10 Reasons the 2018 Ford Mustang is the AutoWeb Buyer’s Choice Best Coupe

2018 Ford Mustang GT coupe front three quarter tunnel ・ Photo by Ford

Americans have been familiar with the Ford Mustang for decades. An icon of all-American style and performance, this two-door has long been desired both for its appearance and its powerful engines. But its appeal has grown globally in recent years. In case you'd missed it, that international acclaim is a powerful clue that today's Mustang is quite a bit more than just its 0-60 time and its unmistakable looks. Indeed, this multi-talented performance car has such a wide variety of strengths that it's no surprise that car buyers honored it with the AutoWeb Buyer’s Choice Best Coupe Award. 

10) The Shelby GT350 model is a track star that can rival high-end exotics.

Let's be clear: Most Mustang buyers aren't going for the GT350 model, which is priced from $57,145. But this flagship of the Mustang lineup encapsulates the diversifying appeal of Ford's performance car. Certainly, its sonorous 526-horsepower V8 is formidable — and capable of blasting the vehicle from 0-60 mph in around four seconds. But on a racetrack, this model has won widespread acclaim for its balanced, composed handling — drawing comparisons to such esteemed European models as the BMW M4.

Moreover, not only is the GT350 the pinnacle of Mustang performance, but it's also something of a proving ground for new features. For example, the less-expensive GT model now offers the “MagneRide” electronically adjustable suspension that first debuted on the Shelby. Even if you don't buy the GT350, its existence elevates and improves every Mustang.

Photo by Ford

9) It's priced from just $25,585.

We started off with the pricey Shelby GT350, but a large part of the Mustang's appeal from car buyers has always been that it makes its style and performance accessible to everyone. It's priced from just $25,585, even with generous standard equipment. That's barely more than a similarly equipped mid-size family sedan — and it buys you a rear-wheel-drive performance coupe with unmistakable looks and 310 horsepower.

Even the GT model, which swaps the base car's turbocharged four-cylinder engine for a massive V8, starts at just $35,095. While that's not pocket change, consider that the 460-horsepower Mustang GT produces performance numbers that match or surpass many sports cars from premium brands. If you're looking to go this fast, you won't find many cars with similar specifications until you've spent nearly twice as much.

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8) It's also offered as a convertible.

Looking purely at the performance numbers, turning a coupe into a convertible isn't a winning proposition. The roof is a valuable part of a car's structure and removing it reduces rigidity and makes it more prone to bending and flexing. convertibles also require extra suspension bracing to counteract this weakness, which makes the cars heavier and affects acceleration and fuel economy.

But the intangible joy of open-top motoring in a fabulous performance car can, for plenty of buyers, counteract a slightly slower 0-60 time and modestly reduced at-the-limits handling performance. So we present our kudos to Ford for continuing to offer a Mustang convertible, whose prices start at $31,085.

Photo by Ford

7) Decades of heritage back up its present-day appeal.

Part of the Mustang's appeal is the outstanding reputation it's developed and sustained over the years. Countless Americans have fond memories driving, riding in or merely pining after Mustangs. The name is almost universally known. Buying a 2018 Mustang means becoming part of a great American story that's been going strong for 54 years.

Of course, that heritage would mean little if today's Mustang weren't true to its performance roots. But it is. In fact, it's even more of a sports car than the original — unlike in 1964, you couldn't buy a slow 2018 Mustang even if you wanted to. With 310 horsepower, today's base model is almost precisely three times as powerful as the cheapest 1964 version.

Photo by Ford

6) Its retro styling keeps history alive.

With the 2018 Mustang, Ford allows no risk that you'll forget about the car's heritage. The car's retro styling hearkens back to the 1960s, both inside and out. But it's no carbon copy of the original, instead blending classic cues with contemporary influences to create a modern performance coupe. And because Ford has steered clear of today's trendy design flourishes, the Mustang retains its distinctive visual character rather than blending in.

For 2018, the Mustang received some aesthetic tweaks. It now features LED exterior lighting in both the headlamps and taillamps, along with gently reshaped front and rear ends. Ford calls the new look “leaner and meaner” yet also functional — aerodynamics and forward visibility have both improved.

Photo by Ford

5) Its technology is thoroughly modern.

Ford says the 2018 model is “the most advanced Mustang ever.” Beneath the 1960s retro-styling, modern tech features abound. Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system is well-executed, and it includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. A new feature, an optional 12-inch display screen behind the steering wheel, replaces traditional analog gauges; it lets the driver choose among various modern and classic gauge styles. And the FordPass mobile app lets you lock, unlock or start the car using your phone.

The 2018 Mustang is also available with several advanced safety features: automatic emergency braking, a blind-spot monitoring system, and lane-departure warning.

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4) It's more livable on a daily basis than some sporty coupes.

Along with its relative affordability, the Mustang also offers another important quality that's helped fuel its popularity: everyday practicality. Unlike some sporty coupes, the Mustang manages to carve out enough rear-seat space for an adult to squeeze into for occasional use, and to provide an acceptably clear view out its windshield and windows. It also has a respectably roomy trunk at 13.5 cubic feet and a decently smooth ride, in addition to an ample selection of comfort and convenience features.

To be clear, if you're expecting the utility of a Toyota Camry, the Mustang probably isn't for you. But by the standards of performance coupes, Ford was able to make the Mustang a relatively practical car for daily use. Unless you're on regular carpool duty, it's not the sort of sports car that works only as a weekend toy.

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3) Its EcoBoost four-cylinder engine balances acceleration and fuel economy.

For 2018, Ford's “EcoBoost” turbocharged four-cylinder engine has become standard equipment on the Mustang. Traditionalists may suggest that a four-cylinder engine doesn't belong in a Mustang, but while the EcoBoost admittedly lacks the melody of a V8 or even a decent V6, it delivers irreproachable acceleration. Ford promises a 0-60 time of fewer than five seconds — an achievement that even the V8 Mustang couldn't match until less than a decade ago. Moreover, the EcoBoost engine holds true to its “eco” title by achieving respectable EPA fuel economy ratings of 21 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg overall, and by using regular fuel rather than premium.

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2) Its Coyote V8 offers rip-snorting performance.

Fortunately, even if the four-cylinder's merits aren't adequately persuasive, a big 5.0-liter V8 remains available. Dubbed “Coyote,” this engine returns 460 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque and promises 0-60 runs of less than four seconds. For context, that matches a Chevrolet Corvette or BMW M4 for some $20,000 to $30,000 less.

Besides the 5.0-liter Mustang's brute-force performance, opting for the V8 fills the 2018 Mustang with its classic character. Even firing up the Coyote can be a thrill; a four-cylinder engine can never match the burble of its rich note. A V8 Mustang is a car that you can distinguish from a distance, while the sound of the 2.3-liter could be any anonymous family car or crossover. The EPA overall mileage ratings are 19 mpg with the 10-speed automatic transmission or 18 mpg with the six-speed manual. Like the four-cylinder, the Coyote V8 runs on regular fuel.

Photo by Ford

1) It's more than just fast.

The Mustang is known best for its speed, but a modern Mustang is a delightful driver's car that has a diversity of talents. Especially since it adopted a contemporary independent rear suspension for the 2015 model year, the Mustang delivers responsive handling that makes it a capable corner-carver both in daily driving and on a racetrack. The engine is still a leading Mustang strength, especially on the V8 model, but it's backed up by an increasingly fantastic chassis.

Throw in the car's stylish interior, acceptable utility, and its value for the money - and car buyers consider it a worthy recipient of the Best Coupe Award.

Photo by Ford