2020 Ford Mustang GT Coupe

The Mustang comes in two trims the GT and the GT Premium. Both the trims are powered by the same engine but the GT premium gets some performance upgrades like stiffer suspension, larger brakes, raised decklid spoiler and also a rear diffuser. You can also have the 10-speed automatic gearbox in the GT trim as an option. Along with these mechanical changes, the GT premium gets some zing to the interiors as well.

Trims	Ford Mustang GT	Ford Mustang GT Premium
MSRP	$35,355	$39,355
Key Features	Launch control	10-speed automatic transmission
	Vented Four-wheel disc brakes	Selectable Drive Modes
	Independent Rear Suspension	Pony projection lights
	Raised blade decklid spoiler	Rear diffuser
	Dual Exhaust with quad tips	Stiffer tuned suspension
	LED Headlights with LED signature lighting	Ambient lighting with 4.2-inch instrument cluster display
	LED sequential taillights	Larger brakes
	Manual climate control	Dual-Zone Electronic Automatic Climate Control
	Rear-view camera	8-inch Infotainment Display

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The GT Premium is just $4,000 more expensive than the standard GT and if performance is on your mind then it's certainly worth it. If performance is not your mind, you wouldn't be considering this car anyway. For a crisper experience at the track, Performance Pack 2 might be just as well in order.

"The Mustang GT gives us everything we need, and more. Its 460-hp V-8 crackles with excitement via an active exhaust system. Fitted with adaptive dampers, it corners flat and steers cleanly." -The Car Connection

Engine and Transmission

The V8 engine produces 460 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. The engine is really refined and energetic. It delivers power linearly and smoothly and when you put your foot down, it delivers a surge of power to push you on your seat. What's also amazing is the bassy burbling of the V8 engine. The engine note is really sweet.

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.

Models	Mercedes-AMG CLA-45	BMW M2 Competition	Chevrolet Camaro SS	Ford Mustang GT
MSRP	$53,100	$58,900	$49,995	$35,355
Engine	2.0L, Inline-4 turbocharged	Twin-Turbo 3.0 L Inline-6	6.2L V8	5.0L V8
Transmission	7-speed dual-clutch Automatic	6-Speed Manual	6-Speed Manual	6-speed Manual
Horsepower	375 hp @6000 rpm	405 hp @5230 rpm	455 hp @ 6000 rpm	460 hp @ 7000 rpm
Torque	350 lb.-ft. @ 2250 rpm	406 lb.-ft. @ 2350 rpm	455 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm	420 lb.-ft. @ 4600 rpm

The Ford Mustang GT has one of the larger engines in the comparison with its 5.0L, V8 which produces the most power as well. The Camaro SS with its 6.2L, V8 still produces 5 horsepower less. The Mercedes and the Beemer have quite small engines with lesser cylinders but the power output and performance in very much competitive.

Acceleration

The Ford Mustang GT does the 60 mph sprint in 4.6 seconds which is the slowest in the segment and is pretty average for the class. The acceleration is not out of the world but still thrilling enough. The engine can be silent enough to let you slip by the city streets unnoticed. Put it the Sport mode and you can get the chills down your spine as it tears up the canyon roads with a thunderous roar.

Models	Mercedes-AMG CLA-45	BMW M2 Competition	Chevrolet Camaro SS	Ford Mustang GT
0-60 MPH	4.1 sec	4.0 sec	3.9 sec*	4.6 sec
Quarter mile	12.3 @ 113 mph	12.5 sec @ 113 mph	12.3 sec @ 118 mph*	12.5@114.5 mph
Engine	2.0L, Inline-4 turbocharged	Twin-Turbo 3.0 L Inline-6	6.2L V8	5.0L V8
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	5.8	8.4	7.9	8.1

What's surprising to see is that the Mercedes and the Beemer with way smaller engines and lesser power beat the Mustang GT by quite a margin. Yes, the Mustang is the heaviest vehicle in the competition but the performance from the CLA-45 and the M2 Competition is commendable.

Ride and Handling

The Mustang GT is quite versatile when it comes to its ride quality. It has a pretty decent ride quality for a sports muscle car. You can spend long hours here and you'd be surprised at its refinement considering how performance-focused it is. Sure, the sharpest of bumps and potholes will manage to filter in but that's all right.

Does it mean that it compromises handling? Certainly not. Body roll is very well contained through fast corners and you can easily carry good speeds into a corner. Opt for the performance packages and the car rewards with even better handling but the suspension gets stiffer of course.

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 a good amount of feedback from the front wheels and you can tell how much grip your front tires have. It's precise and responsive.

Braking

The Mustang GT takes 118 ft to come to a stop from 60 mph and that's not particularly great numbers for a sports coupe. It has the disadvantage of being the heaviest but the car remains pretty stable under hard braking. The pedal feel is adequately firm and inspires confidence and you find good stopping power when you put your foot down.

Models	Mercedes-AMG CLA-45	BMW M2 Competition	Chevrolet Camaro SS	Ford Mustang GT
Brake Front (in.)	13.8	15.7	13.6	13.9
Brake Rear (in.)	13	15.0	13.3	13
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3450	3600	3685	3705
70-0 MPH (ft.)	150	NA	149	118

Fuel economy should not be your priority if you are looking at a big, burly, American muscle car. The Mustang GT is clearly a gas guzzler and it returns on 18 miles to the gallon combined. The Germans are way more efficient at this with the Mercedes CLA-45 returning 30 miles to the gallon combined but that's of course from a much smaller engine.

Models	Mercedes-AMG CLA-45*	BMW M2 Competition	Chevrolet Camaro SS	Ford Mustang GT
MPG (city)	23	18	16	15
MPG (highway)	26	21	25	25
MPG (combined)	30	26	19	18

"The Mustang interior is better than ever, with an evolutionary design that harks back to Mustangs of old while managing to be fully functional and livable." -Car and Driver

Seating and Comfort

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 and you could spend long hours here easily. Oh, and it also has ambient lighting.

Models	Mercedes-AMG CLA-45	BMW M2 Competition	Chevrolet Camaro SS	Ford Mustang GT
Passenger capacity	5	4	4	4
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.2/56/40.2	40.1/54.4/41.5	38.5/55/43.9	37.6/56.3/45.1
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	35.4/53.2/27.1	36.5/53.4/33	33.5/50.3/29.9	34.8/52.2/29

The seats are pretty comfortable and come wrapped in leather with contrast stitching. They are also heated and cooled and offer six-way power adjusts with lumbar support as well. They are quite supportive and hold you well indeed. The rear seats are unusable and can only fit small children if need be.

Infotainment

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 Germans 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.

Interior Features

• Aluminum foot pedals
• Ambient Lighting
• Bright chrome door speaker surround
• Satin chrome instrument cluster register vents and cupholder surrounds
• Angled Brush Aluminum instrument panel applique
• Illuminated door-sill scuff plates
• 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
• SYNC3 infotainment system

Cargo Capacity

The Mustang GT has a pretty good boot size in this class of 13.5 cu.ft. In fact, it is one of the larger boots only after the BMW. It's large enough to pack in the luggage of two people for a weekend-long drive. You can also fold down the rear seats for more practicality.

Models	Mercedes-AMG CLA-45	BMW M2 Competition	Chevrolet Camaro SS	Ford Mustang GT
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	13.1	13.8	9.1	13.5

"The Mustang’s exterior is a mash-up of old and new thinking. The same short-deck/long-hood formula from the original car is in place, bolstered by more aggressive aerodynamics, big wheel, and tire combos." -Kelley Blue Book

Design and Styling

The Ford Mustang GT is certainly a head-turner. It's probably one of the best-looking muscle cars that you can buy. The bonnet swoops gently into the large grille with the pony sitting in the middle. The headlamps are sleek and full LED. The fog lamps too are LED units. The front bumpers boost of some beautifully sculpted air scoops along with a subtle bumper lip.

The sides are flanked by two sharp lines that cut out the muscle of the car and make it really pronounced. A 5.0' badge proudly flaunts the front fender denoting it's a 5.0L engine. 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 GT' badge sits in the middle flanked by the signature sequential LED tail lamps on the two sides. If you opt for the performance package you get a large decklid wing or a subtle one if you keep it standard. Also, the quad exhausts along with the rear diffuser look very sporty indeed.

Dimensions and Weight

Models	Mercedes-AMG CLA-45	BMW M2 Competition	Chevrolet Camaro SS	Ford Mustang GT
Curb weight (lbs.)	3450	3600	3685	3705
Length(in)	184.7	176.2	188.3	188.3
Width(in)	88.0	73	74.7	75.4
Height(in)	55.7	55.5	53.1	54.4
Ground clearance (in)	3.7	4.8	TBD	TBD
Wheelbase (in)	106.3	106	110.7	107.1
Track width (in) F/R	61.3/61.5	62.2/63	63.0/62.9	62.3/64.9

The Mustang GT is certainly a large car. It is second longest vehicle after the Mercedes along with the Camaro SS. It is also the second widest and has the second-longest wheelbase too. While it may be a large car, it strictly remains a two-seater car.

Exterior Features

• Raised blade decklid spoiler
• Dual Exhaust with quad 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
• Pony projection lights
• Rear diffuser

The 2020 Ford Mustang GT 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.

Safety Features

• 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
• Front Collision Warning and Advanced Emergency Braking
• Safety Canopy side-curtain airbags
• SOS Post-Crash Alert System
• Illuminated entry
• Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Perimeter Alarm
• SecuriLock Passive Anti-Theft System

Ford Mustang GT vs Mercedes-AMG CLA 45

The AMG CLA 45 is very performance-focused. It has just a 2.0L, In-line 4 cylinder engine and yet it produces so much power. It's faster than the Mustang and really stands by the AMG prefix. It also has four usable seats but the tallest passengers would still not be comfortable at the rear.

That said, the CLA 45 is an aging car now. The exteriors and interiors are from the last generation Mercedes' and it does not make much sense to buy it in the year 2020. Also, the price is exorbitantly high. The Mustang does a much versatile job at a much lower price and that would be our pick among the two.

Ford Mustang GT vs BMW M2 Competition

Just like the CLA 45, the M2 is focused on performance. It is the perfect track toy and it's extremely fun. Its looks strong and aggressive and its interiors are impressive. It's German and it's obviously better with technology. The only down side of this car is its stiff suspension (or perhaps not if the track is your destination) and slightly numb steering.

However, the M2 Competition is almost twice the price of the Mustang and with a few options it could go even higher. Also, it's not as suited to daily driving as the Mustang. The Mustang remains the more versatile car even here. If you do not mind paying all the money and if performance is your only priority then the M2 is worth it. For everything else, it's the Mustang GT.

Ford Mustang GT vs Chevrolet Camaro SS

The Camaro SS is the truest competitor to the Mustang GT here. Both are thoroughbred muscle cars and both have large V8 engines churning out similar power outputs. In fact, the Camaro SS is the fastest car here in the competition.

Where the two cars differ is in their character. While the Mustang GT is a very versatile car, the Camaro SS is the one that is more performance focused and has that extra bit of the thrill factor. Both cars look impressive inside out and with a price margin really small, it comes down to personal taste and preference here. Still, the Mustang GT is better value for money and would be our pick here.

 

The Mustang has always been synonymous with classic American Muscle cars. No other car epitomizes the spirit of muscle cars as much as a Mustang does. The 2020 iteration as the Mustang GT has come a long way and its better than ever before. It looks handsome, has good interiors and packs in some decent amount of technology as well.

It's a very versatile car, it rides well and is great to live with every day. Yet, when the road gets twisty or you find that open stretch of road, put your foot down and the Mustang really comes to life. It handles well enough and it sure is a fast car. What's most impressive is the price at which the Mustang is offered. There is no doubt about it that at this price, there is no other car that has so much character and so much performance to offer. It really glorifies the pony on its hood.