Mustang is full of machismo, with a proud history of American muscle starring in road chases on the big screen, but does that translate to an ownership experience in real life?

Looks:

With a ragtop, the epitome of freedom is called, Mustang.

True to Iococca’s original, the handsome 2022 brut is both aggressive and beguiling. LED lighting gives the 7-year-old design a modern edge. Unlike many of its predecessors, the 2022 has aged well after more than half a decade, and many sales.

With the textile roof down, the sleek profile is slippery, with a waist line high enough to look solid without the unbearable frumpiness that plagues hardtop convertibles. Mustang continues a long line of the delicious feel of the tactile fabric. Several layers of textile give a hint to the soundproofing absent from her saintly forbears. It is a modern interpretation of the 60’s, without being a mere pastiche.

19” wheels fill the arches, and if Mustang was a supermodel, it would be one wearing Manolo and Parada. It is from the outside, it looks expensive, and substantial.

As the driver approaches, the doors ready themselves to unlock, and mirrors gracefully unfold as the puddle lights are projected into the pavement in the shape of a pony.

There is nothing whatever subtle about the effect such overt masculinity leaves on its observer.

This Week: 2022 Ford Mustang 2 3L High Performance Convertible Review

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The Cabin

Ford may have attempted the personification of flower power-meets-Star-Trek, but the cockpit shows cost-cutting made this dream one that went unrealised.

Without a proper cover, the folded roof mechanism can be seen within the rear panel. There are a couple of awful plakky moldings in the boot that can be placed over these openings, but it is, without a doubt, the worst executed example of cost cutting I’ve ever seen.

Elsewhere, there is plastic by the acre, with some of it being covered in fake chrome. Does it adversely affect the feel? Not at first. But, after a short time in the saddle, the Pony looses just a little of the aura being emitted like pheromones from a bee.

Seating of perforated leather has heating and cooling, perfect for seasonal extremes. The centre console has a couple of cup holders, but those man-size African coffees will need decanting into daintier vessels.

The SYNC 4’s 8” touch screen is hooked up to a stonking B&O speaker system. The grand-daddy of audiophiles will love the tones, and the ease with which Apple’s Carplay and Android Auto makes music selection. Steering wheel controls are typical Ford, and there is a full-width driver’s panel for essential data. There is no HUD but the display makes a decent fist of showing what you need. Views change slightly as the drive modes change, otherwise customisation is limited.

Lower on the centre stack is the climate control zone. This is where the chromed plastic rears its ugly head. Large dials are coated liberally, and there is little resistance to give their operation a quality feel.

At the base of the stack is row of toggles and a small trinket tray. You’ll want to rest your phone here when connected to Carplay, but place it carefully, otherwise you’ll turn off the traction control by accident, as shown in our film. It is poor design, and a daft place to put such important settings. It could be partially fixed by the toggle needing to be held for a couple of seconds before turning off a programme that cold stop you spearing into a hedge.

We managed a couple of short-arses in the back seats, but longish trips would be a challenge.

The Drive:

I confess to feeling dispirited at the thought of the throbber under the bonnet having been usurped by a 4-pot imposter.

It has been a very long time since I stuck the boot into a Ford Ecoboost, and this one is a peach. It has slightly more power than a STI Scoob, and an exhaust note replete with all the swing the best of the 60’s has to offer. At least in that, Mustang’s puny plant proffers promise.

The sports mode selection is a bit daft. With the gear lever in drive, sport mode doesn’t appear in the toggle selector. Pulling the selector in to S activates Sport mode, when then replaces Normal in the toggle’s menu. Confused? Yeah I was too.

Dropping the canvas opens a world of wonder. You have to stop to do so, otherwise the warning to “slow down” appears in the dash. That really got on my tits.

Sydney’s weather has been a combination of abominable, and annoying.

Big Dave from Driven Media and I sauntered down the M1 for a spot of light R and R. as we emerged from a tunnel enroute to Pie in the Sky just as a light drizzle made it unwelcome presence known. At speed, such drifts flow over the cabin but remember, you have to stop to raise the roof.

Now is a good time to mention the moody rear window in the driver’s side. With the roof up, it won’t fully deploy unless it is firmly tugged while operating the up button. What a huge pain in the arse. Failure to remember this procedure leaves a 10mm gap through which rain will pour. Perhaps requiring a small adjustment, it doesn’t bode well for the longevity the mechanism.

There is optional MagneRide suspension, but without it, handling is more touring than track. Ride is reasonable, and steering has a decent amount of simulated-electric feel.

For a bit of fun, stick it Sport+ and glue your RM Williams to the carpet. By god that thing flies. The hockey-stick-shaped tacho cycles up and across to a redline somewhere around 6k. the 10-speed auto chugs the gears like a Fräulein at a foam-fest. Big Dave found the ferocity fearful, but I relished the chance to unleash the beast.

I loved the ballsy acceleration and the rousing shriek, but most of all I loved the feeling of camping at 110kph. You can hear what’s going on outside as the muffled tones tap you gently on the shoulder. The relative isolation offered by multi-layered textile is as set to nought once fully open to the elements.

The windows-down experience is utterly unique. To get this feeling deep into your bones any other way, requires only 2 wheels, and a helmet. Believe me, having just a cap between you and the big yellow ball at this speed, is as close to heaven on earth as is possible

236kw is oodles, and as you wend your way through rolling green hills, the enchanting Mustang has you in its embrace without you being aware of it.

My freckled complexion required long sleeves and a proper straw hat, so I was only a pair of kid gloves away from a guest appearance in Downton.

Conclusion:

This isn’t my first rodeo, and Mustang has been a huge hit despite its tragic 2-star (then 3-star) ANCAP rating. After realising the trio of stars related only to the coupé, all bets were off.

Mustang is sold as a sports car but for me, that is a misnomer. It sets up prospective buyers for disappointment. Instead, Mustang should set its cap at being a tourer. I can picture myself as the crazy cat man towing a teardrop or that fabulous Opera Campers we love so much.

In my bones, in know this is a car that I’d buy with my heart, not my head.

Read about the 2016 trip HERE.

Read about the V8 Coupe Road Trip HERE

It depends on what your requirements are. If you want a comfortable cruiser, you’re going to be happy, but if a hot hatch-like handler is your bent, you need to move on.

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Price: Ranges from $51,690 to $83,365 plus onroads

Engine: 2.3 turbo 4 cyl

Trans: 10-speed auto

Econ: 9.6L/100k

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