- Exterior: Even More Mustang
- Interior: Embracing The Cliché
- Drivetrain: Relentless Power
- On The Road: A Canyon Carver And Athletic GT In One
- Should You Buy The 2024 Mustang GT?
Driver satisfaction is guaranteed.
As the electrification of cars spreads further and further, the Ford Mustang GT enters its seventh generation with no compromise. Instead, Ford has embraced the current technology and made it part of the Mustang's identity. This refers to the latest iteration of a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated Coyote V8 under the hood pushing 480 hp and 418 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual transmission or a ten-speed automatic. The seventh-generation Mustang is all new, but it feels like more of an evolution than a whole different car, which makes sense as the Mustang is a mature pony car now seeking perfection before the wave of electrification finally engulfs it.
We spent a day out in the canyons of Southern California with the GT Convertible and the coupe because, well, we're fortunate that it's our job to do so occasionally.
Exterior: Even More Mustang
Walking around the 2024 Mustang, it's quite impressive that, after almost 60 years, Ford's designers have made it feel even more like a Mustang. The width hasn't changed, but by squaring off the front and including a deep groove across the trunk lid gives the perception of extra width. We often hear the words 'bolder' and 'more aggressive' from marketing departments, but with touches like the new hood scoop and lights, it's certainly applicable here. Ford likes to say the new generation Mustang embodies its brawniness, and that's hard to argue with.
The tri-bar LED headlamps are standard throughout the range, while paint options include 11 colors with the two new shades, Vapor Blue and Yellow Splash, alongside new stripe designs and colors. There's also a new Bronze Appearance Package available on upper trims, which you can see on the convertible version in the photos. It adds 19-inch Sinister Bronze wheels and matching exterior badges. The Nite Pony Package can also be optioned on to all models for $1,195, which will add 19-inch Ebony Black wheels, black badges, black mirror caps, a painted black roof, a black blade decklid spoiler, and black bezels around the headlamps.
Interior: Embracing The Cliché
It's reached the point that automakers using fighter plane cockpits as inspiration has become an eyeball-rolling cliché, but Ford gets a pass with the Mustang as fighter planes are part of the reason the Mustang was named Mustang – it feels as driver-centric inside as claimed. The curved dual-screen setup is sized well so as not to overwhelm the interior while giving the new Unreal Engine graphics room to breathe when it shows off the new mode-dependent visuals, including line-lock and drift mode, when equipped.
The infotainment setup is smooth and quick, exploiting the gaming engine running the graphics, but the software designers haven't lost sight of useability. Ford's latest Sync 4 infotainment package that's standard here is its best yet.
Drivetrain: Relentless Power
Under the hood of the 2024 Mustang GT is the next iteration of the Coyote 5.0-liter V8. It features a revised dual intake and dual throttle body induction system, along with structural improvements and a new oil pan. The Coyote engine was already excellent, but it breathes even freer now and delivers 480 hp and 415 ft-lb of torque in standard GT spec. Add the $1,225 Active Valve Performance Exhaust system, and power can peak at 486 hp and 418 ft-lb. You don't need the active exhaust for the V8 to sound good, but it helps – and not just inside the car. From a distance, you can identify the Coyote V8 in Sport mode from a quarter mile away in a canyon.
Those that have driven recent 5.0-liter Mustangs will already be familiar with how relentless the torque can be when pulling from just about any speed, if you have the right gear engaged. Horsepower reaches its peak at 7,200 rpm, while torque hits its stride at 4,900, making the engine incredibly rewarding to rev out. While it's not a night and day difference over the previous iteration, it's clearly Ford's best and most characterful Mustang GT engine yet.
On The Road: A Canyon Carver And Athletic GT In One
The Mustang GT is a different beast to the EcoBoost version, and it's telling in the fact that Ford didn't put us on the autocross track with the GT, instead selecting roads that aren't too tight and twisty. Our conclusion is that the EcoBoost is shaping up to be the better dedicated sports car, while the GT is the car you want for its outright speed and power. Think middleweight fighter versus heavyweight: The heavyweight might not be as nimble, but it can damn well bob, weave, and then deliver a heavy punch over and over again.
The Mustang GT didn't want to turn in rotate quite like the EcoBoost did in corners, but when carving more sweeping canyon roads, it's an accomplished joy. Like with the EcoBoost, the GT showed us quickly that we could pick up the pace and build a good rhythm, then use overtaking spots with absolute confidence to pass with clinical accuracy.
A manual transmission is standard on the Mustang GT, and it's not the best we've ever used. It's still excellent, though, with a higher-biting clutch that's easy to use. The optional ten-speed auto is quick, precise, and surprisingly smooth with the hammer down from zero to whatever you please. Steering-wise, you can feel it's quicker than before but just as accurate.
We couldn't feel much difference between the coupe and convertible in the chassis, and both rode equally well. It's worth noting both cars we drove included the GT Performance Package, which adds Brembo brakes, heavy-duty front springs, a K-Brace, a performance raised rear wing, and a Torsen limited-slip diff. The Magneride suspension system wasn't as smooth as we expected on the freeway in normal mode. However, out in the canyons, it felt the same but kept the chassis roll in check brilliantly.
The GT is all about that overall experience, and we think Ford has nailed it. It would be as fearsome on the track as it is carving a canyon, and just as at home on the daily commute or a long weekend road trip. Inside, it's comfortable and quiet (at least until the exhaust is invoked) even on sticky summer tires, and the infotainment is a slick and stylish delight to use.
In the grand scheme of things, the EcoBoost is the better sports car when things are tight and twisty, but the GT is the more Mustang-ey Mustang, and we could have gone on into the night just driving around and enjoying that.
Should You Buy The 2024 Mustang GT?
There's a reason the Mustang is beloved, and many enthusiasts will only drive the V8. It has the power to back up its look, and its driving satisfaction level pushes the needle right into the red. If autocross or hitting those small, tight roads is your thing, the EcoBoost is a genuine option, irrelevant of price. With the EcoBoost, your fuel budget won't take quite the hammering that the Coyote V8 will undoubtedly give it.
Those who still want more from their 'Stang will enjoy the Dark Horse with its performance-enhanced powertrain calibration and 500 horses on tap. If cost isn't a concern, the Dark Horse is the ultimate performance Mustang on the other end of the lineup to the EcoBoost, but the 2024 GT will satisfy everyone between those margins – and then some. It's a genuinely wonderful car that blends the modern with the old-school. There's a reason that the Mustang is an American icon, and the seventh generation of GT tells us that it's not fading.
Keyword: 2024 Ford Mustang GT First Drive Review: The Most Mustang-ey Mustang