- What’s New?
- Exterior: Getting It Right
- Interior: Modern And Driver Focused
- Powertrain: Embracing The Mustang Life
- On The Road And Track
- Should You Rush Out And Order A 2024 Mustang EcoBoost?
The EcoBoost name doesn't do justice to the new-gen four-cylinder Mustang.
When the four-cylinder engined Mustang EcoBoost showed up, it was seen as the entry-level Ford Mustang that took a very overt backseat to the more desirable V6 and V8 mills. But now it has matured, the V6 engine option has been retired, and we believe the EcoBoost-powered Mustang has become its own car rather than just the Mustang you buy because you can't afford the V8. Of course, being less expensive than the V8-powered Mustang GT does mean it is technically the entry-level 'Stang, but that doesn't mean you should discount it. If you don't want a V8, then the EcoBoost is the perfect modern pony car.
Why wouldn't you want a V8 in your Mustang, though? Well, it's 2023 and gasoline is expensive; it costs a lot more to keep up regular maintenance on a V8 than on a four-cylinder engine, and the latter gives a very different driving experience. Whether that experience is better is a matter of preference and driving style. Either way, the 2024 Mustang enters the ring as the seventh generation of Ford's most iconic car.
For its media launch, Ford invited us to a location in Southern California where we could run the EcoBoost version through an autocross track, try out the new electronic drift brake, and then unleash it through some tight mountain roads.
What’s New?
The 2024 Mustang feels more like a heavily facelifted and tweaked car than a new generation. The new interior is a big departure from the previous generation, particularly with the upgraded digital cluster's 12.4-inch screen that can be optionally merged into one display with the 13.2-inch center screen. The exterior changes are what Ford describes as an edgier look, with EcoBoost and GT models getting differentiated front ends and an interesting design choice on the rear of both.
Power for the EcoBoost version is a juicy 315 horsepower from the turbocharged 2.3-liter engine – an increase of five horsepower over the previous model. However, the manual option for the Mustang EcoBoost is gone since not enough people were choosing to row their own gears, so Ford made the decision to cut it. Weirdly enough for enthusiasts, the take rate for manuals is down, but Ford has put a lot of time and money into working with professional drifters to create the new electronic drift brake.
Exterior: Getting It Right
Ford is incredibly good at managing its iconic models and understands its brand and customers when it comes to the Mustang. Hence, this is an evolution of the recognizable shape and features of the Mustang. Words used in the presentation included 'brawny' and 'edgy,' and it's hard to argue that the new Mustang embodies both. There are plenty of small changes, like new hood vents and redesigned front splitters. But the big changes are that the Mustang now has a blockier look while maintaining its wide hips and aggressive stance. The back is where the most interesting work has happened, with a shorter overhang and a deep horizontal crease that creates a distinctive shadow. The deep crease is a clever touch that makes the Mustang look wider while its width remains the same.
On launch, there are 11 colors available, including two new shades, Vapor Blue and Yellow Splash. Having a convertible Mustang is a large part of the nameplate's legacy. The latest model makes use of a single physical latch for the drop-top with one-touch activation to put it down.
Interior: Modern And Driver Focused
It amused us when Ford described the interior of the new Mustang as “disruptive” while also claiming that inspiration was taken from the somewhat clichéd fighter jet cockpit. In reality, we don't see anything disruptive inside – unless that's aimed at Mustang enthusiasts who resent anything digital.
The new screens are well-judged in size so as not to overwhelm the interior while giving plenty of room to display everything clearly. This includes some slick graphics. Ford has used the Unreal Engine 3D gaming engine to great effect to make the menus colorful and interactive. When you select personalized modes, the results are rendered on the screens beautifully and quickly. The splash screens when entering the cars are equally as beautiful, and the overall effect takes a lot from video game culture.
The interior is stylish and comfortable with the controls laid out logically, but we did have one gripe. We only got to drive cars with the optional Recaro seats, and how low you can get the seat is limited. This won't be an issue for shorter people, but for six-footers, the driving position is higher than what's ideal for a sports car.
Our test cars featured the upgradeable Ford’s Synch 4.0 infotainment system and a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, the latter being an optional extra on Premium trim models.
Powertrain: Embracing The Mustang Life
The 2024 Mustang EcoBoost comes with a slight horsepower boost over the 2023 model, thanks to a new 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. It's paired to a new 10-speed automatic transmission. There's no option for a manual 'box on the EcoBoost anymore, but there is a deep and expressive exhaust that can be upgraded with the Active Valve Performance Exhaust package. It's the same setup that comes standard on the Coyote V8-powered Dark Horse models, which do have a manual transmission. The EcoBoost gets a standard limited-slip differential.
The seventh-generation Mustang in EcoBoost form makes 315 hp and 350 ft-lb of torque, and it's quick. Quick enough to embarrass older GTs and torquey enough to give you a genuine Mustang shove as it takes off. The V6 version has been gone since 2016, and the performance from the EcoBoost is why. Make no mistake, it's no replacement for the V8 if that's what you crave, but if you want a well-balanced sports car, it's damn near perfect.
On The Road And Track
Our introduction to the 2024 Mustang EcoBoost came on a course set out to show off the new electronic drift brake. There's a lot of development time and clever engineering involved, but the end result is that to get the Mustang drifting when it's equipped, you come off the pedals and, while aiming where you want go, you pull the handbrake up. Once you have the back out, you get on the throttle to continue the drift. It sounds simple, but it takes more practice than we had time to get right. We'll take the demonstration from the pros as proof that it works as intended.
Handbrake turns in car parks haven't really been our thing since our teenage years, so we were much more interested in the autocross track Ford had laid out. It wouldn't challenge a professional, but it gave a great demonstration of how capable the Mustang EcoBoost is with the High Performance Package equipped. This $3,475 option adds a 3.55 Torsen limited-slip rear axle, heavy-duty front springs, Brembo brakes, unique chassis tuning, upgraded ABS and stability control, an upsized rear sway bar, and a variety of aesthetic bits and pieces.
The result is a front that's happy to dive in while the back is willing to rotate, which gives the Mustang excellent turn-in ability without becoming unstable at the limit. The balance is excellent and instantly confidence inspiring – and bear in mind this writer hasn't driven a Mustang, let alone an EcoBoost, in a few years. The performance-focused limited-slip diff, Magneride suspension, and extra chassis bracing are part of the equation we were playing with, so it remains to be seen how a standard EcoBoost will behave in comparison.
Another part of the recipe across the Mustang range is a quicker steering ratio. It feels like the current ratio is as fast as you would want on a car that's meant primarily for the road.
Finally, we were let loose on the roads, and we were immediately pleasantly surprised – the suspension is forgiving for cruising. Considering how well it handled while keeping the chassis flat on the track, we were expecting some harshness on California freeways and the recently flood-hammered back roads out in the canyons.
We were delighted to find the prescribed route included one of our favorite pieces of road that drops out of Mount Baldy and into Glendale. It's a tight and curvy, but beautifully flowing, piece of road which we typically save for smaller sports cars like the MX-5 or GR86, but the Mustang EcoBoost ate it up smoothly at an impressive pace. The quick steering came into play, and we were able to exploit its willingness to turn in and the back wanting to rotate. Out of tight corners and coming on power, the Mustang just wanted to straighten up and aim for the next corner.
Arriving back at the track and setting up to take photos, we had a good think about the idea of an entry-level Mustang. Maybe without the High Performance Package it can be relegated to 'entry level,' but with the upgrade, it struck us that we had just spent an afternoon with a remarkably accomplished sports car. It's quick, balanced, and has plenty in reserve to take to the track after carving some mountain roads at six- or seven-tenths. It's also comfortable, and you can actually fit two people in the back. There's a usable trunk, to boot. There's clearly a real discussion to be had; if the V8-powered GT version is the only Mustang to aspire to for driving enthusiasts, then the EcoBoost is definitely the stepping stone. But that doesn't negate its achievements.
Should You Rush Out And Order A 2024 Mustang EcoBoost?
If you've just bought a 2023 Ford Mustang, you may want to keep your powder dry. Sure, the new infotainment system is a huge step up for Ford and, we can assure you, it adds to the Mustang ambiance rather than detracting from its appeal to those that want to keep things old-school. While the standard-spec Mustang EcoBoost will likely be for those that want the Mustang but aren't so interested in carving back roads, the High Performance Package-equipped version will satiate enthusiasts that aren't compelled by having a V8 under the hood.
The Mustang EcoBoost is a remarkable, world-class sports car that's equally at home cruising through town and down the freeway as it is lighting up backroads or setting times at the track. It demands respect, and it gets it from us. Perhaps it's time for Ford to give it a better name, though – EcoBoost is a remnant of the early days of downsizing, but now that the four-cylinder turbo is laying down respectable power, it doesn't quite do it justice, in our books.
Keyword: 2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost First Drive Review: Not Just The Entry-Level 'Stang