by Aiden Eksteen
In the realm of high-performance sports cars, many people tend to base their evaluations on the black and white figures of their performance proficiencies, with aesthetics playing a supporting role in the decision. With its somewhat ordinary 310-horsepower 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine that accords a sub-five second 0 to 60 mph sprint time, the 2021 Ford Mustang Convertible may not seem like a thrilling or characterful muscle car, but oh boy is it. Yeah, it may not have the poignant and visceral blessings of a muscly V8, but the turbo-four offers all you need for effortless driving pleasure. And despite the added weight and lost chassis rigidity caused by the drop-top, the Mustang Convertible is still fairly quick and handles quite impressively. It's really compliant and comfortable on the road, too, and it offers a modicum of everyday practicality. The Chevrolet Camaro Convertible is the Mustang's nemesis - both are fun, pleasant, and badass cars, but which is better?
The 2021 Ford Mustang Convertible sports car receives two new wheel designs and three new exterior paint colors but, more importantly, it gains some new tech. The Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety tech is now standard on all Ford Mustang models, as are auto high-beam headlights and rain-sensing window wipers. A few features and packages have also been shuffled for the new year, and the High-Performance Package gets a new Carbonized Gray color on the mirrors.
See trim levels and configurations:
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Price (MSRP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EcoBoost Convertible |
2.3L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
6-Speed Manual
|
Rear-Wheel Drive
|
$32,705 |
| EcoBoost Premium Convertible |
2.3L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
6-Speed Manual
|
Rear-Wheel Drive
|
$37,725 |
Beneath the brawny hood of the 2021 Mustang Convertible is a strapping 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-4 gas engine that churns out up to 310 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. Opt-in the available High-Performance Package and outputs are boosted to 330 hp. Managing these outputs is a sweet 6-speed manual gearbox or an optional 10-speed automatic transmission, both of which cedes it all to the sports car's rear-wheel drivetrain. Though the Mustang isn't blessed by the immense power and aural pleasure of a burly V8, acceleration responses are still brisk and quick throughout the rev range. Both transmissions are well-calibrated, quick, and smooth, but don't aid the EcoBoost engine in returning good fuel economy figures.
NHTSA safety ratings are not available at this time.
The 2021 Ford Mustang Convertible isn't just a fun and engaging vehicle, but also a really comfortable and somewhat pragmatic one, making it ideal for everyday use. It's a cool-looking 2-door muscle car that you'll want to flaunt and its cabin is modern, stylish, and cozy enough for regular use, albeit a little second-rate in quality. The 2.3-liter turbo 4-cylinder unit is powerful enough to be quite brisk and entertaining. But, of course, with the absence of a more potent V8 unit, you won't have the genuine muscle car experience in the feel and sound of the Mustang - something the higher-tier V8-equipped Camaro models may offer.
Though the 2021 Ford Mustang Convertible hasn't undergone review by any of the USA's official crashworthiness agencies for a safety rating, Ford has ensured that the sports car comes standard with a comprehensive suite of driver-assist and safety systems. Ford has also maintained a good reliability track record for the sixth-generation Mustang, so if you're looking for a car that's fun, comfortable, and somewhat pragmatic as a daily, you really can't go wrong with the Mustang Convertible.
Because the Mustang Convertible works so well as an everyday cruiser, we'd recommend going for the top-spec Premium model for the comfort and conveniences features it comes with. Ford presents this 2021 Mustang Convertible at a price of $37,725, which is very much worth paying. Firstly, the basic 4.2-inch infotainment touchscreen and SYNC system are upgraded to an eight-inch touchscreen with Ford's newer SYNC 3 system and both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The front seats are upgraded with heating and cooling, and the cabin is enhanced with aluminum foot pedals, illuminated door-sill scuff plates, ambient lighting, and it receives dual-zone automatic climate control.
The most popular competitors of 2021 Ford Mustang Convertible:
Acura
Alfa Romeo
Aston Martin
Audi
Bentley
BMW
Bollinger
Bugatti
Buick
Cadillac
Caterham
Chevrolet
Chrysler
Dodge
Ferrari
Fiat
Fisker
Ford
Genesis
GMC
Hennessey
Honda
Hyundai
Infiniti
Jaguar
Jeep
Karma
Kia
Koenigsegg
Lamborghini
Land Rover
Lexus
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Lordstown
Lotus
Lucid Motors
Maserati
Mazda
McLaren
Mercedes-Benz
Mini
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Pagani
Polestar
Porsche
Ram
Rimac
Rivian
Rolls-Royce
Spyker
Subaru
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