The 2015 Ford Mustang marks the car’s 50th anniversary, and the carmaker celebrated the milestone with a surprise. It didn’t spoil the party with an over-the-top, too powerful machine. Instead, it offered an EcoBoost four-cylinder as one of six trim levels.
Key Takeaways
- Test car: the Mustang EcoBoost convertible in Competition Orange, with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic.
- $34,800 MSRP and $41,295 as tested, including an $825 destination charge.
- 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds.
- 20 mpg city and 30 highway and 24 combined on the figures in the review.
- Top: The ragtop functionality is impressive.
- Ride: The ride is smooth and particularly quiet at freeway speeds.
The Weekly Driver Test Drive
With its Competition Orange exterior paint and black ragtop, the 2015 Ford Mustang attracted as much attention as any car I’ve driven with the exception of a Rolls-Royce Wraith.
Young people in the neighborhood yelled out praise. Strangers in parking lots offered compliments, and a few drivers accelerated past me on the highway seemingly wanting to have drag races.
None of these onlookers knew, but my Ford Mustang test vehicle for the week was the EcoBoost trim. It includes some standard and optional equipment of the V6 trim’s with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
Trim and Equipment
Standard equipment on the V6 includes: xenon headlights, LED taillights, a limited-slip rear differential, keyless ignition and entry, integrated blind-spot mirrors, cruise control, air-conditioning, full power accessories, a tilt-and-telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, a rearview camera, the Sync voice control system (with 4.2-inch multifunction display) and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, two USB ports and an auxiliary audio jack. The options: 18-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, rear park assist, a power driver seat and an anti-theft system.
The EcoBoost trim also includes: foglamps, a rear spoiler, six-way power front seats, aluminum dash trim, active noise cancellation and a “Tracks Apps” system. It can provide performance data such as 0-60-mph and quarter-mile times, lateral acceleration and stopping distances from 60 mph or 100 mph.
My weekly test driver Ford Mustang also featured an upgraded Shaker audio system with 12 speakers ($1,795) and nearly a dozen other single-feature upgrades that pushed the base price of $34,800 past the $40,000 plateau.
Driving Impressions
I drove the Mustang in typical city and freeway driving, including a 90-mile trek to the San Francisco Bay Area from Sacramento with the top down. The new Mustang isn’t pedestrian with the top up. But like many convertibles, it feels right with the top down. I cranked up the radio, pulled my cap on tight and embraced the crisp morning air.
The ragtop functionality is impressive. Put the windows down, pull and twist a large lever on the top of the console, push a button and six seconds later, the top is secured. The top goes up in 16 seconds.
2015 Ford Mustang Verdict
With its new independent suspension, the new Mustang has become a refined muscle car. The ride is smooth and particularly quiet at freeway speeds. Steering is precise and braking is firm. Shifting is smooth.
The coupe and convertible are considered four-seaters. But anyone in the rear seats, with the exception of small children, will be cramped. The convertible offers a sizable trunk, 11.4 cubic feet. Its overall interior design is modern with a lower console row of toggle switches. The navigation system is intuitive and the screen clarity is superior.
Likes
Convenient, quick functioning ragtop.
Reflect night image of Mustang logo below front driver and passenger door handle.
Driving comfort.
Superior clarity on rear view camera and navigation system.
Dislikes
Difficult to see over the long hood.
Tight back seats.
Facts & Figures: 2015 Ford Mustang
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Base Price | $34,800 |
| As-Tested Price | $41,295 (including $825 destination charge) |
| Engine | 2.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| 0-60 mph | 5.9 seconds |
| Fuel Economy (original EPA label) | 20 city / 30 highway / 24 combined mpg |
| Fuel Economy (EPA, revised) | 20 city / 29 highway / 24 combined mpg |
| Fuel Type | Regular |
| Seating | 4 |
| Cargo | 11.4 cubic feet (convertible trunk) |
| Warranty | Bumper to bumper 3 yr/36,000 mi; powertrain 5 yr/60,000 mi; corrosion 5 yr/unlimited; roadside assistance 5 yr/60,000 mi |
James Raia
A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
