Drive Review: Ford Mustang (2016) 5.0 V8

The pony arrived on our shores with much fanfare. It seems like South Africans have been yearning for this classic for decades and its finally here. The 2016 Ford Mustang has not disappointed.

Parked in the driveway is a black Ford Mustang V8 5-litre. It’s certainly not a small pony, but rather quite the stallion and from the outset it does not disappoint. The Mustang is everything we love about America. It’s big, it’s obscene and it devours fossil fuels like a hungry teenager at an all you can eat buffet. We love everything about it!

The designers at Ford have also found their inspiration again, as the new Mustang harks back to the original era of muscle cars, after some would say they lost their way in the 1990s. The long bonnet with the strong and aggressive front is perfectly completed with the seal of approve, the pony, perfectly positioned in the front grille. Heading to the short stubby rear, the slanted taillights pack aggression and the GT badge signals the Mustang’s intention. This is American muscle at its very best.

It’s difficult to fault the car on its exterior looks and Ford has received global praise, as every design line is perfectly placed to usher in a new era of Mustang heritage. However, the interior does feel, well, a little bit underwhelming. The steering wheel is perfect and the driver focused cockpit is on point with classic switchgear adding to the traditional feel of the car. But there’s something missing, because it feels somewhat ‘plastic’. There aren’t signs of heavy metals that you would usually associate with American Muscle.

But do not fear, because this car is nothing but muscle. Firing the brute up results in a meaty exhaust growl from its 5-litre V8 powertrain that sends vibrations throughout the cabin. Shifting it into Drive and the pony happy gets sideways if you stomp on the loud pedal. Yes, we’re talking about 303kW of power and 525Nm of torque flooding the back wheels.

The result is a beautiful tailwind of power that leaves black lines of rubber down a strip of tar. Despite the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Traction Control System (TCS) on, the Ford Mustang enjoys breaking traction, especially in the corners, before getting grip again. It’s a riveting sensation knowing there’s enough freedom to be mischievous before the safety features step in and save you.

Off the line, this Ford quickly gets to the 100km/h mark in a claimed 4.8 seconds and will continue to gallop to around 263km/h. It’s certainly no slouch and it looks and sounds good doing it, while involving the driver. Admittedly, I would be slightly frightened to take it to anywhere with too many corners, as this power is best used in a straight line.

Ford have pretty much thought of everything when it comes to the Mustang. From heated seats to cooling down seats, to creature comforts such as Bluetooth, auto wipers and auto lights to name a few.

One of the nifty tricks the Mustang has is the boot. It’s rather massive and usable. Measuring in with 382 litres of space, it can comfortable fit two golf bags. The same, however, cannot be said for the rear seats, which are mostly for display purposes, as legroom is almost non-existent.

Overall, my first experience with real American muscle was exactly what you would expect. The Hollywood fantasy is real.

Its raw power is fueled by the 16 litres/100km, which we averaged during our time together. It’s rather thirsty. Yes, there is the more frugal 2.3-litre Ecoboost option available, which can do the 0-100km/h shuffle in 5.8 seconds. A mere one second slower than its V8 sibling, but it’s the sound, the power, the thrill. If you want a Mustang, why not get the full package.

All I’m saying is it doesn’t disappoint. It’s just the R1.3 million price tag on secondhand models, which makes me not want to part ways with this pony. Read our launch story here.