I mentioned not long ago that I’ve never loved the Ford Mustang, except for the classic 60s models of course. In fact, it’s my adoration of those classics that explains my resentment toward the 2005-2009 Mustangs. Sure they had plenty of power. But the styling, supposed to be an homage to the classic Mustangs, was instead a caricature that lacked any of the elegance of the originals. Bad as it was, the exterior was automotive perfection compared to the dismal interior, which was so cheap that Ford painted only the front side of the air vents.

Truth is, that’s the way it has been for Mustangs since the 80s: Lots of power, little attention paid to the rest of the car. Let me put it this way: For the past two decades, Camaros held the edge in refinement. Camaros.

Suffice it to say, my expectations for the 2010 Ford Mustang were low. Sure, there was plenty of hype about the new interior, and a brief glance at the 2008 L.A. Auto Show showed that it was better. But the styling changes were too subtle, I thought. The interior not good enough. The engine barely made more power, for crying out loud! It seemed like Ford was once again just phoning it in.

I was wrong. At $34, 850 including the $850 destination charge and a bunch of options (many of which I’d skip), this isn’t just a good Mustang, but a darn fine sport coupe that anyone who enjoys driving should consider. If the intrinsic cheapness that was inextricably a part of the Mustang experience is what kept you from Ford’s pony car, then the 2010 Ford Mustang will change your mind. It sure changed mine.

Engine & Drivetrain

Compare the 2010 Mustang GT on paper to its latest rivals, and the 4.6-liter V-8 falls short in displacement and power. With 315 hp and 325 lb.-ft. of torque, it’s barely making more than the Camaro’s V-6, which makes 304 hp and 273 lb.-ft. for those keeping score. However, if you think it’s a slug, think again. The Mustang barely cracks 3,500 lbs. on the scale, making it more than 200 lbs. lighter than the Camaro V-6, and bringing some parity with the V-8 model’s acceleration numbers. This is a seriously quick car, and an aural feast as well. The underhood growl from that big American V-8 is intoxicating, and there’s really nothing else like it.

Backing up the V-8 in my test car was a five-speed manual transmission. Five speeds seems a little dated these days, but the Mustang has plenty of torque in reserve, and the precise action of the transmission was very welcome. An extra cog would probably improve acceleration times, but the ample torque of the Mustang’s engine nicely covered for the lack of a sixth gear.

Ride & Handling

The Mustang’s ride has been a combination of chop and slop for as long as I can remember. However, with careful recalibration of the suspension, Ford’s engineers have done an admirable job of improving the handling while also improving the ride.

Driving the 2010 Ford Mustang GT from Los Angeles to Las Vegas was much more enjoyable than I anticipated. The car soaked up the miles admirably, even the rougher roads on the Old Spanish Trail diversion I took. On the road’s brief twisty section, the Mustang’s quick steering was too light for my tastes, but the car handled better than I expected, feeling buttoned down and solid. The stability control intruded at times, but it can be shut off if you feel like exploring the Mustang’s powersliding capabilities. The brakes were very good, too, despite being a rather conventional floating caliper setup. They hauled this Mustang GT down from speed again and again with little noticeable fade. Note that all this was without the Track Pack suspension package, which stiffens up the springs and shocks and upgrades the brake pads as well.

OK, yes, it still has a solid rear axle, and yes, you do notice it from time to time. However, in all fairness Ford has done a good job controlling it, and it’s not as intrusive as it was even last year. On one brief high-speed run, the car also felt unsettled after large bumps, but if that’s in the cards for you, the higher spring and shock settings on the Track Pack would probably quell the bounce.

Interior & Exterior

If no other changes had been made to the 2010 Ford Mustang GT except the interior upgrades, I’d probably be OK with that. Long the butt of many jokes (my former employer once referred to the “comical chintziness” of the materials), the interior of the 2005-2009 models was my primary impediment to enjoying my time behind the wheel. Just as I’d start to enjoy the V-8, for example, I’d touch something in the interior and it’d shatter the illusion like seeing a boom mic hanging down in the middle of a movie.

That’s all changed now. The dash top is soft, padded plastic, the gross eyeball vents are replaced with higher quality standard vents, the switches click instead of clack, the aluminum bits on the steering wheel are actual aluminum, the leather on the seats now feels like it came from an animal and not a tube, the door panels don’t feel like rejects from a Focus, and so on. It also includes Sync, Ford’s rockin’ music and phone integration hardware. Finally, I can concentrate on enjoying the car, rather than being annoyed.

The same is true for the exterior. The retro is toned down some, and although it doesn’t induce the head snaps of a Dodge Challenger or Chevy Camaro (except for rabid Mustang fans, who constantly shadowed me from L.A. to Vegas), it’s much cleaner and easier on the eyes. If there’s any fault, it’s that it looks a little too much like the new 2010 Chevy Camaro from the front. Otherwise, this is a clean, modern shape that I’d be happy to see in my garage. Oh, and the sequential turn signals? Very cool.

Summary

I like this car. A lot. I feel as though I should add “finally” after that, since it’s been so long since I could unequivocally say that about any Mustang. By keeping the good stuff and improving everything else, Ford broke zero new ground. However, this smoothing out of the rough edges gives the Mustang the dose of refinement that it’s so desperately needed since, well, the Pinto ‘Stangs of the 70s. It’s enough to cause not just Mustang enthusiasts, but those of any stripe to rejoice.

2010 Ford Mustang GT

Photos of the 2010 Ford Mustang GT

21 Photos