2020 Ford Mustang Convertible Review: Top-Down Fun

The original Ford Mustang Convertible made its official debut in 1964, effectively establishing the convertible pony-car class of American cars. 15 years later, in 1979, the Mustang took on a newly implemented Fox platform which saw the Mustang feature its very first turbocharged engine. Much the same as the EcoBoost engine found in the 2020 Mustang, the Fox-body 'Stang had a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. But the Fox-body era was a long time ago, and significant strides have been made in turbocharging. While the original developed just 131 horsepower, buying an EcoBoost Mustang in 2020 can see up to 330 hp reaching the rear wheels through the buyer's choice of either a six-speed manual gearbox or ten-speed automatic. Despite the history behind turbocharged four-cylinder Mustangs, some purists still believe it's not a true Mustang if it doesn't have a V8. So what better way to enjoy the 'abomination' than as a top-down cruiser? That's where the Mustang Convertible comes into play, and with more power on tap than ever before, it's got eyes firmly set on segment dominance against long-standing rival, the Chevrolet Camaro.

Mustang Convertible Exterior

The Mustang's outward appearance is widely considered one of its best attributes, as it portrays a contemporary take on the Mustang designs of old - an instantly identifiable pony-car classic. The base Convertible rides on 17-inch Sparkle Silver-painted aluminum wheels, while 18-inch Machined-face aluminum wheels fill the arches of the Premium model. A fully-lined convertible cloth soft-top is standard across the range. All trims are outfitted with all-LED exterior lighting, including headlights, daytime running lights, available foglights, as well as the turn signals and three-stripe taillights. An assortment of decal packages is also available to further customize the Mustang Convertible.

Dimensions

The Mustang Convertible is a little bigger than the Chevrolet Camaro, it spans an overall length of 188.5 inches, only 0.2 inches longer than the Camaro, has a width of 75.4 inches, which is 0.7 inches wider, and at a height of 54.9 inches, is two inches taller than the Camaro. The Mustang is, however, accorded with a shorter wheelbase than most of its class rivals; while the Camaro's stretches 110.7 inches, the Mustang's is capped at 107.1 inches which is a key rationale for its precise handling. With a base curb weight of 3,706 lbs, the Convertible is around 150 lbs heavier than the Coupe variant which weighs in at 3,542 lbs.

Mustang Convertible Performance

Engine and Transmission

Driving enthusiasts will be happy to know that the default six-speed manual gearbox has been carried over for this model year; directing the standard 2.3-liter turbo four-banger's outputs of 310 hp and 350 lb-ft exclusively to the rear wheels of the pony car. For those more focused on the Convertible's lifestyle quality, there's an optional ten-speed automatic gearbox available; it delivers quick, smooth, and accurate shifts but does exhibit some slightly laggy responses when switched to manual mode. The manual is the preferred option for those who want optimal driver engagement and controlled responses. The High-Performance package, a new introduction for 2020, provides an additional 20 ponies over the base engine, and its torque curve has been tweaked to deliver 90 percent of the engine's peak torque output at a lower rev range. While both engine options accord the Mustang with decent performance, the soundtrack they muster up isn't what Mustang lovers have come to know and love.

Handling and Driving Impressions

The Mustang Convertible sacrifices some of its performance and handling capability due to the soft-top, which lessens chassis rigidity and increases curb weight. However, with a four-cylinder up front in place of a heavier V8, it feels lighter and more nimble than its more powerful GT counterpart. It also feels a lot more responsive when thrown through a corner or taken around a sharp bend, and with a limited-slip differential on the rear axle and an independent rear suspension, power is more effectively relayed to the tarmac and body motions are well controlled. The Mustang's power steering has been calibrated to transfer greater levels of feedback too; it's not as precise as the Camaro's but is communicative enough to make for highly confident driving.

With heavy braking, the Mustang stays impressively composed and in control, its tires are grippy, and the standard two-piston front brakes deliver suitable stopping power. With the Mustang Convertible's handling prowess, one would expect a major compromise in ride quality - but, when it comes down to comfort, this is the Mustang to get. It finely balances its capability with a ride quality comparable to that of the Ford Focus or Fusion; most minor road abrasions and typical undulations are dealt with admirably.

Mustang Convertible Gas Mileage

The Mustang Convertible's gas mileage estimates are relatively standard for the class; with the default manual gearbox in play, the pony car returns 20/28/23 mpg city/highway/combined. The ten-speed auto 'box gives slightly better estimates of 21/32/25 mpg. The Coupe variant in manual guise is slightly more economical overall, thanks to its lighter curb weight, returning 21/31/25 mpg on these same cycles. The Mustang's 15.5-gallon gas tank (only the EcoBoost models get this smaller tank), when filled to the brim with regular unleaded fuel, avails the manual-equipped Mustang Convertible with a maximum driving range of around 356 miles before running empty, while the auto will travel a further 32 miles.

Mustang Convertible Interior

Seating and Interior Space

Though with seating for four occupants in the standard 2+2 format, only the front seats of the Mustang Convertible offer any level of roominess and comfort. Head and legroom are ample up front, whereas the rear cabin is excruciatingly confined all-round. Dropping the soft-top significantly improves the headroom, of course, and ingress and egress to the rear are made a lot easier, but with the top in place, rear seat passengers would be better off limbering up before entering. Additionally, the rear seats aren't very laterally supportive but are decent in terms of comfort; the cloth-appointed, manually-adjustable front bucket seats in the base EcoBoost Convertible are upgraded to quality leather-appointed and power-adjustable items in the Premium. The Convertible's outward visibility is good, and thanks to a standard-fit rearview camera and large side-view mirrors, rearward blind-spots are kept to a minimum.

Mustang Convertible Trunk and Cargo Space

The Mustang Convertible's 11.4 cubic feet of trunk room isn't enormous and is around two cubes less than what the coupe variant offers. Still, it gives it some bragging rights over class rivals, with the Camaro Convertible offering a mere 7.3 cubic feet. Unlike the Coupe variant, the near redundant rear seats in the Convertible do not fold down at all, which means all one is going to get into that trunk is a small selection of track gear and maybe a moderately sized cooler box.

In terms of small-item storage, there are two cupholders up front, narrow door pockets on each door, a moderately sized center armrest console, and a typically sized passenger-side glove box.

Features

Unfortunately, the base EcoBoost Convertible is relatively bare-bones in the way of standard features; it comes outfitted with a four-way manually-adjustable driver's seat, a two-way manually-adjustable front passenger seat, and manual climate control. The EcoBoost Premium ups the ante with heated and ventilated, six-way power-adjustable front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control - features that are also optional for the base trim. Keyless entry and push-button start are also featured at the base level along with an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a tilt and telescoping steering column. The EcoBoost Premium adds to the list with a universal garage door opener, ambient interior lighting, and a 4.2-inch information cluster. Both trims also come standard with an integrated rearview camera, which is the only basic driver aid, as well as Ford's TrackApps interface which provides real-time performance metrics on the instrument cluster. The EcoBoost Premium does also get a reverse parking system, but driver aids such as pre-collision assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping alert are only available via the optional Ford Safe and Smart Package.

Infotainment

The base EcoBoost is outfitted with only a basic SYNC infotainment system comprising a 4.2-inch LCD display and an AM/FM stereo with six standard speakers. It includes basic voice recognition, MP3 playability, Bluetooth smartphone connectivity, FordPass, and FordPass Connect. The EcoBoost Premium is outfitted with the more contemporary SYNC 3 system and is installed with a nine-speaker audio layout including an amplifier. It also adds SiriusXM radio connectivity and functionality of both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen surround sound system with CD-player, subwoofer, and HD radio connectivity can be optioned on as well as a voice-activated navigation system with pinch-to-zoom capability. Both trims come standard with two smart-charging USB ports.

Mustang Convertible Problems and Reliability

With the 2020 year model Mustang Convertible still new on the market, no recalls have been commissioned at the time of writing. The 2019 year model has, however, been subject to a single major recall pertaining to a malfunctioning instrument cluster. Though not yet rated for reliability, Ford covers the Mustang Convertible with a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty, and a five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan.

Warranty

Mustang Convertible Safety

Though the Mustang Convertible has not yet been evaluated by either the NHTSA or the IIHS for its crashworthiness, the coupe variant received a top five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS is yet to evaluate the 2020 Mustang, but we expect last year's exceptional ratings to carry over. The only stock driver-assist at the base-level is a rearview camera while the EcoBoost Premium adds to this with a reverse parking system. Every model comes with six standard airbags including a driver's side knee airbag, an SOS post-crash alert system, and an individual tire pressure monitoring system. Available for the Mustang is Ford's Safe and Smart Package which comprises pre-collision assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping alert.

Verdict: Is The 2020 Ford Mustang Convertible A Good car?

The Ford Mustang Convertible is an exceptional vehicle, though in Convertible form it does slightly deviate from its inherent performance-based character. However, it remains highly capable and at no compromise of its comfortable ride quality. Its four-pot engine is also a slight deviation from its rugged muscle-car character as the accustomed V8s of old, now only available in the upper echelons of the Mustang range, which gave a more visceral experience. Nevertheless, the EcoBoost 2.3-liter is still potent and moves the pony car around competently, while remaining reasonably economical too, and with the addition of the High Performance package, the gap is bridged substantially between the 'base' 'Stang and the GT. The EcoBoost Convertible makes sense for the everyday casual driver, delivering an affordable, competent top-down experience with pony-car heritage backing it up. There are sufficient creature comforts and features one would want from a modern lifestyle vehicle, and though Ford's up-to-the-minute and user-friendly SYNC 3 infotainment software is featured only in the top-tier trim as standard, its available for the base trim too.

What's the Price of the 2020 Ford Mustang Convertible?

The base EcoBoost Mustang Convertible starts the lineup off with an MSRP of $32,170; for the more luxurious EcoBoost Premium trim, buyers can expect an MSRP of $37,185, both prices excluding Ford's destination charge of $1,095 as well as any tax, registration, and licensing fees. This puts the Convertible around $6,000 more expensive than the EcoBoost Fastback Coupe variants. The automatic gearbox will require you to shell out of another $1,595, while the dialed-up engine and upgraded High-Performance Package can be optioned on for $4,995.

What Ford Mustang Convertible Model Should I Buy?

While the Mustang, in general, is known and admired for its performance-focused ethos, the Convertible variant somewhat breaks that disposition with its lifestyle-centric top-down drivability. That's why we suggest compounding on the luxury-focus of the Convertible and opting in for the luxe EcoBoost Premium trim. We'd suggest the manual gearbox in any other form, but for the Convertible we'd go for the automatic as it'll make those top-down jaunts and daily leisure commutes that much more laid-back. We also recommend ticking some optional boxes; the Ford Safe and Smart Package ideally, for the added active safety and driver assists, as well as the Premium Plus Package for the 12-inch LCD digital instrument cluster and voice-activated navigation system. If you do prefer to stick to the performance side of the Mustang, then we recommend keeping the stock manual and including the new 2.3-liter High-Performance Package for the dialed-up engine, but that is more suited to the Coupe than the rag-top.

2020 Ford Mustang Convertible Comparisons

2020 Ford Mustang Convertible vs Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

The Chevrolet Camaro is the Mustang's longest-standing class rival and likely the most directly comparative one at that. Though the Camaro's default 2.0-liter turbo-four isn't as powerful as the Mustang's standard four-pot motor, it has access to a more potent and more visceral 3.6-liter V6 engine with an output of 335 hp. The Camaro is also known for its capable performance and competent handling dynamics but may have a slightly more impressive penchant for the latter with its lighter curb weight and greater selection of performance-based underpinnings at the base level. The Mustang offers better practicality, however, providing almost double the trunk capacity, though both are about evenly matched in the way of rear passenger room. The Camaro is better equipped with standard features too, boasting a seven-inch touchscreen display, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat at even the base level, where the Mustang would require plenty of optioning on to get anywhere close. And, considering that the Camaro is available at around $600 less than the Mustang, it's definitely the better value for money buy.

2020 Ford Mustang Convertible vs Ford Mustang Coupe

As ever, the debate rages on as to whether you would actually want a convertible sports car, that sacrifices rigidity and adds weight - countering key focal points of a performance vehicle. However, the Mustang has a long history of producing both body types, and both cater to two different types of buyers. With identical power outputs and specification levels, you're getting similar packages, but the Fastback is naturally more practical, with a larger trunk and fold-down rear seats. It's also lighter and more rigid, which lends itself to the performance aspect of owning a Mustang, and as a result suits the High Performance package, which also brings its pricing more or less on par with the Convertible. The drop-top is more life-style orientated, sacrificing practicality for the wind in your hair on a coastal cruise. At the end of the day, there's just one question - what kind of Mustang buyer are you?