2020 Ford Mustang

Taking on the Mustang Ecoboost are the Dodge Challenger SXT, BMW 2 series and the Chevrolet Camaro. The Dodge and the Chevy are as much a classic as the Mustang and it’s joined by a rather sophisticated looking BMW 2 series but it’s actually a sleeper. Read ahead to find out which is the best coupe sports car at a bargain of downsized engines.

The Ford Mustang Ecoboost comes in two trims – the base version and the Premium version. Both trims are the same mechanically in that they are powered by the same engine and gearbox. The Premium trim gets you more features on board. These are just the entry-level Mustang models and then there are the GT and Bullitt versions which are far more powerful and better equipped. Read our reviews of the Mustang GT and Bullitt as well for some more details on the 2020 Mustang.

We Recommend

The base version falls a little on creature comforts. We’d recommend the Ecoboost Premium version as it comes decently well packed with quite some standard equipment. Also if you are buying a mustang, you are surely buying it for performance which is why the Ecoboost Performance Package is a worthy upgrade.

It gets you summer tires, performance-oriented suspension, upgraded radiator, larger brakes, and a lot more performance upgrades for just $2,500 When you have opted for the performance package, you can also check the box for the Magneride Suspension. However, if you are specking up your car tastefully, the prices escalate quite quickly.

“Examined in isolation, the engine is a good’un with thrifty fuel economy and strong torque characteristics in its favour. It’s not a bad thing to drive, feeling much more purposeful than rival coupes such as the Toyota 86, but it is significantly less exciting than the soulful and sonorous Mustang GT.” – The Drive

Engine and Transmission

The 2.3L, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine in the Mustang produces 310 hp @ 5,500 rpm and 350 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm. While those are great numbers for a 2.3L, 4 cylinder engine and the Mustang indeed is quite fast, there are a few shortcomings with this engine. It’s a high revving motor and it is fun only when you are pushing it hard.

The point of a smaller engine is that it should be easy to drive and quite livable with even in the city. Unfortunately, the engine is unresponsive and jerky at lower rpm ranges. It unleashes itself out on a highway which is when it’s fast and extremely fun. Also, we miss the burbling sound of a V8 engine as honestly, it does not sound all that great.

The engine is mated to a six-speed manual or an optional 10-speed automatic. Both the gearboxes are pretty good indeed. The manual has short throws and slots into gears easily and the clutch is easy too. The 10-speed automatic is smooth and quick when left in auto mode but there is quite some delay in the manual mode when tapping at the paddles.

When compared to its rivals, the Mustang Ecoboost has the most powerful engine. All cars are 4-cylinder motors of around 2.0L displacement but the Dodge Challenger has a 3.6L, V6 engine that still produces less power than the Mustang Ecoboost. The Ford and the Chevy come with 6-speed manuals whereas the Dodge and the BMW have 8-speed automatics.

Acceleration

The Mustang had the most powerful engine and it is no surprise that it is the fastest to sprint to 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds which is great from a 4-cylinder engine. There are other more powerful versions of the Mustang if you need more power - Ford Mustang GT. 

The Mustang is also the quickest to cross the quarter-mile mark at 13.0 seconds. What’s surprising though is that the Dodge which is supposed to be a drag king and is quite high on power than the rest, is, in fact, the slowest.

Ride and Handling

In its standard configuration, the Mustang Ecoboost has a fairly good balance between good ride quality and good body control. It soaks up most bumps and potholes quite well. It also remains quite well composed around the corners and you could be playful with this car. There is another more powerful version of the Mustang if you want outright power. 

However, when you opt for the performance package which brings in a lot of performance upgrades, the ride becomes quite unnecessarily stiff even in the comfort mode. The ride is bumpy for most times and really not enjoyable for daily driving. Of course, it’s highly rewarding when you have found that twisty mountain road as it remains extremely planted even when pushing hard out of a corner.

 The shortcomings of the performance suspension still has a solution. Opt for the Magneride suspension and it constantly monitors the road ahead of you and your driving style as well through several sensors to adjust the suspension accordingly. That is when the ride quality becomes livable with again. However, you have to pay further for this is quite displeasing.

The steering is pretty good too. It remains light and easy at low speeds and weighs up quite adequately as you pick up the pace. There is good amount of feedback from the front wheels and you can actually tell how much grip your front tires have. It’s precise and responsive and it will go exactly where you want it to go. The effort needed to steer the car at high speeds around a corner is also very rewarding.

Braking

When it comes to performance, braking matters as much as acceleration. The car needs to slow down and stop as fast as it gets up to the speed. The Ford Mustang Ecoboost is equipped with 12.6 inch brake rotors all around as standard. Bigger brakes are offered as options. 

The Ford Mustang takes 106 ft to come to a dead stop from 60 mph which is quite respectable in this class. However, it’s not the best in class as the Dodge and the Chevy take shorter distances to stop. The Chevy does it in an incredible 93 feet and the BMW fares last with 113 ft. These are the standard brakes on the Mustang. The performance package gets larger discs, both front and rear and that will surely improve the braking distance of the Mustang Ecoboost.

When considering a performance car, the fuel economy might not matter the most. Having said that, the Mustang Ecoboost returns 21 miles to the gallon in city driving and 31 miles per gallon on the highway. 

The Mustang Ecoboost has a pretty respectable fuel economy in the class and is at par with its competitors. It’s not the best as that title goes to the German, of course, it does. The Mustang returns 25 miles to the gallon combined which is similar to the Chevrolet Camaro. The Dodge has the least impressive fuel economy in the class at 23 miles to the gallon combined.

“The standard leather seats feel plush, but have narrow cushions, which is surprising considering the size of the average American derriere.” – Which Car

Design

Just like the exteriors, the interiors are characterized by strong lines and bold surfaces. The interior design is sporty but there are quite a few cheap plastics which is a letdown in such a car. The AC vents sit on top of the dashboard with the oil pressure gauge and fuel filler gauge in the center with the performance package. The 8-inch infotainment screen sits below it followed by the climate controls and toggle switches for various vehicle settings.

The toggle switches feel really cool to use. The gear selector is a nice chunky one and feels good to operate. On the passenger side, the dashboard has a ‘Mustang’ badge on a sculpted surface and you can trim your interiors with aluminum or carbon fiber. The optional 12-inch digital instrument cluster looks quite cool and is worth the upgrade. Overall, it’s a good place to be. Mustangs have not always had the best interiors but they come a long way now.

Interior Dimensions

The Mustang does not have the most spacious interiors. It’s still a pretty comfortable cabin. The seats are nice and supportive and they hold you well with good bolstering. They come wrapped in leather and can also be heated. The rear seats are very cramped and are quite small even for children. It strictly remains a two-seater.

While technically all of the vehicles in this bunch are 4 seaters, none of them offer enough space in the rear seats. Having said that, the Dodge Challenger SXT offers the most room to the rear passengers.  

Infotainment System

The infotainment system is pretty easy to use and responses to touch quite adequately. It’s still not the best system in the world as the German’s are way ahead in terms of technology and offer much more than you could ask for. Also, for something in 2020, we would have liked better graphics on the central screen. The graphics on the digital instrument cluster are still better. There is smartphone integration as well if Ford’s Sync 3 system is not to your taste. Still, it will get most things done quite well.

Cargo Volume

If you’re planning a weekend excursion while taking your EcoBoost Mustang out of town, you may want to pack lighter than what you normally would. With a 13.5 cubic-feet trunk, the Mustang can only hold so much after you put in a few backpacks.

The Dodge Challenger is a much better companion, both in case of luggage and passenger space. Still, the Mustang does better than the Camaro, that boasts a paltry 9.1 cubic feet in the trunk. Moreover, the trunk on the Mustang can be remotely operated and is easy to load in stuff thanks to its wide berth.

Interior Features

• Aluminum foot pedals
• Ambient Lighting
• Satin chrome instrument cluster register vents and cupholder surrounds
• Angled Brush Aluminum instrument panel appliqué
• Intelligent Access with push-button start
• Leather-wrapped Steering Wheel with Cruise and Audio Controls and Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column
• Premium door trim
• 9-speaker sound system with amplifier
• SYNC 3 system

“First impressions are strong, thanks to muscular bodywork set off by black wheels and massive quad exhaust pipes. It’s fair to assume retro-tough styling is backed up by a throbbing V8 under the bonnet, but that isn’t the case here.” – The Drive

Design

The Ford Mustang Ecoboost is certainly a head-turner. It’s probably one of the best-looking muscle cars that you can buy. This year, the bonnet has been made to swoop further into the large grille with the pony sitting in the middle to give it an aggressive stance and also make it aerodynamic. The headlamps are sleek and full LED. The bumper has triangular air intakes along with LED fog lamps and also a subtle bumper lip. The front is bold and if you have a keen eye, you’d notice the differences from the GT.

The sides are flanked by two sharp lines that cut out the muscle of the car and make it really pronounced. The bulgy bonnet followed by a swooping roofline makes for a beautiful silhouette. The standard 18-inch wheels look good enough but you can, of course, opt for larger ones to give it an even sportier look. At the rear, the Pony badge sits in the middle flanked by the signature sequential LED tail lamps on the two sides. The rear is otherwise typically Mustang finished off with dual exhaust pipes.

Exterior Dimensions

When it comes to performance-oriented cars, exterior dimensions do matter a lot. The size and weight of a vehicle directly affect the handling. By no means is the Mustang small. It weighs in over 3500 lbs.  

The Mustang GT is certainly a large car. It is the second-longest vehicle after the Dodge Challenger SXT which is quite long further. It is also the second widest and has the third-longest wheelbase. While it may be a large car, it strictly remains a two-seater car.

Exterior Features

• 18-inch silver aluminum wheels
• Dual Exhaust tips
• Easy Fuel capless fuel filler
• Daytime running lights
• LED Fog Lamps
• LED Headlights with LED signature lighting
• LED front park turn lamps
• Hood Vents
• LED sequential taillights
• Heated body-color mirrors with turn signals
• Mild Side Skirts
• Rear diffuser

The 2020 Ford Mustang Ecoboost has not been tested by NHTSA or IIHS yet as it’s a new car and we cannot offer you their ratings. However, by the amount of safety features that Ford has loaded into this car, we can tell you that it’s going to be a pretty safe place to be in. Here’s a list of the standard safety features found in a Mustang Ecoboost.

• 3-point safety belt restraint system for all seating positions
• Glove-Box-Door-Integrated Knee Airbag
• AdvanceTrac with Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Driver's knee airbag
• Dual front airbags
• Front-seat side-impact airbags
• Personal Safety System for driver and front passenger
• Safety Canopy side-curtain airbags
• SOS Post-Crash Alert System
• Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Perimeter Alarm
• Remote keyless entry
• SecuriLock Passive Anti-Theft System

Ford Mustang Ecoboost vs Dodge Challenger SXT

The Challenger SXT looks like an old-school muscle car on the outside and rather cool that way and yet its tech loaded and comfortable on the inside. It certainly has better interiors than the Dodge but both cars look differently handsome. The engine in the Dodge is better than the one in the Mustang. It’s a 3.6L, naturally aspirated V6 and it sounds amazing. It also has better power delivery than the Mustang.

The Dodge Challenger SXT also has a very good ride quality. It has very good straight line performance but isn’t so good round the corners as it tends to body roll a bit. The Mustang on the other hand has good handling and its gearbox is also faster to respond. It’s very difficult to choose between these two cars and it probably comes down to personal taste or preferences of what you want from your car. The Dodge is a drag king whereas the Mustang is more at home on mountain roads.

Ford Mustang Ecoboost vs BMW 2 Series 230i

The Beemer might be less on power but it certainly is not short of any performance. It’s everything you would expect a German car to be and that brings the difference. It’s extremely fun to drive and yet can be adapted to be a very comfortable car. It has much better technology than any of the American cars and the interiors are also better than the Mustang.

It may not look so imposing as the Mustang but it still looks pretty decent like all BMWs. It does not have the numbers of the Mustang but the BMW is not about numbers on paper but a real-world smile on your face. However, the price which it is offered at, kills the deal for it. It’s the most expensive car and for that reason alone, the Mustang makes for a much better buy.

Ford Mustang Ecoboost vs Chevrolet Camaro

The Chevrolet Camaro is a great daily driver and could still make you look very cool. It does not have quite the performance of the Mustang or the Dodge but it’s certainly not far behind. It fact, it seems capable of more than what it is and sounds like you wouldn’t expect a 4-cylinder engine to sound. The interiors are very stylish but the infotainment system might be a little cumbersome to use.

The Camaro does not have the best ride quality. On the upside, it has been rewarded with good handling just like the Mustang. There’s no beating the looks of the Camaro though. It’s very busy but you just can’t ignore it. Boiling down to a choice between these cars is again about your preferences. If you want a great daily driver with good performance and stunning looks, it’s the Camaro. If performance is your priority, it’s the Mustang any day.

The Mustang Ecoboost is not what you expect it to be. Being a 2.3L, 4-cylinder, you’d expect it to be an easy car to drive and one that is a great daily driver also packing some performance for your adventures. It is not a good daily driver but one that does perform well and really needs to be pushed hard. However, by the time it does perform well, you have already specked it up pretty well and the price has escalated quite a bit. In full spec, the Mustang Ecoboost could be more expensive than a Mustang GT Premium.

And if performance is all that this car has to offer, then it makes much more sense to save a little more and buy the Mustang GT Premium with a V8 engine, much more performance and if you have some money left, you can spec it up even further to make yourself a really capable muscle car.

FAQ's about the 2020 Ford Mustang Ecoboost

The Ford Mustang has been one of the highest selling muscle cars in the world. Let's go through some of the frequently asked questions about the Ford Mustang Ecoboost.

How quick is the 2020 Ford Mustang Ecoboost?

When it comes to straight-line performance, a lot is expected from a muscle car. The 2020 Mustang Ecoboost does 0-60 MPH in just 5 seconds and the quarter mile is breached in 13 seconds. 

Is the Ford Mustang Ecoboost quicker than the Chevrolet Camaro?

Yes! The Ford Mustang Ecoboost is a tad quicker in both quarter mile and 0-60 MPH timings when compared to its Chevy rival.

Are the rear seats in a Mustang useable?

Sadly no. While the rear seats of a Mustang can be used to carry around groceries and other items, they don't offer enough space for a human adult to fit in comfortably. 

Is the 2020 Ford Mustang Ecoboost covered under warranty?

Ford covers the 2020 Mustang for 3 years/36,000 miles (basic warranty) and 5 years/60,000 miles (drivetrain warranty).