2016 Ford Mustang GT Coupe

It retails at an MSRP of $32,395, and for that price, it goes against other muscle cars, namely the Chevrolet Camaro, the Dodge Challenger, and an equally nostalgic Japanese car - the Nissan 370Z. All of the cars were poster cars for many people in this generation, and to see a comparison among all them will help in deciding the best one out there.

The 2016 Ford Mustang GT is available in two trims: GT and GT Premium. The base GT trim comes in at $32,395 and comes with all the equipment the EcoBoost Mustang comes shod with, albeit the smaller engine. The GT Premium ups the features ante with trim-specific upgrades like Recaro sport seats, Premier Trim with Color Accent package, and the California Special package. The following table lists all the features on offer.

Apart from the three new appearance packages, the Mustang GT can also be equipped with the GT Performance Package that adds Brembo front brakes and a Torsen limited-slip differential. This also adds 19-inch wheels, shorter gearing for quicker acceleration, sport-tuned subscription, sport-tuned steering and stability control settings, and a larger radiator. 

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Seeing what both the trims have on offer, the GT Premium will be a very good choice for someone who wants a comfortable GT car for long-distance drives. If someone wants to track his/her car, one can go with the GT with a Performance package that adds a lot of upgraded performance parts to aid with the lap times. 

The “muscle” in a muscle car comes from the big V8 under the hood, and the 2016 Ford Mustang GT is no exception. It gets a massive naturally aspirated 5.0L V8 under the hood which churns out 435 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque which goes to the rear wheels only. This engine is paired to a 6-speed manual transmission which gets a very close-ratio gearbox for accurate shifting and can also be equipped with a launch control system for accurate launches. 

The independent rear suspension on the Mustang makes it a very controlled car around the corners and helps in maintaining the fun factor that everyone seeks. The steering is super responsive, and the car remains flat in the corners. One can feel the sharpness and immediate feedback of the steering while enjoying the twisty roads. The seats are super comfortable and provide immense support. The car’s dimensions are comfortable, and it is very much maneuverable around in the city. The powertrain, suspension, and comfortable seating help the occupants stay relaxed on the highways. 

The Chevrolet Camaro has a higher price tag than the rest but justifies the same by performing better and being quicker to accelerate. It is faster than the Mustang by the fourth of a second, while the quarter-mile is faster by a seventh. The Dodge Challenger, on the other hand, is the slowest of all despite the excess power and torque figure it generates as compared to the 370Z. 

When talking of naturally-aspirated V8s, fuel economy takes a back seat, and this is also one of the major reasons for Ford introducing the EcoBoost variants of Mustang in the market. The naturally-aspirated 5.0L motor in the Mustang GT is good for 15 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway, for a combined total of 19 MPG from its 16-gallon fuel tank. While the fuel economy might not be good for the city, the highway fuel economy does resonate with the GT nature of the car. 

The Mustang GT’s fuel economy is at par with the other muscle cars, but what lets it down is the tank capacity, which is the smallest in the comparison. Not a good trait for a car meant to go long distances. Speaking of which, the Nissan 370Z provides the most range and is also the most frugal of them all because of the smaller powertrain on offer. 

The interior of the 2016 Ford Mustang GT is as sporty as it is on the outside. The interior design is rather simple, but there is soft-touch material on all the surfaces, be it the door panel or the dashboard. Talking of the dashboard, it is simple, classy, and has leather stitching on it along with the usual AC vents. The center console houses the gear shifter, a small cubby space, and the center armrest. 

The seats are super soft and are leather-upholstered which aids in the durability and also in the looks. The support present on the seats is ample, and the power-adjustability adds a notch of convenience to them as well. Talking of features, the power-adjustable seats can also be equipped with heating, ventilation, and power-adjusted lumbar support in the GT Premium trim. The rear seats are upholstered in similar material but have no space to fit adults. 

The Nissan 370Z seats two people less, on paper at least, but the others’ rear row isn’t fit for adults either. The Challenger’s cabin is the widest and also the most spacious for the occupants, followed by the Mustang GT. The Camaro’s cabin has ample headroom but skimps on the legroom needed to be comfortable. In the cargo space as well, the Challenger takes the win, while the Mustang GT has the next-biggest boot. That being said, some of the highlighting interior features of the Mustang GT are:

• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Leather upholstery
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Recaro sport seats (optional)
• Aluminum and chrome interior accents
• Ambient interior lighting

How intuitive is the infotainment unit?

The 2016 Ford Mustang GT comes standard with a rather small 4.2-inch touchscreen as standard which supports Ford’s new SYNC 3 and comes equipped with Bluetooth for smartphone connection. The SYNC 3 now supports voice controls and voice recognition to make the drive convenient. The GT Premium upgrades the infotainment unit to a bigger 8-inch one and also boots with upgraded voice controls. 

Talking of the music system, the standard package includes a 9-speaker setup which upgrades to a 12-speaker Shaker audio system in the GT Premium. The GT Premium also includes a navigation system and HD radio. That being said, some of the highlighting features of the infotainment system are:

• 4.2-inch touchscreen
• 8-inch touchscreen
• Bluetooth
• 9-speaker setup
• 12-speaker Shaker audio system (optional)
• Navigation
• AM/FM/SiriusXM
• Dual USB ports

The 2016 Ford Mustang GT has a very aggressive front fascia which is donned in actual vents that cool down the hot V8 under the hood. The front LED headlamps look aggressive which also houses the DRLs. The front bumper houses the indicators, and the front grille is a fashion statement - a rather bold one. To the side, the Mustang has a typical pony car silhouette with a long hood and a sloping roof, which is complemented by the big 18-inch alloy wheels on offer. The rear is as nostalgic as the “Mustang” nameplate with three vertical slacks as tail lamps which is further complemented by the dual exhaust setup. 

The Nissan is the lightest of all cars and also the most compact, which is evident from the cabin. This does help it around the track and also makes it easier to maneuver around the city. Though it is the most compact, the Camaro is the most extreme out there with the more powerful engine. The Ford Mustang GT is very similar to the Camaro in terms of proportions, and that being said, some of the highlighting features are:

• LED headlights
• LED fog lights
• LED tail lights
• 18-inch wheels
• 19-inch black alloy wheels (optional)
• Rear spoiler
• Upgraded brakes

The 2016 Ford Mustang GT is a very fun-to-drive pony car, and in terms of safety, it is loaded to the brim with all the necessary safety aids and a revised chassis that is stronger and saves weight as well. As standard, the driver-assistance features are limited to cruise control, a rearview camera, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror, but the GT Premium adds other driver assistance like :

• Adaptive cruise control
• Forward collision alert
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Automatic wipers
• Rear cross-traffic alert

The 2016 Ford Mustang GT is one of the most nostalgic cars out there and does carry on the traditions well. The interiors are rather simple which might be too bland for some, but the comfort is on par for a car in this segment. The looks are mesmerizing and the aggressive fascia is justified with its engine under the hood, while the safety is impressive though the driver-assistance features might be limited on the GT but are ample on the GT Premium. All things considered, the Mustang GT is the best bet for the money in the market currently.