Ford Mustang Convertible in-depth review - Carbuyer

The new Ford Mustang convertible is the first one to have ever been made available in right-hand drive, and it’s very exciting indeed. It has retro looks, a roaring 5.0-litre V8 engine and an interior packed with character. It’s pretty cheap compared to its German rivals, too.
If the Mustang V8 is too much to handle, there’s also a Mustang convertible 2.3 EcoBoost petrol, which we’ve tested here. Watch the video to find out if it’s as good to drive as it is to look at.
Watch our latest video - bit.ly/carbuyer...
Ford Mustang convertible review - carbyr.uk/1KCMefA
Prices & specs - carbyr.uk/1TZA3dp
BMW 4 Series review - carbyr.uk/1PPn3up
Audi A5 review - carbyr.uk/21cDBNw
Best convertibles - bit.ly/1J4VAAa
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Every week, Carbuyer's KZbin channel brings you simple and entertaining reviews on every major make and model that's available for sale in the UK. Plus you'll find frequently-updated top 10 features and the occasional group test for good measure.
If you want even more helpful information, head over to Carbuyer.co.uk where you'll find in-depth reviews of more than 500 cars, alongside the best buying advice and dozens of features helping you to narrow down your car buying shortlist.

[@ethanmees2618]

Why do people hate this presenter, I think he is doing a good job

[@jcooper_]

He's fantastic. People just don't like change. I remember when the current female reviewer first came on a while back (can't remember the name, sorry), the dislikes on the videos were crazy. Now nobody bats an eyelid!

[@FK2VtecTurbo]

+James Batchelor maybe they would like you more in a skirt with some heels 😆

[@Rottensteam]

Inb4 people complaining about the reviewer! Unpopular opinion, he's great!

[@cantavukcuoglu4375]

He is decent as a reviewer, his accent is annoying or maybe its the voice Im not sure.

[@Daniel-dj7fh]

reviewer is cool

[@raulbarsan8582]

Same opinion. The guy covered all we need about the car. So it's a good review.

[@Lucky8s]

I didn't like him at first, but I warmed up and now think he's pretty good. Probably wasn't fond of change, I guess.

[@appelpower1]

He's a reviewer that requires some getting used to, but he grew on me over time. His review of the Fiat 124 Spider on Auto Express eventually won me over.

[@YourLoyalDeserter]

This guy is a really good presenter.

[@Edumt91]

Classy interior? Really? CLASSY?

[@Edumt91]

I personally think it looks tacky. And you can actually see how cheap the materials are! Just look at the center air vents (which look like chrome rimmed versions of the ones on the Ka) and center console! All cheap and shiny.

[@yellowhammer3]

+Eduardo de Montenegro its a muscle car all about power and fun. its not meant for dainty badge snobs who have the constant need to caress their cars plastics.

[@Edumt91]

matt k I wasn't criticizing the car (I actually quite like the Mustang) but the review. It's obvious that if you want something that's actually classy, luxurious and sensible you won't go for a muscle car. Muscle cars are about power and showing off (mainly in the exterior).

[@yellowhammer3]

Eduardo de Montenegro calling the interior tacky is being pretty critical. But you're right its more about the outside. Muscle cars have never had a nice interior and the basicness actually used to be a source of pride.

[@yellowhammer3]

I think with it being sold globally now, many people dont understand that and are overly critical

[@Incurablecurious]

I've just driven this 5.0 litre V8 convertible in Florida for a week. It is sensational, but being typical American car, it is not as refined as our German cousins & clearly the build quality is not the same. However the engine roar is sweet and performance is incredible. It really does give you a grin then you plant your foot down. It's all about emotion! For the price it is incredible value. Go for the automatic. Don't bother with the smaller engine, go for the 5.0!

[@HoofHearted2DAY]

This bloke's actually become A LOT better & ironically Mat's reviews on his own new channel have become a real mishmash of unstructured uploads. On a different note, I'm really surprised there's STILL no rollover protection in these things... I had a lot of fun hiring the last shape when I was in Los Angles few years back & to be honest rollover safety didn't even cross my mind coz most roads I drove were motorway, but now they're a global product I'm surprised it wasn't thought of.

[@MusicAndCars1]

I don't think he means classy. I think it's more of an interior that stands out. He was right with one thing about the German cars. Their interiors are unbelievably well built, but after seeing them all they look a bit....boring over time. Some may consider the Mustang interior tacky with all the chrome and all, but it's a nice breath of fresh air in a car market that seems to be making things that are all so similar and lack the quirky uniqueness that gives them character ^^ These are just my opinions at least, if your opinion is different then your thoughts are perfectly valid, I'm just sharing my own thoughts n_n

[@Alans6563]

Great review as always James. But please, don't entertain the keyboard warriors on here by replying to them. You can't reason with ignorance and stupidity. Rise above it and don't reply. I like your reviews, they've very quirky and interesting. Keep up the good work.

[@wallstreetfox3]

This car is so hot! I rented one and played a cool song like "can't stop the feeling" by Justin Timberlake at full volume. People on the sidewalk start to dance and wave at you. You feel like a superstar. Such a magical car when you use it that way.

[@thormaster06]

BMW 4 series's interior is a class above Mustang, and certainly not dreary!

[@ahastar1141]

Considering the price difference, it better be

[@leone666100]

But it's a Mustang!!!!!!

[@thormaster06]

ahastar1141 I'm in Croatia nd price difference is not that high.

[@thormaster06]

LONE WOLF Well, can't argue with that! :)

[@ahastar1141]

I am in the US and the price difference is 10 grand when just comparing a base mustang gt and a base 4 series without any options yet

[@rubenito84]

0:32 you can tell by the sound of the shutting door that it's not on the same level as an Audi, BMW or Mercedes.

[@daudmo1305]

hahaha your right it sounds like a toy

[@Nonamenever557]

few sheets of dynamat would fix that

[@danmccarthy4700]

Mercedes has a team of engineers whose sole purpose is to make the doors sound pleasant when closing (they do). It's a shame they don't have a similarly thorough team of engineers to make sure the electronics in their cars work properly (they don't).

[@brendantucker2781]

who cares it's a fucking door hahaha

[@rubenito84]

Brendan Tucker Who cares about scratchy plastics? But it shows the level of quality.

[@tsosoloso222]

we missed you James!

[@klasseact6663]

I think James is great, wished he he had his usual bag of crisps though! Less gloss black wheels would make this or any other look much, much better!!

[@mrkongsimr]

I'm so glad you used the word classy , tihi , I'm going to get one . Thanks

[@DriftxKingGTR]

The 2014 Mustang's back seats are spacious and comfortable. More headroom since there's no sloping roof. My friend owns one and none of my friend's mind sitting in the back.

[@ferrariitalia1000]

I want Matt back. Get rid of this guy! He's far more entertaining rather than boring!!!

[@SuperPiggy8]

Awe I love this guy

[@ljw671]

how can you first say the cabin is classy and then at the end say that it uses cheap plastics and has bad/cheap build quality.

[@ljw671]

+James Batchelor so is the interior cheap or is it classy/upmarket?

[@stephenwakeman3074]

You say the EcoBoost is not massively more economical and then give a figure indicating that it gets 40% greater MPG. When you're comparing engines using the same fuel type in the same engine lineup I would argue that 40% difference is massive.

[@levz118]

Was gonna get this car until i realized i couldnt even get to my grandmas without spending 20 pounds of fuel

[@freddymedina7430]

What is road tax?

[@phantomwhite7972]

Why the hell would you review a convertible when it's raining? Who even does that?

[@superdan3188]

How can something have a"classy interior " but also have a cheap plastic interior??

[@safewaycart]

This car is good... if you get it as a gift from someone.

[@raulbarsan8582]

28 mph is actually good. I get this in the city,with my mondeo(diesel,2.0, 210PS),wich should be waaaay more economical

[@flyhighpizzapie]

You mean MPG right? :P

[@raulbarsan8582]

I'm sorry,i meant MPG. Thank you for correcting me.

[@flyhighpizzapie]

Sorry but you missed out the fact that the V8 is £5,000 more than the 2.3. That, on top of the tax/fuel is a huge saving...

[@hwleitner2009]

Agree that at the very least there is some interior design flair which is lacking in other brands. Cheap plastics - seek and you will find them in all brands including the new E and C class. The difference is that it is so much more disappointing in premium brands. Press on the centre console of the C class - feel and hear the cheap plastic submit to light pressure. Scuttle shake is not acceptable in this era. Can you imagine how the Mustang will rattle after a couple of years?

[@yellowhammer3]

in the GT, the roar of the engine and the exhaust note will drown out the rattling noises

[@FlixTV101]

the annotations at the end are switched

[@astrious9161]

The interior looks about as upmarket as a MacDonalds.

[@ModelCars-dy7sc]

It looks nice but some of the plastics are not so good

[@virenvs905]

Ow great, spend half of the review talking about storage space and rear passenger comfort. that's what sportscars are for apparently

[@danmccarthy4700]

This must be your first Carbuyer video.

[@virenvs905]

Dan McCarthy not really.

[@appelpower1]

There are millions of other channels out there that focus on the driving experience. If that's what you're after, go look those up. This is a different perspective, mainly for people actually interested in buying one of these. That's why it's called 'Carbuyer'.

[@virenvs905]

appelpower1 and I'm guessing these people buy a sports car to take family trips in, right? Besides there are 2 things all car reviewers seem to avoid like the plague : 1) reliability. 2) resale value. I really wonder why. Aren't these facts just as important when buying a car?

[@appelpower1]

Viren S No, but practical matters are still important when living with a sports car. These include cubby space and the satnav interface. Reliability is important, but the cars they review are generally too new to be able to judge this, as nobody has owned one for a prolonged time yet. Some magazines do prolonged ownership tests to judg this. Unlike reliability, resale value is something that can be predicted. However, it still can't be guaranteed, and personally, I don't see why that would be a deciding factor. You buy a car for you, not for someone else.

[@nazhif1]

You guys should feel lucky. Where I live, the ecoboost mustang costs more than a BMW 428i thanks to the insane price markup by the importer local ford distributer... Edit: it's priced closer to the 435i M Sport than it is to the 428i

[@HITHEREFELLOWHUMAN]

which country do u live in ?

[@JoseJong]

I think it's in Indonesia, where EcoBoost Mustang has the same price as the BMW M2 Coupé.

[@nazhif1]

Jose Jong no

[@JoseJong]

+nazhif1 ah I see, so where is it then?

[@WeItenspinner]

The links at the end are mixed up.

[@joshbriggsDayZBeast]

whats the point in reviewing a convertible in the rain? atleast show us what it looks like with the roof down

[@yellowhammer3]

hint: google Mustang top down

[@joshbriggsDayZBeast]

***** Fair enough mate :D

[@joshbriggsDayZBeast]

matt k hint: Fuck off

[@yellowhammer3]

Josh Briggs lol triggered

[@joshbriggsDayZBeast]

matt k im not a feminist lol

[@hagbard72]

No V6 in the UK? Too bad. 300bhp which is about what the old GT got, and a lot less money.

[@mancunianlee]

This guy has a keyboard that smells of hammers.

[@rickyfinlay3726]

Did matt get the boot

[@delarosadevin]

error: he presses forward for down. and back for up. re edit. another error: back seats for gymbags and shopping not people.

[@glowflow7729]

I saw one today. Birmingham, UK

[@prayerpowersr854]

what part of Birmingham,

[@intochill]

This review is misleading about a bunch of things. 1. it's a rainy day and I bet he didn't put the car in sport or track modes because that's where there's power. Just driving it in normal mode is crap. 2. This is a turbo and should be filled with the highest octane fuel you can buy for the best performance. I have a feeling this was just filled with regular petrol. 3. How can you do a convertible review without actually trying the roof and giving an opinion about that and top down motoring. Or actually even demonstrating it. It's a great roof mechanism. Quiet and fast. 7 seconds which is faster than anything but a Miata manual roof. 4. Yes the car does have some shake but it's not that bad and generally handles bumps quite well. The ride is firm on the car he drove because it has the track package which has a harder suspension and lower profile tires. He should have mention that. Don't order it if you want a softer ride. Perhaps his press car has been abused and the steering is out of alignment which would explain the judder etc. 5. Make sure you order the car with the cooled seats. Great for hot summer days top down cruising. 6. The fuel tank is kinda small so I'd opt for the 2.3L for the extended driving range. It really helped with a 10 000 mile road trip across country here in Canada last summer.

[@wafi0123]

Some hybrid Brit under estimate this beautiful machine it's a dream machine.

[@Daniel-dj7fh]

is there a non convertable version review?

[@simmot5213]

did u really do a car review of a convertible without showing us what it looks without the roof going down...?

[@AdamAus85]

I hope there is a delete option for that ugly plaque on the dash.

[@FreedCornet743]

Lads head over to Carwow as Matt has moved there are has his own show, that should really say enough shouldn't it. FYI that's all

[@ethanmees2618]

can you get adaptive cruise control on this car?

[@wakandaforever5732]

Id still rather have that A3 convertible from the class below!!!

[@BenB91]

He sounds like Will from the Inbetweeners.

[@zee9276]

how many crowds per litre?

[@agoo08gaming6]

Lol

[@losmeets98]

No rear headrests? How's that possible in modern car safety land?

[@Supcharged]

even the porsche 911 is the same lol

[@ferrariitalia1000]

Who the hell hired this guy. Upmarket and classy interior compared to the Germans driery interior?? Think you got that the wrong way round mate! Mustang has an extremely cheap and boring interior. Sack him!!!

[@VideoProductions-zi3rl]

Nice :)

[@Awayze]

Should have opened the roof, its only rain and it aint your car that youd mess up.

[@Nonamenever557]

Is it true that the sports suspension package that is an option in America is the standard suspension setup over here? I wonder if a slightly softer setup would help that convertible from rattling like you mention.

[@Nonamenever557]

I'm always perplexed when companies give the UK stiffer setups, haven't they seen our roads! Great reviews by the way. And commenting in person as you are is a great way to tackle the trolls, good to see.

[@futureimperfect6183]

Dream garage convertible. Well except in Shelby guise.

[@jimmyku5070]

Nithe review Jameth 😋

[@coreylongenecker2288]

does any car in europe actually achieve the estimated MPG because they always seem to be ridiculously high numbers. and when the reviewer doesn't get the estimated numbers they seem to be bummed out, as if they thought you would actually be able to get 35MPG in even an ecoboost mustang. here in america i feel like our numbers are so much more realistic. the UK seems to worry too much about the fuel consumption of their vehicles, there is a point where its just too much.

[@Horizon301.]

The A6 gets within 4 mpg of the claimed 56 and I live in the Uk

[@jackgrindle6720]

Fuel in the uk is vastly more expensive than in the USA so that's why it's quite important.

[@metalbyku]

classy dashboard? please...

[@senseiqhi]

Just reading some comments as you would. Boy are people taking the piss! For those who are complaining, there are other car channels. They all do the same thing, which is to review cars, so why are people reviewing the presenter here? If you want to see the old presenters, go elsewhere! Good video anyway.

[@azerkdd]

This guy is a bad presenter and i am just here to say that matt has his own channel if you don't know already it's called carwow.

[@haveyoueverwondered23]

Azer You really don't know what you are talking about! James is an excellent presenter... good in front of the camera, well spoken,, easy to understand, and he uses a variety of concise words to describe the emotion of how the car feels. I prefer James to Matt! James - keep up the good work, haters gonna hate!

[@azerkdd]

+TheCarMadDad He might be a good writer but when you go ahead and try to overachieve this is what happens. His accent is exaggerated, he is not natural and it's too obvious he is following a script. He might be a good fella in person doesn't make him a good reviewer.

[@aymanmj3828]

finnalyyyy thanks

[@gasmith841]

Lets do a review of a convertable on a really rainy dag. Fail.

[@andreadevetak4325]

A car from the class below..

[@andreadevetak4325]

Get an Audi A3 cabriolet!

[@TheMcooper17]

if i wanted one one, id get one from the continent or american

[@hmm2928]

The video couldnt get more british ! :P except the mustang :p

[@vishmeister4151]

Why test a convertible when it's raining in the first place?!

[@vishmeister4151]

+James Batchelor are you trying to say that you can't put the shoot on hold till the rain stop? Top tip: when reviewing a convertible, people wanna see it topless too

[@quackcement]

isn't life for living. wouldn't people buy a sports car for how it makes them feel and not because the Audi has slightly higher quality interior pieces.

[@2015071]

V6 Ecoboost mustang sounds so wrong.

[@nickwills6042]

Batch is so much better than the other woman

[@peterlipset9104]

He looks like murr

[@jimmypage3765]

i dont mind the reviewer but he talks as if there is something stuck in his mouth or throat i dont know if its a disability ...i think its a minimum requirement that presenters talk properly...

[@jamieradley9930]

MUSTANG- "CLASSY"! Who the hell is this guy?!

[@Horizon301.]

+James Batchelor you seem to be getting a lot of hate at your comments about the interior but you could has said it looks more iconic and different to the usual amazing German interiors form the likes of Audi and Mercedes not including BMW as most of their cars interiors look cheap except the 7 series, you do seem to be getting better at reviewing cars though

[@andreadevetak4325]

400+28=428

[@ArturoPerez-si2xk]

Well honestly I prefer the BMW 4 Series Convertible, Ford Mustang doesn't looks very good as convertible

[@metallicsilver]

Tell me this guy is joking.

[@AndrewPhillipsTech]

A muscle car with a nice interior and without the muscle? No thanks

[@tbvjqor123]

british accent sounds horrible with this guy

[@AlbertArrabal]

2:32 I have been in a Mustang convertible recording with a camera from the back, and what he says about the rear seats and how to get there is true, only if you are a VERY FAT or disabled person. FACT.

[@eggbirdtherooster]

Cool looking thing but thats about it... at the same time a very childish and over the top design with a somewhat too shiny interior ;)

[@Horizon301.]

I agree it's not classy it's tacky and cheap, the Audi interior is far better

[@Pienimusta]

Mustang ? nah... Ford coupe (or well convertible in this case), sure

[@BravoManUK]

Um....no!

[@tommy760]

classy and mustang dont go together

[@Nakke144]

Classy and your avatar picture don't go together lol

[@tommy760]

Nakke144 aw thanks

[@mrj3795]

American cheese.

[@bogdanvidrean4728]

This guy is ok.Still not at the same level of Mat's reviews,but he is 10000 times better than Ginny and her boring reviews!

[@rhryrtu]

who dis

[@MicrolonProTV]

Interior better than a BMW, Audi? Should have gone to Spec savers! He must be blind or read too much Ford brochure bullshite

[@hnonline111]

What the hell? Classy interior? Looks so shitty compared to the premium germans. Oh, of course, because this is not premium!!

[@purpleleaf2990]

don't like this guy

[@irekfilms]

Cheap plastic you said classy in the beginning ,make up your mind . There is nothing classy in American cars!

[@KingKeladi]

i like car buyer n the cars but the presenter is SUPER LAME BORING...ur enthusiasm on presenting is BORING

[@ThinkCleverAndSmart]

I would never buy this car. I would not be happy if I owned it. Too bad they didn't put enough effort into making it as good as it looks.

[@ModelCars-dy7sc]

Why would you not want a mustang there amazing

[@ThinkCleverAndSmart]

+Alex lovelady based on this review, they do look amazing, but they have bad fuel economy, small practicality, very low amount of space, and that wiggling in the roof should just not be there. Also, the amount of cheap plastics is big! I would be more happy with a lower powered seat or skoda, as they have all the things I would ever need. Also the amount of cheap plastics are minimal compared to this. I don't want to be a hater of any kind, just answering your question. :)

[@ModelCars-dy7sc]

+ThinkCleverAndSmart good point but if you want to buy a mustang it's because they look good and the history

[@ThinkCleverAndSmart]

+Alex lovelady exactly. :)

[@Smart1529]

I can see your point, fair enough although some of the things are the wrong reasons you buy a Mustang so.

[@AlainCarAudioManiac]

My godness what a piece of shit car

[@fueltoblaze1554]

what is it with all these sponsored videos. UNSUBBING!

[@NotTheRest]

Is Matt coming back? This guy is really annoying.

[@kunalkundu6354]

He started his own channel- carwow

[@wafi0123]

Ha ha ha don't own a oil rig .....

[@duboviigaai]

Without Rebecca and Mat the channel is empty. Unsubscribing 'cause I don't want to watch the " ballad of gay tony"

[@jimmypage3765]

boohooo.....

[@moleBRUV]

I won't comment on the 'classy interior' bit of the video, it's obvious Will from the Inbetweeners is somewhat blind! What I don't understand is why in a 2016 upmarket convertible it is acceptable to have to unlock manual latch before pressing a button to open the roof? WHAT?! Ahaha is this an MX-5 or something?!

[@WIPEYOURLENZ]

This presenter is crap get Chris Evans in here now.