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If you’ve ever spotted a stunner from across the room only for he or she to ruin the illusion the second they opened their mouth, you have some idea of the troubles facing the Ford Mustang Ecoboost.
Because the new Mustang does look fantastic. Ford has nailed the styling, to the point where it’s almost impossible to stop anywhere without fielding questions about the car from curious punters.
Crucially for Ford’s sales, this seems to be particularly the case with non-enthusiasts, who might not know what it is, but they know they like it. They are also much less likely to spot the missing ‘5.0’ badge on the front guard and inch-smaller wheels, tell-tale signs your Mustang is only packing half the traditional amount of cylinders.
It is an effective engine, though. Mid-range torque is its strong suit, and healthy outputs of 233kW/432Nm allow it to hit 100km/h in a shade over six seconds in six-speed manual guise. The gearshift itself is good, too, like a notchier version of a Mazda MX-5 ’box.
Against expectations, it’s the Mustang’s chassis that impresses most. It’s quite soft in its set-up, which not only improves the ride (as do the chunky 40-profile tyres) but also gives you a better feeling for what’s happening underneath you.
Material quality lets the Mustang down inside, with shiny, slippery leather on the wheel and hard, scratchy plastic almost everywhere else, however it pays to remember that, at $45,990, the Ecoboost is an awful lot of car for the money.
It’s well-equipped, too, with electrically-adjustable heated and cooled seats, reversing camera, a nine-speaker stereo and SYNC2 infotainment system all standard.
If we were buying a Mustang, the V8 is well worth the extra, but if you really want a great sporty four-cylinder Ford, buy a Focus RS.
3.5 OUT OF 5 STARS
LIKE: Poster looks; great chassis; value; ESP calibration DISLIKE: Uninspiring note; four-pot ’Stang doesn’t feel right
SPECS Engine: 2261cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v , turbo Power: 223kW @ 5700rpm Torque: 432Nm @ 3000rpm Weight: 1666kg 0-100km/h: 6.1sec (tested) Price: $45,990
