Is the 2015 Mustang EcoBoost Really a Mustang?
As an automotive journalist, I get to drive a lot of different cars. Still, when certain cars end up on your calendar, you get excited. When I saw that I was to be getting a 2015 Ford Mustang for a week, I definitely was eager to finally spend some time in America’s Pony Car. But then, I noticed it was the 2.3L EcoBoost I4. Is a Mustang with a four-cylinder a proper Mustang? Let’s find out.
As you may already know, the 2.3L EcoBoost Mustang makes 310 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque, assuming that you used Premium Unleaded. Today, we live in a world where Dodge makes a 700+ horsepower sedan, so 310 horsepower doesn’t seem like a lot. But, 310 was considered quite a bit not that long ago.
My review unit was also paired with Ford’s 6-speed automatic transmission. It should be noted that while the enthusiast probably wouldn’t order their Mustang this way, the 4-cylinder with the automatic is likely going to be the volume seller.
The Mustang rang the cash register at $39,385, which included practically everything, including the $1,995 EcoBoost Performance Package and the $1,195 Adaptive Cruise Control.
After a week, I must say the 2015 Mustang is a pretty good car.
The addition of the independent rear suspension is noticeable. I gave a ride to a friend who has owned Mustangs forever, and we drove down a road he frequents with his 2014 GT. He was genuinely impressed by the improved ride quality. His Mustang doesn’t have the performance suspension, but my review unit did, meaning the 2015’s ride should’ve been harsher, but it wasn’t.
The surprises don’t end there. The reduction of weight helps make this current Mustang handle like, dare I say it, a proper sports car. I was impressed with how much speed I could carry through the corners on my usual drive route and still not be pushing the car that hard.
The interior is light-years better than the old one, but there are a few gripes. There is a lot of polished chrome accents around the cabin, and on the steering wheel, that does cause glare in the sunlight. Also, with the Recaro buckets there really isn’t any room at all for people in the back.
Unlike other Ford vehicles, like the Focus ST, the Mustang’s Recaro seats are all manually adjusted. But, they were extremely comfortable and the leather felt nice. They’re a pricey option at $1,595, and you lose the heating and ventilation function, but they do hold you in place.
Now we come back to the EcoBoost engine. It has plenty of power, honestly. It can also be tuned to make bigger numbers by any competent tuner with a laptop. Plus, it’s lighter than the V8 by over 100 pounds, reducing weight at the front end of the car.
But the whole week I kept feeling something was missing. There was no je ne ses quai. My fizzy bits didn’t fizz. It’s a perfectly good Mustang, with excellent fuel economy, and it’s a car that I’d recommend to anyone who asked.
I’d still want the V8.
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