The Ford Mustang is one of the most iconic cars of all time. It has been in constant production since 1964 – although there have been quite a lot of changes to the Mustang in that time.
In December 2013, Ford unveiled its sixth generation Mustang and created quite a stir. The retro stylings of the previous generation were replaced by a more modern looking car that wasn’t to everyone’s taste (although the 2017 S550 brought back some of this retro look). And despite earning a five star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2015, a recall involving an airbag fault and a two star rating from the Euro NCAP put the car’s safety into question.
Now the new seventh generation Mustang has been released. Is it an improvement from the sixth generation? Or should Mustang fans hold their horses before buying a new 7th gen model.
New interior and exterior
The seventh generation has a more chiselled look, but the ‘long hood, short deck’ shape is still intact. In the interior you’ll find two large digital interfaces. It definitely looks more modern, but Ford has maintained some old rugged charm in the deliberately bulky steering wheel and titanium shift knob.
Improved safety
The new Mustang comes with plenty of new modern safety features including lane-keeping assist and lane departure warning (two lacking features on the previous model that were partially responsible for the car’s two star NCAP rating). There are also plenty of airbags. Independent body NCAP is yet to crash test the new Mustang, but it’s likely it will get a better rating.
Ample horsepower and still V8-powered
While many initial versions of sixth gen mustang had no more than 310 hp, later special editions would pack as much as 670 hp. The seventh gen doesn’t have anything as high powered as this out yet, however its GT model has 480 hp and its Dark Horse variant has 500 hp. These two models both have a roaring V8 engine. Now that the Camaro and Challenger are out of action, this makes the seventh gen Mustang the last-standing Ford pony car. It’s worth noting that Ford will also be continuing their EV version.
The ‘Dark Horse’ and mod kits
Ford always releases a number of Mustang special editions. The ‘Dark Horse’ is their latest exciting special edition and is faster and more powerful than the GT – ideal for those that want to take the performance up a notch. A number of 2024 Mustang accessories and mod kits are also already on sale. As with previous generations, owners will be able to modify their Mustang in all kinds of fun ways.
Should you get a 7th gen Mustang?
If you’re a Mustang enthusiast who is looking to upgrade, the seventh gen Mustang seems to definitely be a worthy step-up. Pricing for new models is between $32,515 and $61,080 depending on what variant you choose. This is a fairly good price for cars of this calibre, but not everyone will be able to invest such money into a new car – and a used sixth gen may therefore be a better option. For improved safety, horsepower and tech, choose a seventh gen.
