2015 Ford Mustang convertible
Rear-wheel-drive four-passenger sporty convertible
Price as tested: $40,965 (excluding destination charge)
Reasons to buy: Looks; performance; fuel economy; top-down driving
Shortcomings: Notchy shifter; road noise on rough surfaces; prosaic engine note.
The 2015 Ford Mustang convertible is an everyday miracle. If you’re an American, it’s easy to take the Mustang for granted. You see them all the time. A high school friend may have got one as a family hand-me-down. You can buy one for less than a loaded Camry.
But the Mustang is not without honor outside its home country. In most of the world, a glimpse of Ford’s pony car convertible is an event like spotting a rare Porsche or a Bentley.
The 2015 Mustang convertible builds on its legendary looks and name with an array of technical features matching many luxury brands.
Prices for the 2015 Mustang convertible start at $29,300 for a base model with a 300-horsepower 3.7-liter V-6 engine and six-speed manual transmission.
A Premium convertible with the turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 310 horsepower — and gets better fuel economy than the less powerful base V-6 — costs $34,800. The 425-horsepower V-8 Mustang GT convertible starts at $41,800.
A six-speed automatic adds $1,195 to all models.
I tested a very nicely equipped Mustang Premium with the 2.3-liter turbo, adaptive cruise control, leather seats, voice recognition, navigation, Bluetooth phone and audio compatibility, blind spot and cross traffic alerts, backup camera, 20-inch black aluminum wheels and premium red paint. It stickered at $40,965. All prices exclude destination charges.
Traditionally, the Mustang competed primarily with other American pony cars like the Chevrolet Camaro convertible. That’s still the case, but the new Mustang’s sophisticated features, engine, and the fact that Ford engineered the 2015 model for sale around the world, lift the Mustang into the company of luxury convertibles like the Audi A5 Quattro, BMW 428i, Infiniti Q60 and Lexus IS 350C.
The four-cylinder Mustang convertible I tested measured up very well against those tough competitors, cost thousands of dollars less and had more power and higher fuel economy ratings than most of them.
That’s the other half of what makes the 2015 Mustang convertible an everyday miracle: It’s a great, great-looking car with a legendary name … and it’s a bargain.
A lot of Mustang purists were nervous about the 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, but the combination of turbocharging and direct fuel injection Ford calls Ecoboost delivers more than enough power for quick starts and fast highway runs.
The engine’s 320 pound-feet of torque beats the competitors’ turbo 4’s and V-6s handily. The engine note is humdrum for such a potent little brawler, though. More growl would be welcome. The six-speed manual is notchier and requires more effort than the A5’s velvety gearbox.
The 2.3-liter’s fuel economy is outstanding. Its EPA rating of 22 mpg in the city, 31 on the highway and 26 combined beats all competitors but the A5 and 428i. The Mustang’s use of regular gas makes it less expensive to run because the Audi and BMW specify premium.
The Mustang absorbs bumps smoothly and holds the road in quick maneuvers, thanks to the all-new 2015 model’s independent suspension. The steering is quick and direct, with three variable settings.
The convertible is quiet with the top closed at highway speed. Road noise from rough surfaces can be intrusive.
The interior features Ford’s best combination of dials, buttons, switches, voice recognition and a touch screen. Traditional controls make audio and climate adjustment simple, while excellent voice recognition simplifies hands-free calls and dictating navigation destinations. The touch points on the touch screen are a bit small for use in a moving vehicle.
The front seat is comfortable, with useful storage for cups, phones, glasses, iPods, etc. The rear seat is acceptable. The trunk has just enough space for two people’s bags on a weeklong getaway.
The profile is traditional, but a lower roofline, wider stance and tri-bar taillights and front running lights make the new model immediately recognizable.
You may see the new Mustang regularly, but there’s nothing ordinary about this car.
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