Published:
26 June 2024Our test car rode on performance-oriented Pirelli P Zero tyres and 19in alloys, and had a primary and secondary ride quality that was easily comparable with premium German rivals', isolating you from lumps and bumps with a reassuring, rubbery solidity mostly created by its MagneRide adaptive dampers, which use a camera to spot potholes and alter the suspension settings so the alloys glide over the imperfection rather than dip into it.
There’s an impressive amount of grip, but not so much that it works to the detriment of the car's playfulness. You'd never call it agile, but you feel the car working with you rather than against you, enabling predictable directional changes.
On motorways, the Mustang feels like a pretty convincing GT car, with a low-slung but comfortable seating position, plenty of cabin space up front and, at 70mph, a relaxed engine speed of around 1500pm. It can't match the BMW M2 for outright cruising ability, but it gets close.
The manual gearbox allows you to savour its performance, of course. It requires a bit of force to get it in exactly the right gear at the right time, but once you work it out, it is hugely rewarding.
One thing you do notice when pushing on, however, is the car's 1738kg weight. Above and beyond a certain point, it begins to feel slightly languid, proving itself to be a machine most capable and comfortable at eight-tenths.
