Ford has ended its production of cars to focus solely on producing their phenomenally successful selling trucks and SUVs; fortunately, they have spared the much loved, going on 55 years and counting, original pony car. The 2020 Ford Mustang is a blessing to car enthusiasts, offering a total of eleven different trim options paired with performance engines ranging from 310 to 760 horsepower.
Far from monolithic muscle cars, these Mustangs are true performers capable of going head-to-head with much more expensive European exotics. The V6 option for the Mustang has been dropped for 2020, which is understandable since the EcoBoost I-4 is not only more powerful but also more fuel-efficient.
There are four V8 options for the Mustang from the naturally aspirated 460 horsepower GT, to the most powerful Ford production car ever: the Shelby GT500 with a massive 760 supercharged horsepower. Though Ford may have appropriated Aston Martin design cues, they have done an excellent job at paying tribute, making the Mustang a stunning performance car in addition to being an outstanding performer. Whether you need a reliable and fun daily driver, or a track ripping monster, there will be a 2020 Ford Mustang that is right for you.
EcoBoost Fastback
MSRP: $26,670
Engine: 2.3L GTDI I-4
Horsepower: 310 HP
Torque: 350 lb-ft
MPG: 21 city / 31 highway
The EcoBoost Mustang is a great option for those looking for a fun daily driver, and in stop and go traffic, you’ll be grateful for the gas-saving 2.3L engine. With 310 horsepower, the EcoBoost Mustang will hit 60 in less than four seconds.
Standard features on this model include a cloth front bucket seats, a 6-speaker audio system with Ford SYNC, and FordPass. You’ll also find two smart-charging USB ports.
A smaller engine means less weight overall, making it more nimble in the corners and puts it in competition with Japanese sports cars such as the Subaru BRZ, and Nissan 370Z. This entry-level Mustang is also more powerful than V8 models from just a decade or so ago. Overall, the EcoBoost Mustang is the best possible blend of performance and everyday practicality; you can have your cake and eat it too.
GT Fastback
MSRP: $35,630
Engine: 5.0L Ti-VCT V8
Horsepower: 460 HP
Torque: 420 lb-ft
MPG: 15 city / 24 highway
The GT is the entry-level V8 producing 460 horsepower from the naturally aspirated 5.0L V8 engine. It should be no surprise that the GT is, of course, faster than the EcoBoost, but only by about half a second or so from zero to sixty. The 2.3L is impressive, but this raucous V8 will fill your ears with a glorious, guttural roar as you blast down the highway.
The GT has a convertible option, and premium trim level adding an active valve performance exhaust, which means you can choose the note you want to hear, and a ten-speed automatic paired to flappy paddle shifters.
The base GT comes standard with a six-speed manual for those of us that think of stick shifts as more than just an anti-theft device. With this model, you can choose to upgrade to Ford’s SYNC 3 system or add the GT Performance Package. With the package you can get 19-inch ebony black-painted aluminum wheels, Brembo six-piston brake calipers, strut-tower brace, upsized rear sway bar, and stability control tuning.
Shelby GT350 and GT350R
MSRP: $60,440
Engine: 5.2L Ti-VCT V8
Horsepower: 526-527 HP
Torque: 429 lb-ft
MPG: 14 city/ 21 highway
The Shelby GT350 is a track-ready beast equipped with Recaro racing seats, a six-speed manual, and the 5.2L Ti-VCT V8 engine. The Shelby GT350R takes things a little bit further with stiffer suspension, carbon fiber wheels, and more aerodynamic bits to increase downforce. However, the GT350 is not some austere racer, but a capable daily driver as well if you want it to be.
With standard features such as Sync 3, a 9-speaker sound system with amplifier that can be upgraded to a B&O 12-speaker audio system, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot to upload your recorded lap times, you won’t have to settle on a less than adequate compromise. But the main reason that one buys a Shelby is that they want to a permanent ear-to-ear grin on their face, with over 500 horsepower and a screeching rev limit north of 8,000 that won’t be a difficult task. This car is like an Irish Wolfhound: big, loving, loyal, easy to live with, but as soon as you let her off the leash she becomes a wild animal, sprinting away at an unbelievable speed.
Shelby GT500
MSRP: $72,900
Engine: 5.2L Supercharged V8
Horsepower: 760 HP
Torque: 625 lb-ft
MPG: 12 city/ 18 highway
Equipped with a 5.2-liter supercharged Predator engine, the 2020 Shelby GT500 is Ford’s most powerful production car ever, and that includes the mid-engine Ford GT. With its powerful 760 horsepower engine under the hood, the GT500 will hit 60 in less than three seconds and blast past the quarter-mile in under eleven. 0-100-0 is also sub-eleven seconds.
Big Brembo brakes (6 piston front, 4 piston rear) will get you to stop quickly when you eventually need to. 20-inch rims are wrapped with Michelin Pilot sport cup tires are capable of keeping traction to an electronically governed 180 mph.
A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission from the Ford GT is standard to facilitate lightning-quick shifts and is yet another thing the GT500 can brag about. Production is limited to 5,000, get yours before it’s too late.
The 2020 Ford Mustang
With so many options for the 2020 Ford Mustang, the limit is only the budget you have in mind. Ford has gone all out with the 2020 Mustang, upgrading brakes, suspension, and tires for every trim level from the 2019 models. Each Mustang is capable as a daily driver, a long-distance grand tourer, and track-ready performer (though most are focused on a particular area rather than all three).
The EcoBoost is a great option for those seeking an exciting commuter car to get you to and from work with ease and confidence, with just enough performance satisfy the need for speed. The GT can be either a rock-n-roll daily driver, or a special event for the weekend; it would also be the best balance of daily driver, and performance sports car.
The Bullitt is a cool trim of the Mustang that wasn’t mentioned here but is well worth checking out, with performance to match looks, and it pays homage to one of the most iconic cars in cinema: Steve McQueen.
The Shelby GT350 and GT350R link the past to the present by carrying on racing legend Carol Shelby’s legacy with style and performance that he would be proud of. If you thought the Mustang lineup did not offer enough power, you would be proved wrong by the ballistic GT500. The Mustang might be the last car in Ford’s lineup, but with such a robust lineup, it’s either going out with a huge bang or, hopefully, here to stay and serve car enthusiasts for years to come. Overall, the only wrong option for the 2020 Ford Mustang, is not purchasing one.
