When the four-cylinder engined Mustang EcoBoost showed up, it was seen as the entry-level Ford Mustang that took a very overt backseat to the more desirable V6 and V8 mills. But now it has matured, the V6 engine option has been retired, and we believe the EcoBoost-powered Mustang has become its own car rather than just the Mustang you buy because you can’t afford the V8. Of course, being less expensive than the V8-powered Mustang GT does mean it is technically the entry-level ‘Stang, but that doesn’t mean you should discount it. If you don’t want a V8, then the EcoBoost is the perfect modern pony car.
Why wouldn’t you want a V8 in your Mustang, though? Well, it’s 2023 and gasoline is expensive; it costs a lot more to keep up regular maintenance on a V8 than on a four-cylinder engine, and the latter gives a very different driving experience. Whether that experience is better is a matter of preference and driving style. Either way, the 2024 Mustang enters the ring as the seventh generation of Ford’s most iconic car.
For its media launch, Ford invited us to a location in Southern California where we could run the EcoBoost version through an autocross track, try out the new electronic drift brake, and then unleash it through some tight mountain roads.