by Michael Butler
The 2021 Ford Mustang GT Coupe - now in its sixth generation - forms part of a long and proud lineage of pony cars that stretches back over half a century. The Mustang GT Coupe sits in the middle of the pack and delivers impressive performance and equally impressive value for money. Under the hood sits a proudly American 5.0-liter V8 gas engine producing 460 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a ten-speed auto, but traditionalists can still opt for a six-speed manual. For 2021, Ford has made its CoPilot360 safety suit standard, and the rest of the tech is impressive, too. With an entry-level price of $36,285, the 2021 Ford Mustang GT is a genuinely affordable 2-door sports car and goes up against competitors like the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger.
Elsewhere in the US lineup, there have been wholesale changes, with some models discontinued and the new Mach 1 introduced, but the sweet-spot Mustang GT Coupe has remained virtually unchanged. For 2021, however, the Ford CoPilot360 safety suite is now standard equipment, incorporating BLIS (blind-spot information system), a cross-traffic alert function, automatic headlights, lane keep assist, pre-collision alert (with pedestrian detection), automatic emergency braking, and a backup camera. There are other detail-spec changes, too; for example, whereas previously, one had to opt into the GT Performance Package Level 2 to get the MagneRide adaptive damping, this feature is now listed as an individual extra.
See trim levels and configurations:
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Price (MSRP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GT Coupe |
5.0L V8 Gas
|
6-Speed Manual
|
Rear-Wheel Drive
|
$36,285 |
| GT Premium Coupe |
5.0L V8 Gas
|
6-Speed Manual
|
Rear-Wheel Drive
|
$40,285 |
| GT Premium Convertible |
5.0L V8 Gas
|
6-Speed Manual
|
Rear-Wheel Drive
|
$45,785 |
It is very difficult to hate on the 2021 Ford Mustang GT, even if you're a diehard Dodge or Chevy fan. It provides so much performance at such a fantastic price that even if the rest of the car were bad, we'd still want to own one. Thankfully that's not the case. It's an excellent daily partner (if you don't mind the fuel costs) and the NHTSA review of the 2021 Ford Mustang Gt returned superb results. Not surprising, considering that Ford's CoPilot360 safety suite is standard this year. The entire vehicle line is also known for its high reliability expectations. The GT Coupe exudes driving pleasure and comfort simultaneously: Ford's infotainment system is easy to use, as are the rest of the Mustang GT's controls and switches. There's impressive cargo space in the back and an exhaust growl that will wake up the neighbors. What more do you want?
The 2021 Mustang GT is such a performance bargain that we'd try and keep the price as low as possible while still adding to the car's performance potential. For that reason, we'd go with the base model. First off, we'd get one in Antimatter Blue with the Ebony racing stripe. We know this might be unpopular, but we'd opt for the ten-speed auto; it's just that good. Finally, we'd add the excellent GT Performance Package, which, for $6,500, adds parts such as 19-inch wheels wrapped in 255/40 R10 front and 275/40 R19 rear summer tires, heavy-duty front springs, chassis bracing, a larger radiator, and a 3.55 Torsen differential.
The most popular competitors of 2021 Ford Mustang GT Coupe:
Acura
Alfa Romeo
Aston Martin
Audi
Automobili Pininfarina
Bentley
BMW
Bollinger
BrightDrop
Bugatti
Buick
Cadillac
Caterham
Chevrolet
Chrysler
Dodge
Ferrari
Fiat
Fisker
Ford
Genesis
GMC
Gordon Murray Automotive
Hennessey
Honda
Hyundai
Ineos Automotive
Infiniti
Jaguar
Jeep
Karma
Kia
Koenigsegg
Lamborghini
Land Rover
Lexus
Lincoln
Lordstown
Lotus
Lucid Motors
Maserati
Mazda
McLaren
Mercedes-Benz
Mini
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Pagani
Polestar
Porsche
Ram
Rimac
Rivian
Rolls-Royce
Spyker
Subaru
Tesla
Toyota
VinFast
Volkswagen
Volvo