What is it: 

This is the seventh-generation Ford Mustang and the first new model in Australia since 2015.

While much of the hype has been around the flagship Dark Horse – which has already sold out locally – the reality is most Mustang buyers will be taking home this model, the regular GT.

Except, of course, there is nothing ‘regular’ about the new Ford Mustang GT. It’s pretty special (with one caveat, you’ll need to keep reading to find out what that is).

A quick recap, as previously reported, the new Ford Mustang is now on sale in Australia about six months later than planned after right-hand-drive production was delayed because the Baltimore Bridge collapse blocked the Ford Mustang’s export shipping lane earlier this year.

US production of Australia-bound Ford Mustangs did not start until July (rather than January as originally planned).

There are three versions of the new Ford Mustang, and each one is special in their own way.

This review primarily relates to the 2025 Ford Mustang GT.

EFTM published a review on the 2025 Ford Mustang Dark Horse yesterday (read about it here).

Our review of the four-cylinder variant of the new Ford Mustang is due to publish next Monday (don’t laugh, you will never guess how fast that car really is).

In the meantime, here’s why the 2025 Ford Mustang GT deserves its own review.

Price:

There are three models in the 2025 Ford Mustang range in Australia available from launch.

  • Ford Mustang Ecoboost four-cylinder (coupe bodystyle only)
  • Ford Mustang GT V8 (coupe and convertible bodystyles)
  • Ford Mustang Dark Horse V8 (coupe bodystyle only)

The four-cylinder Ecoboost is an automatic-only proposition but both V8 models are available with automatic or manual transmissions.

Here’s the new Ford Mustang line-up as it stands today.

  • Mustang EcoBoost Coupe (232kW/475Nm 2.3-litre turbo four-cylinder, 10-speed auto) – $66,990
  • Mustang GT Coupe V8 manual (347kW/550Nm 5.0-litre V8, six-speed manual) – $78,990
  • Mustang GT Coupe V8 auto (347kW/550Nm 5.0-litre V8, 10-speed auto) – $81,990
  • Mustang GT Convertible V8 auto (347kW/550Nm 5.0-litre V8, 10-speed auto) – $87,667
  • Mustang Dark Horse Coupe V8 manual (347kW/550Nm 5.0-litre V8, six-speed manual) – $99,102
  • Mustang Dark Horse Coupe V8 auto (347kW/550Nm 5.0-litre V8, 10-speed auto) – $103,002
  • Bronze appearance package – $1500 (4-cyl), $1950 (V8)
  • Magnetically controlled suspension, red brake calipers – $2950 (4-cyl), $3835 (V8)
  • Recaro seats – $2950 (4-cyl), $3835 (V8)
  • Premium paint – $700 (4-cyl), $910 (V8)

Above prices exclude on-road costs such as registration, stamp duty and any arbitrary dealer charges.

This review relates to the 2025 Ford Mustang GT Coupe ($78,990 plus on-road costs for the manual and $81,990 plus on-road costs for the automatic).

ANCAP safety rating:

There is no ANCAP safety rating for the new Ford Mustang and it is unclear if it will be assessed.

However, given it is Australia’s top-selling sports car it may fall under the spotlight.

The previous generation Ford Mustang initially scored a poor two-star crash safety rating and then was re-tested following some technical changes and was awarded a below average three-star crash safety rating.

Standard safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking, seven airbags (including one for the front passenger’s knee), radar cruise control, speed sign recognition, tyre pressure monitors, blind zone warning, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic 000 emergency assistance call capability.

Engine:

Under the bonnet is a perky 5.0-litre V8 (347kW/550Nm) paired to either a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission.

Transmission:

Guys. Automatics are faster than manuals these days.

Read that previous sentence again – and then check out our test results below.

If you like the feel of a stick shift, knock yourself out.

But automatics are quicker at accelerating because there is no pause between gear changes (when the manual’s clutch is being pressed so you can grab the next gear).

Modern automatics are not like the old slush boxes.

That’s presumably why about 70 per cent of the sales mix for the Ford Mustang is for automatic transmission.

Meantime, for the curious (or the technically minded) the Ford Mustang Dark Horse six-speed manual runs out of legs in first gear at 78kmh and second gear at 115kmh.

The regular Ford Mustang GT six-speed manual runs out of legs in first gear at 83kmh and second gear at 127kmh.

This means the Dark Horse is ready to bolt from lower speeds because the engine is more likely to be in its optimum rev range.

In comparison the GT is still quick, but not as lively as the Dark Horse when accelerating through the gears.

On the plus side, the regular Ford Mustang GT gets slightly better fuel economy than the Dark Horse due to the taller gearing.

0 to 100km/h (as tested):

We tested all three variants – Ecoboost four-cylinder, GT V8 and Dark Horse V8 – on a race track during the media preview drive and below are the best of three 0 to 100kmh times we recorded for the V8 variants using our precision VBox timing equipment.

  • Ford Mustang GT automatic:  4.98 (5.0 seconds)
  • Ford Mustang GT manual: 5.48 (5.5 seconds)
  • Ford Mustang Dark Horse manual 5.21 (5.2 seconds).

One other media outlet recorded a 4.99 (5.0-second) time for the Dark Horse manual after several more attempts.

Ford says you can flat-shift the V8 manual from first to second gear, but we wanted to demonstrate some mechanical sympathy.

We are saving the result of the performance test of the four-cylinder until next Monday because we want you to come back then.

Here’s one clue: it’s faster than you think. Write a number down today between 5 and 8 seconds and then compare it to the time we recorded.

Emergency braking from 100km/h (as tested): 

To come in a follow-up road test. We did not test this on the day.

Good points:

The new Ford Mustang GT looks the business inside and out.

And the V8 sounds glorious. Ford engineers have nailed the exhaust note. No need to take this car to a muffler shop after delivery.

The widescreen digital displays in the cabin look upmarket.

The chassis feels well sorted and the tyres feel glued to the road.

But here’s our caveat.

Be sure to go for the optional magnetically controlled suspension ($3835 extra) which helps iron out the bumps and delivers more competent handling.

The standard suspension is too firm and detracts from the overall experience.

It’s awesome that Ford has fitted six-piston front brakes and four-piston rear brakes as standard on new-generation Mustangs sold in Australia, but we reckon Ford should go to the next step and make the trick suspension standard as well.

Bad points:

See above. The magnetically controlled suspension should be standard on the V8.

The standard suspension is too firm. You have been warned.

The V8 requires 98-octane premium unleaded petrol.

And, as we said in the review of the other 2025 Ford Mustang models, it would be nice to have some physical shortcut buttons to accompany the touch controls on the infotainment screen.

What the haters say:

V8s are dead mate, electric cars are way quicker.

What the haters don’t understand:

As we said in the Ford Mustang Dark Horse review, what electric-car fan boys don’t understand is that it’s not always about acceleration.

The Ford Mustang delights the senses in other ways. The V8 sound. The way the V8 gently rocks the car at idle. The way that so much power in a rear-drive car gets the heart rate up because it’s not glued to the road like an all-wheel-drive electric car.

There is more to the enjoyment of a performance car (or in this case a muscle car) than just the one element of speed.

Should you buy one?

Absolutely. Ford says it will keep building V8s as long as regulations allow. But we know governments can outlaw V8s with the stroke of a pen.

So get in quick and enjoy it while you can.

Also consider:

A used Holden Commodore SS maybe? Sorry, in Australia there’s nothing else like the Ford Mustang GT for the money.