2020 Ford Mustang GT Coupe Review: Faster & Better

Ford's Mustang, one of the brand's most loved and treasured icons, is a sports car that has become so good over the span of the current generation, that for the 2020 model year, the GT hasn't had to change much. The 5.0-liter V8 is carried over from previous iterations of the GT coupe, and still produces 460 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. The tiny rear seating remains a major drawback, particularly due to the Fastback design's sloping roofline, and if you spec the high-performance suspension option, the ride is predictably stiff. However, Ford's SYNC infotainment system is still great to use, and the addition of FordPass Connect as standard is a welcome upgrade. Armed with some impressive upgrades and equipment designed to make it faster and better, the 2020 'Stang once again does battle with the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger for muscle car honors.

What's the Price of the 2020 Ford Mustang GT Coupe?

For 2020, the normal Mustang GT Fastback is the cheapest model starting at $35,630 exclusive of taxes, licensing, acquisition fee, and the $1,095 destination charge from Ford. Stepping up one level to the GT Premium will debit at least $39,630 from your savings. Fully loaded with everything you could possibly want, your bill will ring up to $54,690, including the destination charge. Check with your nearest dealer before purchasing, though - there are often dealer incentives not necessarily specified online.

2020 Mustang GT Coupe Exterior

Dimensions

2020 Mustang GT Coupe Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

With a number of driving modes, the GT is truly an everyday sports car, particularly in Premium guise. Capable of adapting to snow or rain, twisty corners, or all-out acceleration in drag mode, this is a car that can be civilized when you need it to be and capable on whatever surface you throw it at.

For the 2019 model, you could order the MagneRide adaptive damping option on any Mustang. For 2020, however, you have to spec Performance Package Level 2 to access this, an option only available on the GT. This helps absorb bumps and divots in the road very well and keeps the 'Stang planted around bends, although the electric-assisted steering feels a little less 'life-like' than the feel in the Camaro. Braking, however, is excellent and easily judged, giving you the confidence to push harder and longer.

The grippy tires, which can also be upgraded to Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s with the level two performance package, are outstanding in terms of adhesion and are the closest thing to a full track tire that any production sports car can get off the dealer floor. As incredible as those tires are, and as adaptive as the various driving modes can be, hooning the GT around a bend with the tail hanging out and your arms at opposite lock, is not difficult to achieve with 480 hp. This car still requires commitment and concentration to ensure a clean line and a quick time - otherwise, those expensive tires are vaporized in a matter of minutes, and you'll find yourself on the wrong side of a cliff-face.

2020 Mustang GT Coupe Interior

2020 Mustang GT Coupe Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Verdict: Is the 2020 Ford Mustang GT Coupe A Good car?

As we've come to expect, there are some questionable rattles coming from the trim if you spec the level two performance pack, which comes with stiffer springs; and, although the storage is relatively good compared to the Camaro, it is still not great. However, it does pretty much everything it is built and designed to do, with relative ease and grace. It can be used every day in comfort, thanks to its supportive and well-equipped seats, and can be abused at the track all day long.

As an out-and-out sports car, it's always going to lose to the more focused Camaro around the bends, and to the more powerful Challenger on the strip. This car is a compromise, but for a car you drive to work every day, and play with every weekend, that's not necessarily a bad thing. All things considered, the Mustang is the most evolved of its kind. It's better designed than the Chevrolet, more modern than the Charger, and has been polished into an accessible and affordable - yet powerful and playful - blue-collar hero. It may not be the fastest you can buy, but it is one of the best all-rounder sports cars.

What Ford Mustang GT Coupe Model Should I Buy?

The GT as a standalone model is good, if a bit basic. The regular climate control and seating options, although decent, may get tiresome if you don't live a perfectly temperate climate. On the Premium model, a hint of luxury is added. For day-to-day enjoyment, being able to control the temperature of both your seats and either half of the cabin makes it a little easier to live with a performance car. Plus, you can spec the Premium's performance up to almost the same level as the more exclusive Bullitt. That's how we'd spend our cash.

2020 Ford Mustang GT Coupe Comparisons

2020 Ford Mustang GT Coupe vs Kia Stinger

Now that Ford sells the Mustang globally, its competitors are global too. The Kia Stinger GT is a relatively new entrant to the market that is still awaiting a 2020 update, but its performance is highly impressive. Although it's a four-door, its lines denote sportiness and with a twin-turbo V6 making 365 hp, it's worth considering. Handling on the edge can be a little less appealing, but with lots of standard safety equipment like blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic warning systems, it's well-specced off the showroom floor, even starting at $40,095. Wireless charging is another feature that isn't even available on the Mustang. With the Stinger GT's much more practical style, competitive power output, and heaps of standard tech, this is a four-door sports car worth considering. For raw thrills, though, the Mustang has it comprehensively beaten.

2020 Ford Mustang GT Coupe vs Ford Mustang Shelby GT350

Domestically, the original pony car's biggest rivals often come from within the family - its bigger brother, the Shelby GT350, is no exception. Starting at $61,535, it's an eye-watering amount of money when other options exist; but this is money well spent. The Voodoo 5.2-liter V8 uses a flat-plane crank, not unlike the kind found in Italian exotica, giving it a unique shriek as opposed to a deep rumble. As a track car, the GT350 will utterly decimate the standard GT - and it should. 526 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque are big numbers. However, in straight-line acceleration, the Shelby does 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds while the regular GT is less than 0.7 of a second slower. The interior of the Shelby also has some finishings that look cheap in a car that costs this much. Overall, the regular Mustang GT is more comfortable, carries the same cargo, has more safety technologies fitted, and isn't as far behind as you might think. Only buy the Shelby GT350 if track times are your focus - otherwise, the stock GT is perfect.