Some consider the Ford Mustang Grand Touring (GT) a muscle car, especially after its already capable base engine was replaced with an even more powerful V8 power plant. Others view the more powerful Mustang as a sports car, given its sleek lines, low profile, good agility, and responsive handling on the road. Whatever you think of it, the Mustang GT is one of the most iconic and popular American cars.
Speed is one of the reasons people buy a Ford Mustang GT. So, how fast is a Mustang GT? And how does it compare to other models in the same class?
The 2022 Ford Mustang is the latest car in the Mustang’s sixth generation, which began production in 2014. It’s a good example to determine how fast a Mustang GT can go.
According to automaker Ford Motor Company, the 2022 Mustang GT top speed is 163 miles per hour (mph). It can hit this speed thanks to its 5.0 V8 engine that produces 450 horsepower, allowing it to go from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. An engine governor limits the Mustang GT’s top speed for safety reasons, since standard-issue parts like the tires can’t handle higher speeds.
The baseline 2022 Ford Mustang is no slouch. Its 2.3 liter 4-cylinder engine puts earlier V8 power plants to shame. Its top speed is 155 mph, which is eight miles behind the fastest speed of its GT variant. The standard Mustang can accelerate from a standstill to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, roughly the same as the Mustang GT.
Many Ford Mustang models over the years have been fast, due to Ford’s annual Mustang GT upgrades. In some years, select creature comforts are modernized. In other years, the Mustang GT gets a facelift. However, the biggest upgrades to its performance and looks happen between generations. The Ford Mustang has seven generations. You can find the 0 to 60 times and top speeds of previous year models below:
Year Model | Top Speed | 0 to 60 time |
---|---|---|
1989 Ford Mustang | 140 mph | 5.9 seconds |
2000 Ford Mustang GT | 170 mph | 6.5 seconds |
2002 Ford Mustang GT | 145 mph | 6.1 seconds |
2005 Ford Mustang GT | 143 mph | 5.2 seconds |
2006 Ford Mustang GT | 155 mph | 4.6 seconds |
2016 Ford Mustang GT | 161 mph | 4.3 seconds |
2017 Ford Mustang GT | 177 mph | 4.1 seconds |
2019 Ford Mustang GT | 155 mph | 4.3 seconds |
The latest model years should be faster because of their upgraded features. However, the Ford Mustang GT’s 0 to 60 time and top speed doesn’t necessarily improve every year. For example, the 2000 Ford Mustang GT has a 0 to 60 of 170 mph. However, the more updated 2002 Ford Mustang GT has a 0 to 60 of only 145 mph. The 2019 Ford Mustang GT 0 to 60 time is also inferior to the 2017 Ford Mustang GT’s 0 to 60 time.
This could be a result of the Mustang GT’s addition of a speed governor, which has been included for safety purposes. Luckily, the Mustang’s 0 to 60 time isn’t greatly affected by the speed governor since it remains at 4 to 6 seconds across most model years. While modern iterations have gotten a more powerful engine, the Mustang GT remains a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicle, which means it will have trouble accelerating compared to its four-wheel drive counterparts.
While the Ford Mustang GT outpaces the baseline Mustang, there are other variants that can outrun it.
Ford Mustangs are fast, but the Mustang Mach 1 package delivers racing performance on the road. Its enhanced V8 engine produces 470-hp, 20 more than the GT, and it shares its chassis with the high-performance Shelby Mustangs. These components give the Mach 1 the ability to reach 168 mph, 5 miles faster than the GT and 13 miles more than the standard Mustang.
The most powerful Mustang variant is the Shelby GT500. Its supercharged V-8 engine with 760-hp makes even the Mustang Mach 1’s mighty power plant look anemic in comparison. The Shelby GT500 takes only 3.5 seconds to go from a standstill to 60 mph. Its top speed of 180 mph is 17 miles faster than the GT.
The Mustang GT has a number of challengers on the road. Chief of these rivals is the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro. So which one is faster?
The Camaro can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, which is slightly faster than the GT. Official sources are iffy on the Camaro’s top speed, but removing its speed governor can let it hit a theoretical 183 mph.
When you need a daily driver that can also pull double duty as a sports car, the Ford Mustang GT is a good pick.
The Ford Mustang GT costs around $33,000. Meanwhile, the upcoming 2025 Ford Mustang GTD will be priced at around $325,000 and is expected to be available in late 2024 or early 2025. Ford will only release a limited run of 1,000 GTDs.
Ford Mustangs are above-average in terms of reliability, as RepairPal gave it a 3.5 out of 5.0, ranking 20th out of 24 midsize cars. Meanwhile, J.D. Power gave it an 85/100.
Used Ford Mustangs are also decent, with WhatCar giving them a reliability score of 91.4%. That’s above the Audi RS5 and Mercedes-AMG C63 but below the BMW M4 and Lexus RC F.
Some common complaints about the Mustang include interior accessory problems, vibration while driving, and hood corrosion, among others.
The Ford Mustang GT is a high-performance sports car that needs pumped-up parts. Otherwise, it might not be able to withstand the high temperatures, pressures, and stress present when the vehicle is driven at its limit. Good thing getting high-performance, OE-grade components is easy here at CarParts.com.
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