2025 Ford Mustang

Nothing stays the same, but the Ford Mustang is still a landmark car — always desirable, always distinct, quintessentially American. This latest generation even retains a V8 engine, despite the rest of the world going to fewer cylinders optimized by turbocharging. The Mustang has one of those engines, too, plus a lot of up-to-the-minute technology. It’s still a pony car, but Ford has reimagined it for the modern era. The 2025 Mustang is highly capable and confident, as well as stirring and striking.

The all-electric Mustang Mach-E is reviewed separately.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of cool coupes and convertibles, including the Ford Mustang.

Although this latest generation (the seventh) debuted only last year, it’s time for Ford to celebrate the Mustang’s 60th anniversary. The company is doing this with a limited-edition package of 1,965 units featuring red wheel centers and fender badges, plus a black grille mesh — like the 1965 ’Tang. This package is available only with GT Premium coupes and convertibles. As an extra little treat, Ford provides a software update for all 2024 Mustangs that replicates the look of the original dials in the current digital display.

One more thing. Ford has announced the imminent arrival of the 2025 Mustang GTD, an 800-horsepower performance car costing about $300,000. It will be hand-built in the same Canadian facility that produced the Ford GT supercar.

If you’re going to buy an American icon, get one with a barking V8. That seems to be the attitude of most Mustang buyers, because the GT Premium Fastback ranks as the most popular variant. Who are we to argue? We’d also recommend the Performance package for those glorious Brembo brakes and several other worthwhile additions.

The Mustang is the last machine standing among traditional pony cars (the Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger are history). Nevertheless, there are some intriguing alternatives like the coupe-only Toyota GR Supra, the soft-top BMW Z4, and the Nissan Z — they all begin at higher prices, however.

Before buying a new Mustang, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Resale values are average for the class. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

A 5.0-liter V8 provides the Mustang GT with 480 horsepower (486 horses with the active exhaust system) and sufficient thrust to dash from standstill to 60 mph in just over four seconds. The 382-horsepower Toyota GR Supra is in that same ballpark, along with the 400-horsepower Nissan Z.

This engine is boosted to 500 horsepower for the Dark Horse variant. These V8-powered Mustangs come with a 6-speed manual transmission as standard (the 10-speed auto is optional), because a stick shift can be hugely entertaining. That said, the automatic transmission shifts sweetly, while the brakes feel precise and sure.

Ford says this latest generation is “the most athletic and confidence-inspiring” the Mustang has ever been. We’re inclined to agree. We’ve reveled in the GT’s handling and loved its speed.

EcoBoost versions of the 2025 Mustang have a turbocharged 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine sending 315 horsepower to the rear wheels. More than enough for enjoying the quietest and twistiest of public roads. We’ve found it lively and responsive, complemented by a suspension that’s nimble, grippy and stable, yet still capable of comfort. A standard limited-slip differential helps with the traction. We do think the steering in the EcoBoost model is a touch over-assisted, though. Even in Sport mode, we’d prefer it to be not quite so light. We didn’t feel any scuttle shake in the convertible, by the way.

Ford claims an immense 800 horsepower developed by the new Mustang GTD’s supercharged 5.2-liter V8, exploited by a host of motorsport-derived components.

Fuel Economy

There’s a price to pay for V8 power. The GT gets 18 mpg in combined city/highway driving with the 10-speed automatic transmission. With the 6-speed manual gearbox, those figures drop to 17 mpg combined. The manual-only Dark Horse is rated almost the same, but is thirstier on the highway by one mile per gallon. To compare, the turbo-6 of the GR Supra returns 26 mpg combined (automatic) or 21 mpg combined (manual).

The 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine achieves 26 mpg combined. Unless it’s accompanied by the optional Performance Pack, in which case fuel economy is 24 mpg combined.

Both Mustang engines are fine with regular gasoline.

We like the Mustang’s spaciousness up front. A great American muscle car has to fit a couple of great Americans, after all. The front seats are comfortable and well-shaped, able to hold their occupants if there’s fast cornering involved. Even sportier Recaro front seats are part of the GT Performance Package. Every version has a flat-bottomed steering wheel, making it easy for drivers to slip their knees under.

This latest generation of Mustang packs some great infotainment tech, like the digital driver information display, and the large infotainment touchscreen in the center console — angled slightly toward the driver. Ford uses this touchscreen to keep the number of physical controls in check. For example, adjusting the climate control is done with the screen. This approach is the current fashion, but it’s rarely popular with our reviewers or in the comments we hear from readers about their new cars.

The materials and build quality are more than acceptable, though, and we like the simulated carbon fiber around the air vents. Even the cloth seats in the base model looks good. There are six cabin color schemes, or what Ford calls “environments.”

Don’t bother sitting in the back seats unless you’re Ant-Man. They’re small, hard to climb into, even harder to climb out of, and it feels claustrophobic back there with the wide rear pillars blocking the view (unless you’re in the convertible with the roof down).

Ford says the Mustang’s trunk can hold a couple of golf bags.

Following the usual Mustang formula, the Fastback is the coupe, the Convertible is self-explanatory. This seventh-generation Mustang is only a year old, yet looks familiar. With their hood scoops and bigger grilles, the GT and Dark Horse versions appear a little more menacing than the EcoBoost, which we think is cool.

Compared with its predecessor, this Mustang’s belt line is lower, giving the effect of a lower car overall and hinting at the potential speed under that long hood. If we were going to be slightly negative, it makes us think that someone might have used artificial intelligence to create a Mustang as if it had been designed by Audi.

There’s a palette of 11 paint choices, including Yellow Splash. We think the Dark Horse would look particularly good in Blue Ember, Vapor Blue, or Shadow Black. One sweet little Easter Egg on the GT is the row of silhouettes across the base of the rear window, denoting every generation of Mustang.

Stripes are on the menu as well. Buyers can also select one of three colors for their Brembo brake calipers. And Ford offers a Bronze Appearance package across the lineup, with alloy wheels finished in Sinister Bronze.

12.4-inch digital instrument cluster
This is an excellent high-resolution display, and it and the infotainment touchscreen are built into one unit. They’re each based on a fast and flexible system used in video games: Unreal Engine 3D. This cluster also has a calm mode, showing just the basic details.

Infotainment system
The Mustang’s 13.2-inch touchscreen responds quickly and looks super-crisp. The setup as a whole is easy to learn, and it receives over-the-air updates. There’s even a high-mounted USB port to power a camera, so there’s no need to trail wires across the windshield.

Personalization
Between the exterior colors and stripes, interior “environments,” drive mode settings, and the ability to customize what information is displayed, the Mustang can be configured exactly to an owner’s liking.

Performance Electronic Drift Brake
Part of the Performance Pack with either engine, this is a clever feature that allows drivers with limited experience in the joys of rear-wheel drive and powersliding the tail end to improve their drifting technique, while also providing a track-ready function for more proficient drivers.

Remote Rev
This feature allows the driver to rev the engine while outside using the key fob. It’s available with both engines, but we’d say this is an especially great way to enjoy the rumbles and roars of the Mustang’s V8 engine and its optional active exhaust.

Line Lock
This feature allows the driver to apply the brakes just to the front wheels while allowing the rears to spin. The idea is to get the tires up to an ideal temperature for an optimum launch. But we all know that someone’s just going to smoke the tires for the fun, right?

A turbocharged 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine propels EcoBoost versions of the Mustang, making an ample 315 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. This goes to the rear wheels (all Mustangs are rear-wheel drive) through a 10-speed automatic transmission.

GT and Dark Horse versions employ a naturally aspirated (no turbos or such) 5.0-liter V8. In GT models, it develops 480 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, or 486 horsepower and 418 lb-ft of torque thanks to better breathing through the optional active exhaust system. The Dark Horse’s V8 generates 500 horsepower and 418 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission with a rev-matching function on downshifts is paired with every Mustang V8. GT cars offer the 10-speed automatic as an option.

3-year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Ford’s new-car warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. This is all fairly typical.

Safety Ratings

In crash tests performed by agencies in the United States, only the Mustang coupe has been through the process so far, earning a maximum 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has yet to complete its program. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert and braking, and lane-keeping assistance. The optional Performance Package offers an adaptive suspension that can adjust itself for potholes.