What do the films “Bullitt”, “Goldfinger” and “Gone in Sixty Seconds” all have in common? For a proportion of British viewers, they all boast the chance to see a Ford Mustang that’s a bigger star than the leading actors. And yet, this iconic car - first launched in the 1960s – has never been sold in the UK or in right-hand drive.

Until now. As part of Ford’s global strategy which sees Fiestas cruising the streets of San Francisco, we’ll soon be able to enjoy sight of an American icon rumbling through Stevenage. A coupe and convertible are on offer, boasting quite different characters, but roughly the same iconic image.

Performance

Portion sizes are apparently larger over the pond. Perhaps that’s why the 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine aimed squarely at Europeans is less than half the size of the 5.0-litre V8 also on offer if you want it. Thanks to a turbocharger, it doesn’t have half the power though, with 313bhp playing 410bhp and acceleration from 0-62mph of 5.8 and 4.8 seconds respectively. Ford has cleverly made the EcoBoost feel like a big engine too, with a healthy surge of acceleration to bridge the long gaps between each gear ratio. It sounds fairly good too, although you do have to accept a bit of trickery here. You see, much of the noise comes through software and the speakers, rather than from under the bonnet. One odd side effect of this is that the Convertible actually sounds worse if you put the roof down.

There’s no such technology in the V8, just a pipe to feed the rumble of the engine directly into the cabin. It’s a great noise, even if it’s arguably a bit too quiet at idle, thanks to this Mustang adding some sophistication to its list of attributes. Hold it in gear though, and a NASCAR racing soundtrack is present and correct, and many cars costing twice as much sound anaemic in comparison. Although the V8 model offers tantalising performance, it is surprisingly easy to cruise in it at low speeds, with the accelerator offering a flexible power output, instead of just acting like an on and off switch. Despite this ability to bumble along, we'd recommend the six-speed manual gearbox over the automatic, because the shifter is smooth and accurate, giving you the option to hammer home satisfying downshifts or choose a high gear and wind out the engine to hear its soundtrack. Sadly, the automatic feels a bit lethargic and has a tendency to change gear unexpectedly, even when using the paddle shifters.

Different driving modes are available, with 'Normal', 'Sport+', 'Track' and 'Snow/Wet' affecting the response of the throttle and how quickly the ESP 'safety net' intervenes if you should skid in a bend. It's also worth noting that the 5.0-litre V8 gets uprated Brembo front brakes as standard, with larger 380mm front discs. They certainly feel powerful, with a noticeably firmer bite as soon as you press the middle pedal. 

Ride and Handling

The Mustang feels stable and quick, with precise steering and lots of grip

The Mustang feels more like a fast GT car than an out and out sports car, so it’s best suited to long, sweeping ribbons of tarmac. Here it feels stable and quick, with precise steering and lots of grip. Compared to older Mustangs, its fully-independent suspension also allows it to breath with the road, taking mid-corner bumps in its stride - something European drivers will no doubt appreciate. Its ability to cruise confidently at lower speeds means that you could actually find yourself having as much fun around town as you would around a racetrack. However, take it to the track and the Mustang can handle itself in the corners, thanks in part to its limited-slip differential. Its weight can be felt when leaning into corners though. There are some variable driving and steering modes to play around with as well. In the UK the Mustang can feel wide at times, so it doesn't feel most at home on a narrow B-road, but having right-hand drive certainly makes challenging roads a more comfortable experience than imported left-hand drive muscle cars.  Part of the Mustang's great appeal is that it offers UK customers something unique for the money, feeling very different in character to a hot hatch (think Golf R), German coupes including the Audi TT and BMW 235i or the Japanese Nissan 370Z or Toyota GT86. Compared to those, the Mustang feels traditional, and in some cases less precise, but it’s also imbued with a very healthy slice of character.

Interior and Equipment

Despite never being sold here, around 5,000 Mustangs have been imported into the UK, but that’s small fry compared with the numbers produced. In the 1965 model year alone, more than 550,000 Mustangs were sold in the USA. 

When a sports car of this pedigree costs from only £30k, you know money has been saved somewhere. In the case of the Mustang, this is easiest to spot in the cabin, where you’ll find less attractive materials than in the Audi TT or even the Golf R. It’s by no means a bad place to sit (in fact the seats are pretty good), it just doesn’t ooze quality. Thanks to a very long bonnet it’s also not as roomy as its length suggests, with a 2+2 layout and rear seats only really suitable for children or some bags of shopping. A long trunk, sorry, boot, does mean luggage space is good, with 408 litres of room and the ability to carry two sets of golf clubs. The Mustang punches hard in the equipment category though, with 19-inch alloy wheels, Xenon headlamps, an eight-inch SYNC 2 infotainment system, a rear view camera, Track Apps and Ford’s customisable MyKey all fitted as standard. In fact the 5.0-litre GT looks pretty similar from the outside, but gets larger Brembo brakes, different wheels, GT badging and a Launch Control system, as well as Line Lock, a drag racing device which locks the front brakes, allowing for easier tyre-warming (and very smoky) burnouts at your local track.

Cost

Those simply looking for an alternative to the current crop of Coupes will probably find themselves leaning towards the 2.3-litre EcoBoost.

If you look up ‘Guilty pleasure’ in the dictionary, the 5.0-litre GT could be listed in the description. It sounds glorious, it goes like stink, and it offers the full Mustang experience, but it also averages 20.9mpg and returns 299g/km of CO2 (281g/km in the auto), figures even some sports car fans will baulk at. In the highest tax band, it will cost £1,100 in the first year and £505 annually. An Audi TTS gets from 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds, has the same top speed and returns 41.5mpg and emits 157g/km of CO2. Those simply looking for an alternative to the current crop of Coupes will probably find themselves leaning towards the 2.3-litre EcoBoost, with much better figures of 35.3mpg and 179g/km of CO2 costing £225 in annual road tax. These figures are still a little high, but when you consider the low purchase price of the entry-level Mustang (and the 5.0-litre for that matter), the overall picture can still stand up against more expensive rivals.

Our Verdict

It might have taken a very long time for the Mustang to arrive in the UK, but there’s certainly a place for it. Compared with hot hatchbacks and Coupes from Germany and Japan, it offers customers a different driving and ownership experience, and it should also add a lot of character to Ford’s forecourts.