At $50K, I'm not sure I totally get the value considering a V8-powered GT starts at $42K.
That being said, I always thought the EcoBoost with the Performance Package would be a neat spec to have.
Photography by David S. Wallens
A menacing stance, a monster V8 and horsepower figures halfway to 1000? Yes, Ford has a Mustang for that, the Dark Horse.
[Ford Mustang Dark Horse: How does it gallop on track?]
The Mustang we’ve been given the keys to for a week, however, is not that.
Instead, this 2024 Mustang EcoBoost Premium Convertible looks to be more intended for a buyer who prioritizes outward appearances over outright speed. (Not that there is anything wrong with that, per se, it's just not how we would normally spec our personal cars.)
Under the hood, you’ll find a 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four that Ford rates at 315 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque. Backing that engine? A 10-speed automatic–your only choice for the four-cylinder Mustang.
While Ford does offer some performance goodies for the EcoBoost model in the form of the “2.3L High Performance Package” (featuring fun-adders like beefier Brembo brakes, a 3.55 limited-slip differential and a shenanigan-encouraging hand-operated parking brake), our Mustang tester is configured as more of a cruiser, fitted with creature comforts like a Bang & Olufsen sound system and Ford’s Co-Pilot360 Assist.
Looking at the window sticker does reveal that our Mustang does have one performance-minded option fitted, however: Active Valve Performance Exhaust.
Fuel economy for the drop-top EcoBoost Mustang is rated at 22 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway for a combined rating of 26 mpg.
The 2024 Mustang EcoBoost Premium Convertible is listed with an MSRP of $42,945. As configured, our Mustang tester carries a sticker price $51,355.
Questions? Comments? Drop them below, and follow along as we review this 2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Premium Convertible.
At $50K, I'm not sure I totally get the value considering a V8-powered GT starts at $42K.
That being said, I always thought the EcoBoost with the Performance Package would be a neat spec to have.
Pretty impressive that Ford has maintained retro looks for the Mustang for now more than 20 years–longer than the production span of the original.
Despite those old-school design cues, my latest taste also reminds me just how far the Mustang has come since Ford reset the clock, so to speak, with the 2005 debut of the S197. The newest Mustang features totally contemporary interior details like digital gauges and the now-obligatory center stack.
Under the hood of our tester? A 2.3-liter Ecoboost backed by a 10-speed automatic.
Plenty of power, but it’s that transmission that I did not love. When done properly, a modern automatic can be a joy to drive. Witness the one in our BMW 435i project car.
Despite a number of gears suitable for an over-the-road truck, here it’s saddled with programming that’s just too conservative: very quick to upshift and very slow to downshift.
End result? The blahs that simply suck the fun out of the experience. The programming seems hell bent on keeping the revs–and the fun–near the floor.
Yes, you can keep the revs up if you keep your foot in it, but then you’re being antisocial–and in a bright yellow Mustang convertible, asking for a blue light special.
It was actually cheaper than the V8 convertible when I bought mine a few years ago. You do pay a premium for the drop top.
My other complaint, and you can maybe file this under Old Man Yells at Cloud, but I’d love knobs for heat/cool and fan speed. Please don’t make me work a touchscreen to get comfortable while moving with I-4 traffic. The knob for radio volume is very much appreciated, by the way.
Wow, that dashboard design is rough. Bummer, since the last generation interior I thought was a pretty good example of screen integration done right.
Ugh. That screen-dash thing is awful. Is 'contemporary' just another way of saying 'lazy poorly integrated design'?
That same transmission in my F150 on the 'sport' setting is a surprising giggle, but the expectations and dynamics are also quite different in a Mustang... Apparently they didn't bother to change the tune enough. That's unfortunate to hear.
How about the exhaust? Have they figured out how to make the 2.3EB to sound half-way decent yet?
Exhaust note is okay. It’s not a V8. You can change its tune via buttons on the screen.
Colin Wood said:At $50K, I'm not sure I totally get the value considering a V8-powered GT starts at $42K.
That being said, I always thought the EcoBoost with the Performance Package would be a neat spec to have.
The $50K price point for an EcoBoost convertible seems like a bit much. Then again, the average price of a car is $48K. So ...
Did you rent it?
In reply to David S. Wallens : I rented one similarly configured to this for a week drive through Vermont in 2023. I totally agree with the thumbs down programming of the 20-speed auto...just horrible whether in regular drive or sport. Otherwise a comfortable and economical ride.
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