2024 Ford Mustang Ecoboost - Is This The One To Get? First Drive Review

For 2024 the Mustang stands alone. 2023 will be the last year of the 'Stang's toughest competitors at the moment: Camaro and Challenger. The 7th generation Mustang however returns with all the bases covered. 5.0? Check. 6-speed manual? Check. Rag top? Of course! All at the same time?? Yes please! Although that's not what this video is about, this video is about the affordable Mustang: the 2.3L Ecoboost model. 2024 brings more refinement and more power but drops the 6-speed manual in favor of a 10-speed automatic standard. Still, if you're looking at a Toyota Supra 2.0, Toyota 86 or Subaru BRZ you should give the Mustang a king hard look.
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[@Lifeof728]

The paddle shifters being tied to the performance pack really grinds my gears

[@garrettw99]

Yeah, L gear is something you’d find in a 1999 Corolla

[@r3games1985]

I don't use them so I don't care. Love that they deleted them.

[@Lifeof728]

@@r3games1985 they didnt delete them they put them behind a pay wall.

[@JDONUMBER7]

Pun intended...😂 And I agree 100%. Lame move, Ford. 😕

[@JamesPhieffer]

Can't grind your gears. No manual either. 😂

[@aliendroneservices6621]

19:08 Perfect *_Cars&Coffee_* exit.

[@seriously6331]

😂💀 Right ! A mustang at its natural element.

[@M1911jln]

Except that he didn’t hit a curb, blow a couple tires, and break the suspension. Also need a police car to drive in with lights and siren.

[@toddgiaro7657]

Love Alexandra! I’ve watched you for years Alex, thanks for sharing and keep up the great content.

[@NsteveA]

I'm digging the third window layout comments because your humor comes through. I always figured anybody who would stuff themselves in trunks for years on end had to have a sense of humor.

[@bramcurtis6900]

I love the "chop" in the rear tail lights. It mimics the 67 and 68 mustang's tail lights. A design cue I have always loved.

[@eduardotoledano]

I heard from an auto industry market researcher, many years ago, that buyers would grade the back seat on this type of car very low but at the same time consider it an absolute must have (designers considered removing the seat at some point). After many rounds of research on how to make the back seat better they finally heard from a young buyer that the reason is not the back seat itself but instead the extra room, especially being able to recline the front seats and make out with their date. True story.

[@tjs114]

The 2+2 configuration for Pony cars were because they were targeted at younger people, but later the 2+2 configuration on 2 doors I really think is an insurance thing. It's cheaper to insure a 4 passenger vehicle than a 2 passenger vehicle; even if that +2 is little more than an upholstered package shelf.

[@wendellprins6020]

.. no

[@wendellprins6020]

M

[@Blank137]

Gnome?@@wendellprins6020

[@kenc2257]

@6:30 Whoa...Alex is in the trunk again...blast from the past! [as a "drifter" you had a couple of nice spin-outs]

[@audaciousifti]

Alex trying to drift is not something I thought I would need to see but I'm glad it turned out to be that way

[@garrettlake4181]

Terrible wheels

[@lovswr]

That seat material reminds me of my wife's 2023 Mach-e. Also, at 56 & driving mostly manuals for the past 40 years, bring on our 10-speed automatic overlords. Love that new IP. I bought a new model year 2016 Titanium Escape in the summer of 2015, mainly, to get Sync 3. IMHO Ford has been setting infotainment bar among OEMs, the last several years. I'm not really in the market or a new car, but in 2 or 3 years, I will definitely take a look at a nicely used model.

[@harris7963]

How is the reliability for the ecoboost? Anyone have experience with past models?

[@sak1339]

I am so surprised at the base price. Ford really did a great job improving the car inside and out and containing costs. That rear light with the sharp crease is a direct copy of the Mustang Mach E. Great review.

[@Fyxxterzc]

The dealers 5 to 10k mark up laughs at you.

[@davidkruse4030]

@@Fyxxterzcthat isn’t happening anymore

[@alejandrocastillo8883]

same and I think people over 30 dont realize how much younger people like the updated screens and tech features .

[@drumboy256]

Looking forward to the GT drive tomorrow. Platform looks great!

[@t.7527]

This os the Mustang i prefer. The ecoboost. You sold me on one with this review. Fully specced with performance package and Mag ride. Same color.

[@gladdy02]

Though the V8 is the proper way to get a mustang, I had a rental with a turbo 4. That engine is stronger then you'd think and is a very reasonable option for the price sensitive shopper.

[@MisterMister5893]

OTD price is only a small consideration. Most people do not consider the lifetime of a vehicle's fuel surcharge. It can add up not just over the life time of a purchase but annual differences can be quite substantial. I drive a 2.4L Turbo in the Outback XT. It's rated as being $1,250 more than the average new vehicle fuel cost. And That is under ideal conditions. Throw in inclement weather, more than average usage, i.e every day life unpredictabilities and you're having very bad regrets.

[@redrum5.0_]

i have a 2020 gt and i can confirm that the ecoboost is a great option seeing as how it gets way better fuel economy and the i feel like i can’t really use the power of the v8 without risking a major ticket or even a night in jail.

[@laloajuria4678]

thats not a mustang...

[@ALMX5DP]

@@laloajuria4678 why not?

[@gladdy02]

@@laloajuria4678 maybe in your world it's not, but last I knew, Ford called it a mustang

[@jmsmikey]

I love all the new styling~ this car market doesn't support 'same old thing' styling.

[@Chris.laughton]

Am I nuts for preferring the separate screens? Definitely cuts down on bezel size that I don't think will age well.

[@PammyflV]

No, I agree with you. That's why I am sticking with the base model. I am actually getting more upgrades with the interior then the exterior. My first Mustang as I always wanted one for years and now retired and so thrilled to finally have one! After looking at the premium model, the middle of the large screen is black anyway. So the two separate screens I am actually happy with.

[@zero11010]

Gotta love the wall plastered in gang tags in the background. 🤣

[@heartoftherobot]

Looks sharp!

[@derrickhaley9732]

I am looking at ordering an EcoBoost. Any plans to review one with the Performance Package? I'm curious to see if the extra $$$ would substantiate adding the Perf Pack to it......

[@centillionare]

I really don’t like the lack of physical buttons.

[@heartoftherobot]

Dude is this the CA-39? Do you think it should be reopened?? I love that road.

[@5.0joe88]

I’m a S197 Mustang fan all day..more over the 2013-2014 mustang in my opinion the best looking mustang😉having said that..I want to like this new S650 mustang but love the sharp lines of the S550 more..

[@Bedhop]

need this car

[@ericg9092]

Alex drifting is hilarious

[@ericg9092]

I love Alex in the trunk. Lol

[@finalmage6]

Any idea if the 2.3 has been updated to have port injection along with it's direct injection? Most of Ford's other EcoBoost engines have been given that treatment, but last I knew, not the 2.3 for some reason.

[@voodoochildmd]

TFL said yes

[@Lifeof728]

Thats already been confirmed months ago

[@notsoserious0944]

It was getting difficult to differentiate between the Camaro and the Mustang in any case. Maybe Chevy should rebadge Mustangs. I wonder why they don't use the 2.7 ecoboost. That thing is da bomb and it gets an indicated 23+ MPG in town when carefully driven in an F150. Regular cab F150 that is.

[@tjs114]

I sort of wish the Ford had made this a liftback instead of having a trunk like they did for the fastback version of the Fox Mustang. Alas, I've already lived my Mustang dreams back in the early 90s with an 88 Mustang GT convertible.

[@ZoubeirsWorld]

2:50 The dual exhaust has nothing to do with the Ecoboost. Also the GT comes with the dual exhaust if you don't choose the Active Exhaust.

[@bhargavamatta]

It does look good in red.

[@Yo0T0oB]

I love this new generation!

[@georgejungle138]

It hasn’t come out yet

[@rightlanehog3151]

Alex, You called the Ecoboost Mustang, "A Discount BMW 4 Series". I wonder if we can expect that tag line to appear in Ford's official advertisements 🤔

[@pugglepuggle]

Love the review. Looks like you had fun drifting. How much is the EcoBoost premium

[@andrewweisner8895]

41k

[@B1c4o]

@@andrewweisner8895isn’t it 36 because that is probably for a convertible.

[@PammyflV]

7 Thousand more than the Base Model.

[@MontaneroPaisaMontanero]

32k

[@ericg9092]

I wish there was an option to delete the display and have a base model with "regular" digital gauges similar to the previous model. I like the ability to configure the screen to look like old Fox Bodies, but that could have been done with a small digital display rather than a living room sized home-theater display that irritates the *&$! out of me. That, no MT, no standard paddle shifters and piped in sound make this a difficult "want to purchase" decision for me. I've had 3 GT's and a Cobra in the past, however, and really want to like this car. I guess I'll drive one and see how it feels.

[@jmsmikey]

Look at the SIZE of that air cleaner~ that's serious breathing!

[@dongidongi]

Alex trying hard to be the first one on "Mustang leaving Car Meet videos with the new mustang" ;)

[@JGWhips]

Looks like the @TheAutomotiveJunkies Mustang. Same color and stripes!

[@rizzlerazzleuno4733]

The 3.5L Powerboost full hybrid V6 would be an ideal engine for the Mustang. Plenty of power and decent fuel economy, much less stressed than the 2.3L four. I'm certain that Ford will have to eventually offer a hybrid engine to meet stricter fuel economy standards.

[@mark_u]

It's really nice that the Mustang still lives. Just can't get over the new interior, which to me seems like a better fit on Ford's crossover/pick-up truck line than on a sportscar like the Mustang.

[@Warped9]

I find the Kia style instrument panel very disappointing.

[@mark_u]

@@Warped9 Likewise. The removal of the IP binnacle only emphasizes the thick bezels and cheapens the overall dash design.

[@Warped9]

Overall I like the look of the 2023 Mustang far, far better.

[@kenwolf2431]

Alex the rear tail lights design are from a 67 Mustang. Its Hyundia that copied the Ford design from the 67 mustang.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

The 67 had more or less a gentle curve with the fast back kind of sloping trunk lid. This and the Elantra have a mid-line harsh kink that’s fairly unique right now.

[@darrelpeters]

Mustangs doing what mustangs do best! Drifting all over the place ha ha. I love Fords. 👍🏽

[@TheJnavz]

how tall are you btw?

[@NoName-ge6wc]

Wonder if this is faster than camaro v6? Learned a new phrase " turbo curious." Lol

[@Traysandor]

With options in the sports car market either being eliminated or ludicrously overpriced thanks to dealership markups (cough Toyota, Honda, Kia/Hyundai, etc) it's going to be a lot harder to get a decent sports car for cheap. Enter the updated Ecoboost Mustang to save the day.

[@momsbasement656]

The new WRX is easily available at a discount. Been having a blast with mine in snow, mud, wet and dry. There are so many cosmetic and performance parts available, you can turn it into whatever you want. Subaru finally made a great engine that can make 400hp reliably. Mines running 350hp and it's a blast!

[@Lifeof728]

Its not like this isnt ludicrously overpriced either. This is a 35k car marked up to 45k for "reasons".

[@r3games1985]

@@momsbasement656 Just as many upgrades for a Mustang as well if not more so. New WRX is ugly AF.

[@2quick2come]

I have an ecoboost mustang manual 2019. I am really not impressed with this new one. They just added a big screen.

[@jarheadcharlie2315]

You look like every other Mustang driver I see at Cars & Coffee...🤣

[@userANAKIN]

The price for a face lift is insane.

[@MontaneroPaisaMontanero]

Its 32k now

[@paulh6517]

All those ponies on the concrete barriers were probably contributing to your awkard drift performance. I would go with that storyline. 😆 Great video.

[@DannyZRC]

6 wheeled honda accord at 17:36 and you don't even flinch. Bruh.

[@dukejason]

Gas savings is the future and for me, I wants to try to be as responsible as possible the mustang ecoboost is the mustang of today.

[@perfectly22smith38]

The back doesn’t look like a Huyandai😅

[@pbentsonable]

Only thing I don’t like about the mustang is that we can’t have a sunroof cause of the curved roof.

[@wesgreen2812]

the car you reviewed is about 37k lol. Wild for a 4cyl Mustang

[@EM.1.]

15 MPG on a 4cyl?

[@sax_cy]

That front grille is exactly like the new Honda accord

[@revistadearmas]

The rear of the Elantra 😂

[@sax_cy]

@@revistadearmas Why do they keep ruining a classic ..just baffles me.

[@jamesballard6564]

Honda copied. Ford has had that design for a decade now.

[@jiggs1974]

They need to put the 2.7 twin turbo in this car.

[@VitanicxHq]

Which spec ecoboost have paddle shift?

[@jamesballard6564]

Top of the line.

[@garrettw99]

Alex should stay away from crowds of people while driving a Mustang 😂 I could watch the drift fails for an hour though!

[@daro9582]

The interior upgrades are really cool, but the fact Ford doesn’t offer it as a manual is a complete dealbreaker for me

[@Superfastjellyfish669]

What happened to the v6??

[@tjs114]

Ford dropped the V-6 from the Mustang lineup in the 2018 model year. Since then it's been the Turbo-4 or V-8.

[@stillwaters4097]

Hopefully the dealerships will actually have these for sale and not just 1 or two that are gone within a day.

[@Lifeof728]

They wont

[@r3games1985]

Custom Order only. Get use to it.

[@Lifeof728]

@@r3games1985 no.

[@AcktongueBaby]

Might be trading my Maverick truck for this...

[@jamesballard6564]

😂😂😂

[@Blahmanwhysoserious]

Still surprised they labeled this refresh as next gen, at least put a hatch option in the s550

[@daviiwonder]

🤮

[@cjvaans4484]

When everything's going small displacement, hybrid, and fully electric, the V8 is the one to get.

[@G.M85007]

Long live the Mustang! The first muscle car and last one to stand.

[@johnc5188]

I see some really bad panel gaps, which is classic modern Ford!!

[@jamesballard6564]

Better than the gt86 by a country mile.

[@AntLive29]

Would be nice if Ford upped the power to 350hp/380lb ft

[@Platos-Den]

That's what the GT is for

[@centillionare]

Definitely not the same with the added weight.

[@sachinnair91]

Nice? So we all end up like Paul Walker and Corey LaBarrie? Too much power!!!!

[@brunoheggli2888]

Why?

[@sachinnair91]

@@brunoheggli2888 exactly! It’s already too powerful!!

[@keithjackson4985]

A friend of mine works on the design team. We like the look, but both hate how, with every iteration, it grows in size. He thinks the dash is ridiculous, I love it!

[@ALMX5DP]

The Mustang hasnt really grown in size though, at least as far as I can tell it's very very close in size to the Mustang that came out in 2005 (maybe a couple inches wider but that's about it).

[@keithjackson4985]

@ALMX5DP They are very close, and I like them. For me, they're too large. The engineer I know on that team complains about the size. He wishes they would do a smaller Mustang. If it were smaller, I'd buy one.

[@ALMX5DP]

@@keithjackson4985 well to be fair even an original ‘65 is only like 8” shorter overall than the new model. It’s quite a bit narrower but really the Mustang has stayed fairly consistent over the course of its model history.

[@julioo534]

Ford invested a lot in the engineerings and quality

[@joetacchino4470]

That's one good looking BMW 4 series Coupe. They really re-worked that beaver grill nicely...

[@tinhinnh]

the volume seller

[@Baerchenization]

I think it would eternally grind my gears, so to speak, if I did not have this of all cars with a V8... especially where we live in these special times, last opportunity for many to get a V8, and soon a petrol engine car all together...

[@GaryInSoCal]

WOW... so you put a 5'10, 300 pound woman in the back seat, then insult the Mustang for having limited space in the back... you're a trip dude!

[@arno7303]

What i find hilarious is how Ford will let all these new first drives be with a luxury packed ecoboost and THEN i bet the first GT will be a magnaride, high performance pack GT lol... This first drive eco should have been high performance, people really aren't that interested in the minor details. We want to know how it rides with brembos and magnaride being 200lbs lighter!

[@juliotorres6868]

Go back to the on-screen score by category THAT’S WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT FROM THE REST

[@AmericanRoads]

5:45 So, are you saying that we cannot stuff mother-in-laws in the backseats?

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

Depends on the size of the mother in law

[@BillyBobDingledorf]

I like it, but prefer the styling of the 2023.

[@Sacapuntas69]

I still don't understand the "drifting" thing.

[@bassandtrebleclef]

Lol, they brought in graffiti in case you didn't know it was LA!

[@Laststepp]

the lack of paddleshifters w/o the perf. package is really annoying, but Straightpipes found the package wasn't all that great, and was considerably less comfortable. Ugh. Ford. so close.

[@donfinkey692]

15mpg! 😳

[@naveenthemachine]

If you’re complaining about mpg don’t buy a sports car

[@Striker50_]

He's driving in canyons what do you expect

[@jamesballard6564]

That's the V8. This car is rated for 22/33.

[@yo.adrian]

I wonder if Ford will continue putting an ICE into the Mustang, or will it receive an electric powertrain in the future?

[@LoganSchmidt814]

Definitely Hyundai vibes on the back. That's the first thing I thought when they unveiled it. It's honestly the only design choice I don't like on this car

[@landrelarose745]

I recently thought of what the Mustang is. It was the first ponycar and will be the final of them with an in an internal combustion engine. All othe ponycar will become extinct.

[@VK4GHZ]

102°F = 38.8° in the rest of the world.

[@ArchieOnEarth]

I know it’s blasphemous to say, but I wish it had a lift-back

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

I kind of agree

[@rizzlerazzleuno4733]

Yep, my 86 liftback was very practical and adults under 6 ft could sit in the back without their heads hitting the roof.

[@revistadearmas]

I own the S550 same color black stripes, I don't like the new rear end looks like the Elantra. The car is going to have rattles is a f ford I dont mind the rattles with the old interior but having rattles with the big LCD screen would drive me crazy 😂 The engine looks like shit very ratty nest cables everywhere but not as bad as the bronco

[@asmcar23]

Erm…my four-year-old Honda Fit has paddle shifters… Ford..? 🤷‍♂️

[@wl6279]

lol 😆 the 6th gen can do 4.9 0 to 60 times

[@ALMX5DP]

Great car, though I think I'd still go for a 86/BRZ if given the option. Wont be as much of a hotrod in a straight light, but missing nearly 800lbs of the weight sure would put a smile on my face at every offramp and track apex.

[@turkwendell6904]

It's not the one to get but it's cool I'll go with a Prius a very old Prius

[@w1ggs007]

I really hate that big info box on the screen. Very distracting

[@DavidDLee]

I haven't been a fan of how the Mustang has looked for quite a while, including this one. It looks dated already. I preferred it's competition, especially the Camaro. Looks like high-end Camaros where the best of the bunch in terms of handling and dynamics. Only Dodge/Chrysler had a 4 door variant.

[@josephoberlander]

Base model with manual.. gone. Please pay $15K more if you want manual.

[@watchreport]

Im going to assume the reason it's gone is because people weren't buying it. Most of the time, the reason a brand drops something is because sales just weren't good enough to keep building it.

[@josephoberlander]

@@watchreport Nope, in fact 40 percent of the previous generation that weren't sold to rental agencies were ordered with manuals. In The U.K., 60% of cars are still bought with manuals. They still offer the Fiesta and Focus over there as well. GM also did this with the Camaro. They simply are determined to make the 30% of people in the U.S. who prefer a manual just suffer with automatics or pay a huge premium for it. And, yes, the only difference between the ecoboost and base V8 model is really the engine and a couple of minor tweaks. Yet Ford charges 14K more for the GT, representing the single most expensive engine upgrade cost of anything outside of exotics. 31K car... now with V8 added! 14K more! A shame, really.

[@SirOsisofLiver]

@@josephoberlander In 2020, 56% of cars sales in the UK were automatic, a total of 915,812 automatics of 1,631,064 cars sold. The year previous it was 49%, and is part of a long term trend.

[@freed14760]

No manual in the Eco.. means it’s a secretary’s car!

[@TheCosmicGuy0111]

Neat

[@gamelauncher9821]

You know if they would make a grand coupe sedan of the Mustang it would sell like hotcakes

[@retiredafce3373]

The Mustang is much heavier that the BRZ and it’s unreliability is terrible.

[@BrayZap]

I thank myself every day for pulling the trigger on a 2019 fully loaded. These 2024 look so full of plastic on the exterior and ugly. I like the digital dash in the s550 more also. This is such a downgrade from the s550

[@perfectly22smith38]

Plz stop comparing to Nissans and Hyundais