finessed through corners. This is no bantam-weight hot hatch, after all.

You also have to be cognisant of being in the right gear for the right scenario, as the Mach 1 can bog down at low revs. Give it too much schtick and she’ll break traction at the rear. But the feeling of having to learn the car, of having it bite back if you don’t nail it, is satisfying.

It’s a car you have to be completely engaged with at all times.

There are other factors that make driving the Mustang Mach 1 a gratifying experience, chief among them the lumpy exhaust note and the rise and fall of the pistons you feel through the seat.

Speaking of seats, the Recaro buckets feel fantastic, providing a great blend of cushioning and torso support.

Although ride comfort suffers as a result of the stiffer chassis, the adjustable MagneRide dampers manage to deliver acceptable ride quality around town.

It’s not as firm as I was expecting when set to ‘normal’ mode, so the Mach 1 can be taken out for daily exercise without drivers needing semi-regular spinal readjustments.

Indeed, I did drive it every day for a week, finding any excuse I could to just cruise around the suburbs, be it picking up some milk at the shops or visiting my mum. Even the shortest of trips are an event, the low rumble of the engine and heavy steering making it an ever-tempting proposition.

The fundamentals of the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 are compelling – the heavy nose, weighty steering, chunky six-speed manual gearbox and rear-drive set-up. And it’s all been fettled for more precision.

Indeed, there’s a certain level of ambition required to drive this car fast and I found it profoundly endearing.

Slotting in between the homegrown Mustang R-Spec (from $99,616) and Mustang GT (from $64,190), the Mach 1, at $83,365 plus on-road costs, will no doubt be a sell-out success in Australia.

But as tasty as the deal is for the big Mach, I’m not convinced it’s $20,000 better than the standard GT.

I reckon $75K for this machine would be a more reasonable asking price, especially considering it misses out on a lot of kit offered overseas.

How much does the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 cost?
Price: $83,365 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 5.0-litre V8 petrol
Output: 345kW/556Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 13.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 320g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Three-star (ANCAP 2017)