Ford Mustang Convertible review

The BMW 2 Series Convertible is the Mustang's closest rival for outright performance, but it doesn't give you a hairy-chested V8 engine. If you want one of those, you need to look at the far pricier Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet. So, by any standard, the purchase price of the Mustang Convertible – regardless of which engine you choose – is relatively very attractive.

Ford hasn't scrimped on standard equipment, either. This includes keyless entry and start, a selectable drive mode switch, LED headlights, 19in alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate control and a rear-view camera.

However, its running costs aren't exactly parsimonious. Tyres and fuel will be among your biggest bills, and don’t be fooled by the ‘Ecoboost’ badge on the 2.3 engine; this four-cylinder unit is still very thirsty (think MPG in the mid-20s on a good day), albeit not quite as outrageously so as the V8. Insurance and tax costs are also higher than they are for most rivals, all of which emit substantially less CO2. However, none of this is likely to come as a surprise to anyone seriously considering a Mustang Convertible. 

The Mustang itself didn't fare particularly well in the 2019 What Car? Reliability Survey, although Ford as a brand ranked a respectable 14th out of the 31 manufacturers that featured. A three-year, 60,000-mile warranty is standard and can be extended to five years at a reasonable cost. UK and European roadside assistance is included for the first year.

Automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keeping assistance are standard in every model. However, while Euro NCAP hasn’t appraised the Mustang Convertible for safety, the Fastback (hard-top) model scored a lowly three stars out of five.