2024 Ford Mustang GT & EcoBoost Review

The 2024 Ford Mustang has been presented to the public as “all-new”, but it’s important to grasp that this phrase is used rather loosely. This new model is built on the platform of the previous generation, so it shares many of the same dimensions and uses engines that are based on their predecessors.

This is not unlike the 1971 Mustang, which underwent considerable changes while still having the original Falcon-derived platform and is now regarded as a first-generation Mustang. The same kind of intra-generational changes occurred in 1987 and 2010. Essentially, this is a matter of marketing and the economic realities of re-engineering internal combustion cars in a market where SUVs are in high demand and at the tipping point of the EV era. The most important aspect, however, is that this is a new Mustang with fundamental differences, improvements, and additions that make it stand out from its predecessor.

The 5.0 Coyote V8:

The 2024 Mustang GT comes with a revised version of Ford’s 5.0-liter “Coyote” V8 and the key updates include a dual throttle body induction system and a dual intake that takes in air through the distinctive openings on both sides of the grille. In contrast, the EcoBoost lacks those features, hence why the fang-like design elements are present. The GT now puts out 480 bhp in standard form.
Choosing the active valve exhaust increases it to 486 bhp. While the new Mustang Dark Horse, produces 500 bhp.
The acceleration is extremely powerful and the sounds under the hood are compelling enough to keep you running the engine at lower gears longer than necessary. The active-valve performance exhaust also adds more excitement depending on the drive mode, but the allure of a naturally aspirated V8 is that the exhaust system in the back doesn’t have to make up for the auditory shortcomings of an engine up front. They work in harmony, and the result is a symphony of sound. Similar to before, the 5.0-liter engine pairs best with a six-speed manual transmission, which now includes an automatic rev-match function that effortlessly executes perfect downshifts. Of course, you also have the option of shifting gears the old-fashioned way. A 10-speed automatic is also available.

New Twin-Scroll Turbos:

The base 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine receives a new twin-scroll turbocharger, a new modular power cylinder architecture and port injection added to complement the existing direct injection. The outcome is 315 bhp – a 5-bhp increase over the previous EcoBoost. The engine does not disappoint, providing the Mustang with the power to accelerate and make the tires burn rubber, particularly when using the drift brake. Even a four-cylinder Mustang can still be a fun and fast Mustang.
However, it’s hard to ignore the fact that it doesn’t sound as impressive. There is a bit of a disconnect to hear hot hatch engine noises in a Mustang, but the available active valve performance exhaust does its best to overshadow those sounds with a deep, resonant bass that increases when Sport or Track modes are selected. It honestly sounds better from outside the car, which might make one consider the convertible or using the new Remote Rev feature that allows you to rev the engine using the key fob. If you want some fun, the 2024 Mustang surely delivers.

Transmission Options:

The six-speed manual transmission has been discontinued for the EcoBoost, as the number of people opting for it was too low to justify offering it. Instead, the 10-speed automatic is now the only option, but unfortunately, none of the drive settings are intuitive enough to shift up and down when driving it for performance like a fun Mustang (such as during hard turns). Reaching for a paddle shifter typically signals that a car’s automatic transmission is not up to the challenge, and this stands true for the Mustang EcoBoost’s automatic. To make matters worse, paddle shifters are not standard and come included in the Performance pack.

Ford also emphasized the new Mustang’s customization potential, but the custom drive modes don’t quite live up to expectations. For instance, we were unable to match the Track mode’s most aggressive transmission setting with less aggressive, more road friendly Sport elements.
However, the suspension tuning and vehicle dynamics engineers designed the settings to “curate the experience” for owners and deliberately did not allow the degree of mixing and matching of settings offered by other cars. There’s very little you can do to alter Sport and Track modes, making the six(!) custom presets somewhat redundant. On the bright side, the Mustang now features Ford’s Power-Up over-the-air software update capability, offering the potential of a less curated experience in the future.

Steering and Suspension:

The differences in steering modes are minimal, but generally, they share the common characteristic of being sufficiently taut on center, surprisingly light in effort on turn-in (which is fine) and may be a bit slow despite the new rack having a 3% quicker ratio.
Ford didn’t go overboard with unnecessary weighting equated with sportiness, but the GT’s steering is somewhat weightier in line with its more aggressive performance, albeit with subtle differences. Even with the stock suspension, the Mustang EcoBoost Coupe capably navigated tight, technical corners at a rapid clip with improved composure for 2024 and an agreeable ride on the firm side. The Performance Pack and its additional MagneRide dampers can enhance that further, although it may make the ride firmer than desired. Ideally, the magnetic dampers would offer a more comfortable cruising setting as well as firmer maximum attack settings, which would be beneficial for the Mustang Convertible, as it doesn’t quite harmonize with the Performance Pack and MagneRide. The car constantly wiggles and shakes, and based on our assumptions, the base suspension would be a better choice.

Overall, the GT Coupe with the Performance Pack and MagneRide represents the ideal pairing. It’s the most powerful and, consequently, most challenging to handle, yet it’s also the most rewarding. It’s hard to think of many things more fun than that.
The 2024 Ford Mustang meets the expectations of an updated, powerful, fun, and impressive vehicle.

Check in with Ford Cambodia for pricing and detailed information

2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse: New Model, Familiar Formula