When Ford first announced they were putting a 4 cylinder Ecoboost engine into the Mustang, automotive enthusiasts across the states went into a panic. Surely this was a mistake: How could Ford do something so blasphemous? The Mustang since its inception has been a symbol of raw masculinity no other competing car possessed: I mean, the Mustang was a sports coupe still utilizing live rear axle for crying out loud. How did I feel about it? Well, I mean, being the 21st-century man-child that I am, how could they not put a 4 cylinder engine in the Mustang?
“The Ecoboost Mustang was a foregone conclusion.”
Since 2011, hell, maybe 2005, the Mustang has become more sophisticated each and every year. In 2011, in lieu of the Camaro’s success—and maybe Michael Bay’s—Ford got their act together and replaced both the V6 and the V8 in their outgoing lineup with engines that produced more power and possessed a better power to weight ratio than the competition. You see, Ford, arguably for the first time, was putting a real emphasis on real performance and not just performance in a straight line. Sure, we still had monsters like the GT500 that could make the tires scream in any gear, but also the re-imagining of the Boss 302 that was capable of challenging the BMW M3 on the track. So with the approaching 50th anniversary of the Mustang, the question then was: How does Ford celebrate? There was a number of ways to do this, but looking at the trend of increasing technology and efficiency in their Focus, Fusion, and F-150 lineups, I think it was clear from the beginning that the 2015 Mustang was going to be the most sophisticated Mustang to date and that an Ecoboost variant was a foregone conclusion.
Design
So what makes the 2015 Mustang special? First, there’s the new body. The 2015 Mustang is a sweet balance of pony car muscle, Fusion-esque luxury, and retro styling. From the back, the new 2015 Mustang is a throwback to the muscle cars of old. With its huge haunches, sequential tail lights, and fastback design, the Mustang looks ready for speed. Looking at the 2015 Mustang from the side, most, if not all, of its muscle car angst is disguised.
From the side, you might mistake the 2015 Mustang for something else, like a Mazda 6 or Honda Accord coupe. The side features some nice lines that really tie the front and back together and puts the fastback design in full display. All in all, I’d say the side profile is a bit restrained and if it wasn’t for the fastback design the 2015 Mustang would look pretty ordinary.
The front of the car is pure 21st century Ford. While it shares many of the same lines and curves as the Fusion, especially the headlights, the Mustang still retains its signature aggressive look. There’s still the long sweeping hood and hexagonal grill and pony logo to tie it all together, but there’s something else to go along with it. Never before has a Mustang looked so shark-like: by stretching the headlights back in a Fusion kind of way, it gives the Mustang the impression of movement even when it’s standing completely still. The 2015 Mustang looks genuinely aerodynamic for the first time in its history.
Speaking of things aero, the interior of the 2015 Mustang is pure fighter jet aesthetic. The interior is all new in the 2015 Mustang: The dash is new; the steering wheel is new; the gauges are new; and what’s this? What are these levers behind the steering wheel? Oh my word the Mustang now has paddle shifters. Who would’ve thought this day would ever come? And they work too!
On the inside of the 2015 Mustang, you’ll also find (on premium models anyways) different flip switches to change things like your steering feel, driving mode, and traction control. The switches, like everything else in the car, feels premium to the touch and nicely weighted. Ford has also included an 8-inch touchscreen with MyFord Touch that also serves as a screen for the now standard backup camera on all models of the 2015 Mustang. Other standard features now include push-to-start, remote-start, and keyless entry, making the 2015 Mustang the most well-equipped Mustang to date. This brings us to the Ecoboost Mustang; a 4 cylinder muscle car embodying the spirit of efficiency and power.
Performance
The Ecoboost Mustang is an interesting car to say the least. The engine puts out 310 hp at 5,500 rpm and 320 lb/ft of torque at just 2,500 rpm, which is a great improvement over the outgoing V6’s 280 lb/ft of torque. The car’s throttle is substantially more responsive than the V6 model although the V6 surprising is a more willing partner at the higher revs, but you really wouldn’t know any of this casually driving the car around town.
“The Ecoboost Mustang embodies the spirit of efficiency and power.”
The car starts quietly just like any other car and the exhaust note is rather bland for something that is supposed to be sporty. My suspicion is that Ford has tuned some of the performance out of this car so that it better falls between the V6 and the V8. Otherwise, people might not even consider the V8. This is supported by the fact that the upcoming 2016 Focus RS—using the same 2.3, 4 cylinder engine mind you—looks to be pushing somewhere between 320 to 350 hp and substantially more torque. As is, the 2015 Ecoboost Mustang can reach 60 MPH in about 5.6 seconds and get through the quarter mile in about 14 seconds. The 2015 Ecoboost Mustang is certainly no slouch, but it’s certainly feasible that with a few mods—exhaust, CAI, intercooler, and a tune—the Ecoboost variant will a become a different animal altogether.
The not so good
So what’s not so good about the 2015 Ecoboost Mustang? Well, for starters, there is a sound symposer that channels some engine noise into the cabin in the same fashion as the Focus ST, which is nice, but Ecoboost Mustang is really lacking a distinctive voice. It’s very tame sounding and even a bit harsh at the higher revs. The exhaust note from the outside of the car is especially tame, even when the car is pushed to its limits. Sure, you do get a little bit of the turbo spool and blow off sound, but seeing how this car is so well insulated on the inside, you’ll be hard pressed to notice it without sticking your head out the window while jamming the throttle completely to the floor.
The 2015 Mustang is also a very big car—for a sports coupe anyhow—and you can really feel it. The car weighs nearly 3600 lbs fully equipped which is slightly better than the 2014 V6 model but still heavy by sport coupe standards. And while slightly shorter in length than the 2014 Mustang, the 2015 Mustang is nearly an inch wider. For some, this change too small to be noticeable, but for someone accustomed to driving smaller cars, the 2015 Mustang feels enormous, and enormous cars don’t always inspire confidence. This isn’t to say the 2015 Ecoboost Mustang isn’t capable on a windy road because it is, but you might need a few practice runs to really understand what the car is capable of.
Conclusion
Once you really start to drive this car for an extended period of time, you will really start to appreciate the subtle refinements of this new Ecoboost Mustang. My suspicion is that most people who are looking at the 2015 Ecoboost Mustang are looking for something that is fun, sporty, but can still handle the commute without burning a ton of fuel. You see, the Mustang has never been more livable and fun to drive than it is now with the Ecoboost. Rated at 31 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg on the city, the Ecoboost Mustang is the most fuel efficient Mustang to date. Couple this with the new independent rear suspension and the improved interior and it really doesn’t feel like you’re driving a Mustang anymore but something else entirely. Whatever this thing is, I can tell you with complete certainty that it’s a good thing. And for those of you who really want speed and that traditional muscle car song, there’s always the GT.
The 2015 Ecoboost Mustang is a triumph in the sense that it continues the long tradition of offering consumers a sporty drive at an affordable price. The Ecoboost Mustang starts at $25,300 for the base model and 29,300 for the premium. This is a competitive price for a car that matches the GT of five years ago in power and gets nearly 10 mpg better on the highway, which is a great achievement in its own right; however, the Ecoboost Mustang is really not about power as much as it is about refinement, and you can definitely feel it on the road. The 2015 Ecoboost Mustang is the 21st-century pony car and retains its crown as the best bang for your buck sports car under $30,000.
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