2020 Ford Mustang Convertible

Offered in various trims and models the most affordable convertible Mustang you can buy today starts at $32,170 and is offered in two trims. With a small 4-cylinder engine under the hood, the Mustang convertible behaves exactly like its elder sibling - the GT, just quieter and slower. However, do not underestimate this baby Mustang as it doesn’t fall short of upholding its forefathers’ reputation.

With this price tag, the Mustang challenges its all-time rival - The Camaro convertible, and some modern machines such as BMW 230i convertible, Nissan 370Z convertible, and Audi A3 convertible. Let us find out if the Mustang convertible can still hold its own In this tough battle where the muscle cars are gradually fading away.

The Mustang is offered in various trims. Starting from “Ecoboost” and going all the way up to the absolutely bonkers “Mustang GT”. The EcoBoost version is powered by a 2.3L, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine in the Mustang produces 310 hp @ 5,500 rpm and 350 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm. While those are great numbers for a 2.3L, 4 cylinder engine and the Mustang indeed is quite fast, there are a few shortcomings with this engine. It's a high revving motor and it is fun only when you are pushing it hard.

The Ford Mustang Ecoboost convertible comes in two trims just the like the coupe the base version and the Premium version. Both trims are the same mechanically as they are powered by the same engine and gearbox. 

This engine comes mated to a six-speed manual or an optional 10-speed automatic. Both the gearboxes perform pretty well indeed. There are two trims on offer separated by a lot of features of appearance, performance or security. All these feature updates come with a price difference of $5000. 

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The base version falls a little creature comforts. We'd recommend the Ecoboost Premium version as that comes decently well packed with quite some standard equipment. Also if you are buying a Mustang, you are surely buying it for performance which is why the Ecoboost Performance Package is a worthy upgrade which adds more fun to your mustang. 

Shifting from big motors the Ford Mustang now packs a turbocharged inline-four engine under the hood. This 2.3 Liter EcoBoost twin-scroll turbocharged engine is rated for 310 horsepower and 350 lb-ft. of torque. The power band is predictable and holds itself till redline. The power is delivered to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission. Apart from the slick and smooth shifts offered by this gearbox, you also get a “Launch Control” program along with this manual transmission, just to give you the best out of this motor in the event of a drag race. 

A 10-speed automatic transmission is also on offer. This 10-speed automatic is smooth and quick when left in auto mode but there is quite some delay in the manual mode when tapping at the paddles. Strangely enough, if your Mustang is equipped with the automatic gearbox, you lose out on the Launch Control Program that, otherwise, comes as standard with the manual one. 

Showcasing the top power output among the rivals, the Mustang shines bright. Although the 370Z has better horsepower numbers but lags on torque output by a lot if compared to the mustang. The BMW 230i is the most inferior one here in this regard.

Acceleration

The Ford Mustang with its EcoBoost engine is going to upset many rival cars with bigger engines. Mustang manages to go past the coveted 60 mph marker within 5.6 seconds. Aim for the quarter-mile mark and the puny 4-pot unit enables this convertible to cover the distance in 14.1 seconds. But with this engine, the Mustang scores high points for improving daily drivability.

The pull from this engine is consistent till redline. Around 3000 rpm this engine is in the meat of the power band. So, moving through stop and go traffic doesn't require you to change gears, constantly. You can just leave the car in gear and work the clutch pedal.

While comparing the acceleration time, the Mustang loses out to most of the rivals here in terms of acceleration. The Nissan 370Z comes out to be the quickest to the 60 MPH mark and being in the lead up to the quarter-mile mark as well. It is then followed closely by the Bimmer and the Camaro respectively.

Braking 

One of the most important part of making a car perform better is brakes. The Ford Mustang comes fitted with 12.6-inch rotors undertaking the braking duties on all four wheels, the 2020 Mustang convertible behaves confidently when slammed on the brakes. The 3642 lbs. behemoth is able to come to a screeching halt from 60 mph within 107 feet. Some might feel the brake pedal to be on the squishier side, however, the overall response from the vehicle is commendable. 

Being the lightest of the lot the Nissan takes advantage and makes a stop in just 105 ft, hence, locking itself in the first position. Showcasing similar times the Mustang lines up with the Bimmer head-to-head for second place, leaving the Camaro at the last.

Ride and handling

The new Mustang sheds its image as a straight-line fast car. the wobbly character that was evident in its older iterations has now been eradicated and this baby Mustang feels sure-footed at all times. The steering is well-weighed and pretty friendly to the user. With the inclusion of independent rear suspension in the 2015 generation change, Mustang has come forward with its newly found turn-in response. 

Throwing this pony around the twisties does invite some cabin roll, but if your Mustang is equipped with the optional bigger 19-inch rims, things get more interesting. Though, opting for bigger size alloys also compromise with the ride quality and slight juddering inside the cabin. The steering is precise and provides a good on-center feel. Mustang produces tarmac-hugging grip levels. The suspension offers improved ride quality and filters most of the road undulations.

The turbocharged EcoBoost engine helps the Mustang to offer better fuel efficiency.

The 2020 Ford Mustang convertible can munch 20 miles in a gallon of fuel within the city limits. Coming on the highway and this number escalates to 28 MPG which is pretty impressive for its standards. With a combined mileage of 23 MPG, the Mustang barely manages to keep up with the standards set by the segment. Nevertheless, it doesn’t lag much behind either.

The Mustang Ecoboost has a pretty respectable fuel economy in the class and is at par with its competitors. It lines up with the Camaro’s fuel economy figures as far as the combined mileage is concerned, although, the Camaro just manages to surpass the mustang in the highway mileage figures. With the least economy figures, the Nissan 370Z stays at the last of this comparison. The BMW 230i leads the table with the best fuel economy figures of the lot.

Just like the exteriors, the interiors are characterized by strong lines and bold surfaces. Segregated in two trims, the base trim of the 2020 Ford Mustang comes with cloth-wrapped seats and the top-trim upgrades to the leather ones. However, both the materials have no such complaints in terms of seating comfort. The seats come well cushioned with good bolster surroundings to enhance comfort.

The Mustang provides excellent cabin insulation, the road noise is limited to a great extent. As per the segment standards, the Mustang offers good adjustability traits for the driver and the front passenger. Separating both the trims are manual and electronic adjustments of the seats. Overall the cabin makes up for a pleasant place for those long road trips. The Recaro seats offer comfort and support for long trips. The legroom is almost non-existent and the sloping roofline just ensures you won’t even dare to fit in the rear seats. The rear seats are best suited for kids. Few rattling noises can be heard inside the cabin, questioning about build quality issues. 

As exact figures are not available for two of the rivals. It comes down to just the Mustang which isn’t very generous when it comes to the passenger volume and loses out on this front to its rivals. Showing the maximum space, the Bimmer takes the lead here in this department, followed closely by the Nissan 370Z.

Infotainment

To cater to the occupant’s need for entertainment, the base trim offers a standard 4.2-inch display, the top-trim “Ecoboost Premium” takes things up a notch with even a bigger 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This display unit comes with a 9-speaker setup and also offers satellite radio and voice-activated Satnav. Though things get laggy at times scrolling between the menus. Moving further deep, the key highlights associated with the infotainment of the 2020 Ford Mustang Convertible are:

• 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot compatible with up to 10 devices
• Sirius XM with 6-month All-Access subscription
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Alexa Voice Assistant
• 9-speaker Audio system with built-in amplifier
• 2 smart-charging USB Ports

Interior Features

The 2020 Ford Mustang Convertible also comes packed with a host of features. Not just on the technology front, but pertaining to the comfort and convenience of the passengers as well. With a lot of standard features, there are also many optional features you can opt for. 

• 6-way power-adjustable driver seat with power lumbar adjustability
• Heated and cooled leather-trimmed front seats
• Ambient lighting with MyColor®
• Angled Brush Aluminum instrument panel trim
• Bright-finish door speaker surrounds
• Aluminum accelerator, brake and clutch pedals
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt/telescopic adjustment
• Dual-zone electronic automatic climate control

Cargo Volume

Treading on the same lines of a convertible car cargo space, the 2020 Ford Mustang Convertible offers a modest cargo capacity of 11.4 cu.ft. As the convertible roof takes up a considerable amount of trunk as compared to its corresponding coupe. Still, the Mustang surprises us with its best-in-class cargo capacity when compared against the rivals.

Still carrying reminiscent of the identical design cues even after five decades of its tenure. The 2020 Ford Mustang consists of remains that created the identity of its badge in the first place. The new updated look might seems unusual for some. Though, the front signature headlamps with the triple-LED stripes still carrying the mustang signature altogether. 

Moving on to the sides, the classic design cues bore by its forefathers back in the day, can still be spotted in the silhouette of the car with the long hood and a fastback-like crease adding more to its character. The sloping roofline cleanly blends into the C-pillar and makes sure you grab eyeballs everywhere you go. 

With the roof gone, we miss the beautiful sloping roofline but it still maintains a pretty good silhouette with the soft-top up. All in all, the Mustang has a unique road presence and certainly stands apart from the crowd. The standard 18-inch wheels look good enough but you can, of course, opt for larger ones to give it an even sportier look. With the famous pony badge sitting between the signature mustang 3 stripes LED taillights. The rear remains typically Mustang finished off with dual exhaust pipes.

The mustang comes out to be the biggest of them all. It is longer, wider and is also taller than the competition here. The small Nissan again remains at the end in terms of dimensions as it is more of a compact sports car. The Camaro is the second-largest and leaves the Bimmer for the third position, just ahead of the Nissan. 

Exterior Features

Stuffed with a long list of features the 2020 Ford Mustang Convertible stands apart from the crowd. A number of exterior quirks along with the aesthetics enhance the convenience factor too. Some of the cool features on the outside of the Ford Mustang are listed below.

• 18-inch silver aluminum wheels
• Dual Exhaust tips
• Easy Fuel capless fuel filler
• Daytime running lights
• LED Fog Lamps
• LED Headlights with LED signature lighting
• LED front park turn lamps
• Hood Vents
• Soft-top folding roof
• LED sequential taillights
• Heated body-color mirrors with turn signals
• Mild Side Skirts
• Rear diffuser

As the new mustang gets more added safety features, to the existing list building up more confidence. Although, the Ford Mustang has not been tested by NHTSA or IIHS yet as it's a new car and no ratings are available. However, by the number of safety features that Ford has loaded into this car, this inspires more confidence in the beginner drivers who straightaway want to step into the performance category. we can tell you that it's going to be a pretty safe place to be in. Here's a list of the standard safety features found in a Mustang Ecoboost.

• 3-point safety belt restraint system for all seating positions
• Glove-Box-Door-Integrated Knee Airbag
• AdvanceTrac with Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Driver's knee airbag
• Dual front airbags
• Front-seat side-impact airbags
• Personal Safety System for driver and front passenger
• Safety Canopy side-curtain airbags
• SOS Post-Crash Alert System
• Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Perimeter Alarm
• Remote keyless entry
• SecuriLock Passive Anti-Theft System

Ford Mustang Convertible vs Chevrolet Camaro Convertible:

The Chevrolet Camaro is a great daily driver and could still handle a little track of fun. It does not have quite the performance of the Mustang or the Dodge but it's certainly not far behind. Pushing out all the power it can from the 4-cylinder engine, it seems capable of more than what it is and sounds. Even though the interiors are very stylish it still lacks in the infotainment system department. As sometimes, it gets a little cumbersome to use. Furthermore, with the 2020 iteration of both models, the Mustang has now come head-to-head in terms of the equipment list, hence, proving itself to be a better deal than the Chevrolet Camaro. 

Ford Mustang Convertible vs BMW 230i Convertible:

The Beemer might be less on power but it certainly is not short of any performance. Taking the battle head-on with the Europeans, the Mustang just dwarfs the Bimmer in terms of dimensions, which also translates to the fact that the former has more road presence and a better stance as compared to the 230i. It may not look so imposing as the Mustang but it still looks pretty decent like all BMWs. It's a fun car to drive with the capability to be a very comfortable car. It has much better technology than any of the American cars and the interiors are also better than the Mustang.

Ford Mustang Convertible vs Nissan 370Z Convertible:

The only thing common between these two cars is the price bracket, Apart from this, these vehicles are worlds apart from each other. While the Mustang follows a “bigger the better” ideology in its stance, Nissan is a bit more conservative. While the Mustang’s rear row is cramped and impractical, but the Nissan 370Z doesn't even have a second row. Also, the 370Z offers more engaging handling dynamics and the Mustang remains a perfect highway cruiser with a hint of sportiness too. While both these contenders remain head-to-head with each other in terms of feature-list. Let’s also not forget the price tag that works in favor of the Mustang convertible.

As the automotive market already trying to overpower the muscle car segment, there are only a handful of options in the market that you can ponder upon. The 2020 Ford Mustang is not only a good daily driver but one that does perform well when pushed hard. The performance from this four-cylinder engine gives the larger V6 engines, a run for their money. Along with its signature identity and style statement, it also offers a blend of various proportions that serves almost every purpose, be it performance or necessity. But, if you are thinking about stuffing the base trim with factory options you are going to be in the price segment of the premium trim real soon. The new EcoBoost engine does make up for saving some bucks and still enjoying the mustang character up to a bit. To sum it up, if you are looking for a sports car with muscular looks and still be able to live with it as a daily driver, look no further than the Mustang Convertible.