2016 Ford Mustang EcoBoost review: Not a compromise, 'cept in cold weather.!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 of 10Our EcoBoost four had a distinct advantage on the twisty mountain and canyon roads we drove it over.

 

Boosted four provides enough power, tires provide enough grip, in the summer

The sixth-gen Mustang has been in the public eye for over two and a half years now (and on sale for nearly two). Time flies, but the car has held up well -- vindication for Ford’s evolutionary approach to styling. I didn’t get tired of looking at it. Neither did the neighbors.
I was especially eager to explore this car’s 2.3-liter EcoBoost four. Before trying it out, I’d have figured that those who just want the Mustang look will stick with the base motor, while the die-hard Mustang fans will spend the extra bucks to snag a relatively affordable, powerful V8 GT before the EPA bans them forever.
The 2.3-liter, then, was an odd and possibly superfluous compromise between power and economy -- a suspiciously European one at that, especially for an all-American pony car (indeed, the engine is shared with the Focus RS).
But it’s not a compromise: It's an intriguing alternative. There have been a few early attempts at tuning and modifying this car with this engine and I’d love to see it taken further. It’s more than fine out of the box, though, with next-to-no lag before you get into those 320 lb-ft of torque. Paddles do give you control over shifts, but I’d like to have it for a weekend with the manual. Either way, it doesn’t feel unnatural in the car, which is a sincere compliment in my book.