Ford Mustang review

The legendary Ford Mustang was originally launched in 1964, but there’s never been a production right-hand drive version… until now.

Yes, at last Brits are able to head down to a selected Ford dealer to order a muscle car.

Ford says demand has been greater than expected and, so far, more than 1,000 UK customers have received their new Mustangs, while thousands more are on order.

The Mustang is available in the UK as a convertible or fastback with a choice of two petrol engines – a 2.3-litre or a mighty V8.

I drove the Fastback 5.0 V8 GT with 6-speed manual and the Convertible 2.3 EcoBoost, paired with a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

No matter which body style you choose, the first impression is one of size. It’s big.

Slightly smaller than a BMW 7-Series, it’s bonnet-bulgingly huge up front, but here’s the thing – it doesn’t feel unwieldy.

Of course it’s more at home cruising on A-roads and motorways, while parking can be a challenge and narrow country lanes are best avoided, but this is no ordinary car.

Slip behind the wheel, fire her up and the Mustang immediately puts a smile on your face. The 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine is powerful enough for most. It may not produce the glorious growl of the V8, but it sounds nice enough.

So far, nearly seven out of 10 UK Mustang customers have opted for the V8 engine over the four-cylinder. I can understand that – if you’re buying an all-American icon, it would be rude not to!

The V8 is infectious, but it’s not a million miles away from the EcoBoost in terms of performance (313bhp as opposed to 412). Crucially for some, Ford claims the combined MPG for the V8 is 20.9, while the EcoBoost is 28.8.

The Mustang doesn’t wallow like American cars of old. Body roll is well controlled and it’s agile for such a big car.

Surprisingly, more than 50% of UK customers have chosen manual transmission over the automatic gearbox. For me, the Mustang is more of a cruiser and if I could afford to run it, I’d go for a V8 fastback with an automatic gearbox.

I found the manual a little on the heavy side, while the auto made for much smoother progress.

Up front there’s more than enough space, but less than you might expect in the back for a car of such dimensions. That said, the boot, er trunk, is spacious.

It’s well built, comfortable and has a quality feel inside, and if it’s gimmicks you’re after, then look no further than ‘line-lock’ function. This allows you to spin your rear wheels drag strip-style, creating a cloud of smoke and shredding your tyres accordingly!

The right-hand drive Mustang is priced from £30,995 (EcoBoost) and £34,995 (V8) and features SYNC 3 8in colour touchscreen with nine-speaker DAB radio, USB and Bluetooth connectivity as standard.

Verdict: Ford has priced the new Mustang so competitively that you’d be hard pressed to get more car for your money. Big, butch and iconic, the Mustang is a must-have if you can afford the gas and you have the roads nearby to enjoy the amazing soundtrack.

Review: @garethherincx