Review: 2015 Ford Mustang GT Premium
The 2015 Ford Mustang GT Premium made me wish I had different friends and family members.
It certainly wasn’t because I disagreed with them about the new 5.0’s looks. They were a hit with everyone. Although the front of it lacked the muscular swell of the 2014 GT, the fastback rear end was a visual treat. Its melding of curves and lines gave the Mustang a lean and sexy appearance. Ford’s rethinking of its signature three-bar tail lights made them appear leaner as well. In fact, they almost looked as if they were taken directly off of a Mustang from the future. In a way, they were – the S550 is taking the legend through its 51st year of life and beyond and into global markets.
The interior wasn’t a cause for tension between me and my loved ones, either. Its Redline leather seats gave the 5.0 a nice pop of color which contrasted attractively with the Magnetic Metallic exterior. It was hard to want for anything in such an attractive place, especially considering my $43,985 media tester came with features such as heated and cooled front seats, SYNC with MyFord Touch, Adaptive Cruise Control ($1,195), and voice-activated navigation ($795).
It wasn’t impossible, though. The big, easy-to-use knobs for the radio’s volume and tuning functions made me think a similar piece would be better for changing the HVAC system’s fan speed than its current small rocker switch. I would’ve appreciated more bass from the 390-watt, 12-speaker Shaker Pro audio system ($1,795), too.
My review vehicle’s 435-horsepower/400-lb.-ft. 5.0-liter V8 packed more than enough punch. It felt even more powerful when I selected the GT’s Sport+ setting, one of four available drive modes. Doing so transformed the car from a quick coupe with an ear-pleasing gentle roar into a more responsive, charging monster that bellowed with mechanical rage and pushed me and my passengers back into our seats.
The GT’s steering – in comfort, sport, or standard mode – seemed just as heavy as my right foot. I appreciated that, though. Ford’s engineers could’ve been too clever for their own good by refining the weight out of it. Thankfully, they chose not to. The steering, combined with the broad landscape of the vented hood visible through the windshield, just struck me as right for a V8 performance car. So did the brakes. They worked in a smooth, linear fashion.
No matter how much I romped on the 5.0, it still didn’t return the 19 combined mpg that the EPA said it was supposed to; I actually got an average figure that was close to 21. In the city, the 5.0 has been rated for 16 mpg. On the highway, it’s capable of covering 25.
Leaving the SelectShift six-speed automatic transmission in its normal setting gave me my best shot for saving fuel. Activating Sport+ mode and bumping the shifter into the “S” position meant the Mustang would hit a higher rev count before it changed gears. That was great for back roads and sweeping curves because I was always in the sweet spot of the power band.
However, that also meant the GT was too eager for throttle to be driven smoothly at low speeds. It constantly sounded as if I were over-revving. The car wanted me to be more aggressive than I was able to be on short neighborhood streets.
Oddly enough, the rear seats were what made me wish I had different friends and family members – shorter ones. I enjoy sharing fun cars with my loved ones by going on road trips with them and I want them to be comfortable when we do. I especially wanted my pals to experience the newest generation of an American automotive icon with me.
Unfortunately, some of them just couldn’t do that without sitting awkwardly. My 5’10” buddy Dan had to ride behind me with his legs angled just so his knees wouldn’t bump into my seat. My 6’0″ brother? He was too tall to ride anywhere but in the shotgun seat. I’m 5’10” and I couldn’t sit behind the driver’s seat without constantly stooping. Gracefully entering and exiting the back-seat area was an impossibility.
The Mustang is all-new for 2015, but its coupe version is still a fastback, which requires compromises. So do relationships with friends and siblings. Even if the special people in my life are too tall for road trips in the back seat of a handsome, powerful, four-wheeled piece of Americana, ultimately, I love them exactly how they are. I feel the same way about the 2015 Ford Mustang GT.
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