One of the three muscle cars now on the market, the 2023 Ford Mustang offers a thrilling driving experience and a lot of horsepower at a fair price. It is more engaging to drive than the Dodge Challenger, and it is more pleasant and convenient to drive on a daily basis than the Chevrolet Camaro, in our opinion, making it the best in its class. There is a Mustang version for anybody with a thirst for speed, whether you’re thinking about the standard turbocharged four-cylinder or the high-octane Shelby GT500.
In terms of automotive years, the current-generation Mustang is now in its ninth year of production. In fact, a completely new Mustang is on the way, according to recent spy shots. There are several rumors about the next Mustang, which may have an all-wheel drive system or a hybrid drivetrain. Additionally, it’s unclear if the seventh-generation Mustang will make its appearance in 2023 or 2024. According to our forecast, it will happen in 2024, making the 2023 Mustang the final year for the current-generation vehicle. For a detailed analysis of how our test team rated the car’s performance, comfort, and other factors, see the Expert Rating section below.
Performance
The Mustang GT’s powerful V8 gives it exceptional speed. Additionally, the brakes are suitably robust, allowing you the assurance to brake forcefully. The GT reached 60 mph in 118 feet and stopped from that speed in 4.6 seconds during Edmunds’ testing.
The drive mode you’ve chosen will affect the steering effort. There is adequate feedback for the driver in every setting. The Mustang handles corners admirably even without high-performance summer tires because of the well-controlled body roll and outstanding all-around stability. The 10-speed automatic also performs admirably. It chooses the optimal gearing while not appearing overly cluttered.
Comfort
Exactly how cozy is the Mustang? The Mustang will keep you comfy for hours, which is impressive given how performance-oriented this vehicle is. The cabin is reasonably quiet, and the seats provide excellent support. What you’ll want to hear is how fantastic the V8 sounds.
Front and center are the climate controls, and strategically placed vents distribute cooled air for the front passengers. Once established, automatic climate control rarely needs to be adjusted. On hot days, the ventilated seats quickly cool you off and keep you comfortable on extended rides.
Interior
The controls are sensibly positioned, and the steering wheel and driver’s seat may be adjusted to the comfort level of the majority of owners. The large doors of the Mustang make it challenging to fully open them in a small parking place. When crammed into the back, the rear passengers will have difficulty stepping beyond the folded-forward seat. Even for children, the backseat is constrained. The rear window is big enough to provide an almost full view of what’s behind you, and the windshield pillars are quite narrow.
Technology
Although high-tech features don’t exactly scream “muscle car,” the Mustang earns top credit for having them readily available. Excellent voice controls, an 8-inch touchscreen, and smartphone integration are all features of Ford’s Sync system. The optional digital instrument panel is an excellent secondary control screen because it works well and has a stylish design.
The sophisticated safety features (lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, etc.) are properly tuned to prevent erroneous warnings. The warning of an impending collision is startlingly sudden. On steep downhills, the adaptive cruise control maintains the programmed speeds and operates smoothly.
Storage
Although the Challenger still has the largest cargo space, the Mustang has a substantial advantage over the Camaro in this department. A wide aperture and low liftover height characterize the 13.5 cubic foot trunk. When it has the stock stereo, two golf bags can fit across the back.
There isn’t much room inside, just enough for personal belongings. The door pockets and cupholders are only average. Due to the small backseat and the tight area you have to load it in, installing a child’s car seat will be challenging.
Fuel efficiency
The V8-powered Mustang GT gets around average fuel efficiency for its class. On our 115-mile evaluation route, we got 23.6 mpg, although it took a lot of restraint to get there. That explains why we got a total of 15.1 mpg during the two-week test period.
Prices for the Big Three are essentially tied in the muscle car market. The basic and engine warranties offered by Ford are likewise typical for the sector. With the Mustang, you do receive roadside assistance but not free planned maintenance.
Even without any performance upgrades, driving the Mustang GT is a blast. It’s quick and stable, but if you want, you can also turn it into a tail-sliding hooligan machine. The optional active exhaust gives the automobile a fantastic sound and incites you to accelerate quickly. It can perform loudly, yet it can also be a nice daily driver. That implies that it can adapt to your personality or mood as needed.
As of this writing, Ford hasn’t made any formal announcements on the 2023 Mustang. If anything changes, we’ll revise our advice, but based on last year’s Mustang, we believe a GT is the best option. Along with having twice as many cylinders as the base EcoBoost model, it also has better handling, and braking, and is available with a ton of tech and comfort options. Not to mention the deep V8 exhaust rumble.
There are five standard trim levels for the Ford Mustang: EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium, GT, GT Premium, and Mach 1. The Mach 1 is only available as a coupe, whereas the EcoBoost and GT variants come in both coupe and convertible body styles. Both the four-cylinder and V8 engines are available in the Mustang, and both can be paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a 10-speed automatic transmission. Regardless of the model you select, the Mustang directs all of its power exclusively to the rear wheels. An independent review of the 760-horsepower Shelby GT500 is available.
