The Ford Mustang entered its 7th generation last year with what Ford calls “the most exhilarating and visceral version of the Mustang yet”. As before, the Mustang comes with a variety of different options including the V8 engine, 6-speed manual transmission, and a coupe or a convertible.
Performance
Engine – One change for this all-new 2025 Ford Mustang is the discontinuation of the V6 engine. It is now available with the V8 and the Ecoboost 2.3L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine of this car. This 4-cylinder produces 315 hp & 350 lb-ft of torque (235 kW & 474 Nm). That is broadly the same output as the previous generation with only a 5 hp bump. For a car that weighs 1,627 kg (3,587 lbs), this turbo 4-cylinder engine gets it going pretty quickly. Sure, it doesn’t have the growly noise or the lazy torque of the V8, but the turbocharger spools up quickly and delivers peak torque at lower rpms than the V8. This gives it a punchy acceleration in city traffic. But this engine also gives the impression that it doesn’t really like to be at higher rpms. It’s much happier sitting at low to mid rpms.
Additionally, the optional active sports exhaust system can be set to quiet, normal, sport & track. But if I’m being honest, there’s barely any difference between normal, sport & track. They all sound pretty much the same with the sport & track modes being a little bit louder than the normal mode. Quiet mode, however, really does make this Mustang almost as quiet as the fake Mustang; the Mach-E.
Fuel Economy – With this car being powered by a 4-cylinder engine, it can be as frugal as a 4-cylinder should be. It’s rated for 10.8 L/100km (21.7 MPG) in a city and 7.1 L/100km (33.1 MPG) on a highway. Those numbers are not so bad considering the power of this engine. I managed to average 8 L/100km (29.4 MPG) during my time with this Mustang which involved mostly highway drives.
Transmission – Another change for this 7th generation Mustang is the absence of a manual transmission. Don’t fret, the 6-speed manual is still available with the V8 but it is no longer available with the Ecoboost engine. Only the 10-speed automatic is.
This transmission is pretty good. It provides smooth gear changes and generally, it selects an appropriate gear when a burst of acceleration is demanded. However, it can be a bit slow to react and worse still, there is no way of controlling it. Last year, the Mustang Ecoboost was available with a High Performance package which added paddle shifters on the steering wheel as part of the package. Sadly, it was a $6,500 CAD option. This year, it doesn’t look like it is available anymore. The V8 with the automatic does get paddle shifters. Otherwise, with this Ecoboost, you’re out of luck when it comes to controlling the transmission.
Braking – Because this is not a particularly heavy car with a modest amount of power, it receives standard brakes. Putting your foot on the brake pedal is the same as a normal sedan.
Handling – One of the first things that will immediately be noticeable behind the steering wheel of the new Mustang is just how quick the front end can change direction. It reminds me of a BMW because modern day BMWs have similarly quick steering with a planted front end. This 7th generation Mustang is a far cry from the iconic Fox-body of the late 80’s & early 90’s. You can have those gauges though in this one. But back to the steering, it is vague in feel and you can increase the effort of it through a button on the steering wheel. Your choices are Comfort, Normal, & Sport.
With this quick steering, the 2025 Ford Mustang drives more like a big sports car rather than a muscle car of a couple of decades ago… or one that is brand new. Away from a race track or winding mountain roads, the car feels normal. The back end doesn’t try to snap out of control for no reason, the light steering helps maneuver this big car in a tight parking lot, and it stays stable on highways. Depending on how it is optioned, it can turn heads at the race track or down Beverly Hills boulevard.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – For a sports car such as this, the ride of the Mustang Ecoboost is very good. You can take long road trips or use it on a daily basis to and from work on potholed city streets without feeling as though your teeth are being shattered. Last year, the Ecoboost was available with MagnaRide adaptive dampers but not anymore.
However, the ride is still good without the expensive dampers and the seats are a part of that ride equation. They have large bolsters to keep you in them but without digging into your back. Additionally, the padding is plush and I didn’t experience any pressure points.
Interior Space – I’ve never had any issue with interior space of any Mustang that I’ve driven. They’ve all been spacious and this 7th generation is no different. There is plenty of legroom & headroom for my 6’4” height. There’s also enough headroom for me to wear a helmet if I were to take this car to a track day. Visibility with the top up is a bit better than in some other convertibles. The small rear windows reduce the size of the blind zones over the right and left shoulders. The view out the back is not too bad either.
The back seats are not as spacious. Like previous generations, the rear seats are suited for little kids only with very little head and leg room. The seats have some bolsters to keep them from sliding around in them and there are only 2 seats.
Behind the seats, the 2025 Ford Mustang convertible has 323 L (11.4 cu-ft) of cargo space. The rear seats can fold down 50/50 for more cargo capacity. Under the trunk floor, there is a temporary spare wheel.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – Like many sports cars, the Ford Mustang’s cabin lets in quite a bit of road noise while driving on highways. It’s not overly intrusive, like the cabin of the BMW M2 for example, but you will need to raise your voice a bit to have a conversation. The other noise that intrudes into the cabin is the exhaust note. With the optional active exhaust system, the Ecoboost engine sounds pretty good but as I mentioned earlier, there isn’t much of a difference in tone between the Sport & Track modes. Quiet mode really makes this car quiet. Wind noise is not loud with the top up.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2025 Ford Mustang Ecoboost Convertible starts at $45,830 CAD ($31,920 USD). But the price can quickly climb if you’re not careful with the options list. This demo car had an as-tested price of $58,270 CAD ($49,305 USD).
Gadgets – For the money, the Ford Mustang has the usual convenience features that vehicles costing this much are equipped with. It has heated front seats along with a heated steering wheel, synthetic leather or optional real leather trimmed seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, backup camera, push button start with keyless entry, wireless phone charging pad, and an ambient lighting system.
What quickly increases the price of the Mustang Ecoboost are options such as the B&O sound system, Ford Co-Pilot 360+ package, the active exhaust system, and premium floor mats.
As for the soft top, it can be raised and lowered in about 10 seconds. There is a latch that needs to be manually released before pressing the button to lower the soft-top. The process is reversed when raising and securing the top.
Interior Design – The most striking design of the new Mustang’s interior is the dual screen layout on the dashboard. The infotainment system is displayed on a 13.2” touchscreen while the driver instrumentation is displayed on a 12.4” screen. Sadly, this change has done away with physical climate controls. They are now integrated into the infotainment touchscreen which I dislike. The steering wheel has also been changed and is now decluttered with fewer buttons than the outgoing model.
Most of the cabin materials are improved with soft touch plastics throughout. It’s only the very bottom portions that are still hard plastics along with the faux carbon fiber looking plastics along the dash, door panels, & steering wheel.
Exterior Design – The front end of the 2025 Mustang sees the most drastic change over last year’s model. It looks much more butch with pronounced headlights and a larger grille. The rear also has some changes but it’s much more subtle. The triple LED tail lights remain and they still have the sequential turn signals of the old.
Safety – Like many new vehicles today, the 2025 Ford Mustang Ecoboost Convertible comes equipped with a host of standard safety & driver aids. These include automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and multiple airbags to name a few. Moving up to the Premium trim and adding on the Ford CoPilot 360+ package will add features such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep system with lane centering assist, speed sign recognition, and evasive steering assist to name a few.
Warranty – The 2025 Ford Mustang Ecoboost Convertible is covered by a 3 year / 60,000 km new vehicle and 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain warranty. For more information on Ford’s Canadian warranty, click here. For USA warranty, click here.
Conclusion – This new generation Mustang definitely feels more like a sports car. As the last of the Detroit big 3, it’s a good thing that this new generation is better to drive than the last. Sure, this Ecoboost is not to everyone’s taste, but thankfully the V8 is still available. Unfortunately you will have to spend quite a bit of money to get a properly equipped Mustang Ecoboost. Additionally, not having control over the transmission makes this car feel basic for those that want a thrilling driving experience as Ford intended this car to be. Hopefully Ford will make the paddle shifters standard on next year’s model.
Thank you to Ford Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Ford.ca
2025 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible
