2025 Ford Mustang GT Convertible review

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2025 Ford Mustang GT Convertible

We've waited with bated breath for the seventh-generation Ford Mustang to reach Australia and examples of the iconic sports car are now proliferating across the country.

Admittedly, it's a more pared-down range than before – the manual transmission is only available for the Mustang Fastback hardtop, and the entry-level Ecoboost engine only comes with the hardtop body style too.

But, the news that really matters is the V8 engine still lies beneath the model's long bonnet. Ford is determined to offer the Coyote V8 for as long as it possibly can and, arguably, the best way to appreciate that iconic engine is with the flagship convertible with its top down.

How much is a Ford Mustang?

Sadly, the Ford Mustang is now more expensive than it's ever been in Australia. The 2025 pricing for the iconic sports car now kicks off at $66,990 before on-road costs, and that's just for the base-level Mustang Ecoboost.

As before, the Mustang range is primarily comprised of the four-cylinder Ecoboost or V8 GT variants. You've also got a choice of a manual transmission in the latter, in addition to a convertible body style.

The Mustang GT Convertible with its V8 engine costs over $90,000 on the road, or $87,667 before on-road costs. This is the most expensive Ford Mustang variant you can buy.

For a short period, it was eclipsed by the $100,000+ Mustang Dark Horse, though the 1000 unit-run of this special variant has now sold out.

You used to be able to get a Convertible Mustang with a choice of engines, but the variant now comes in a single specification locally.

Its 5.0-litre V8 puts out 345kW and 550Nm through the rear wheels and the drivetrain features a 10-speed automatic transmission.

There are no substantial changes underneath the skin – the seventh-generation Mustang runs on the same underpinnings as its predecessor and it only gets a slight power bump from that naturally aspirated V8 engine.

However, externally the Mustang has come in for a clear update in terms of its design. It features a more angular front end with new strakes in the front grille, while the rear end is more tapered than before.

Trainspotters will notice the fact that this generation now comes with red tail-light lenses, a hallmark of US-spec Mustangs that Aussies have missed out on in the previous generation.

In terms of competitors, few manufacturers offer the same sort of recipe as the Mustang. One of its closest competitors is the Nissan Z – which you can read about here – that costs $75,800 before on-road costs.

It gets a healthy dose of standard equipment – the Mustang GT Convertible is the beneficiary of a smattering of kit such as wireless smartphone charging, Brembo brakes, dual-zone climate control, heated and cooled seats, silver interior trim, a 12-speaker B&O sound system, and a huge 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen.

The only main equipment add for getting the GT V8 version is the larger-capacity engine itself.

How big is a Ford Mustang?

Much like the external design, the interior has come in for a freshen-up. Technology plays a much more central role in this Mustang generation – the main 13.2-inch display sits on top of the dash and there's a fully-digital 12.4-inch screen in front of the driver.

Though, it's not all good news. It has lost a bit of the old-school Mustang charm, in that the interior misses out on the double-hump dash of preceding generations and there are fewer aviation-style toggle switches.

It's not as special as before, and I'd be opting for the extra-cost Recaro bucket seats that add a bit of character to the cabin if I could. They also give more of a firm seat for quicker cornering, but are exclusive to Fastback models and not available in the convertible.

The standard seat takes a bit of fiddling to get into the right place – only half the seat adjustments are electric, the rest are manual. Much like the older Mustang, the leather doesn't have the best feel and the plastics on the dash are hard to the touch.

Annoyingly, the soft-top roof can’t be automatically lowered – you have to unfasten it using a lever at the top of the windscreen before the electric mechanism can do the rest of the lowering job. I wish this was an all-automatic process. As well, it can only be lowered when the car’s at a standstill.

You can see carryover bits and pieces – the door panels are new but carry a number of elements from the previous Mustang, and the flimsy centre console compartment is the same as the old car.

All variants get leather-accented sports seats, wireless phone charging, LED headlights, and a 12-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system.

I really enjoyed the customisation on offer with the ambient lighting and different gauge displays. You can cycle between varying colours and designs for the screen graphics and this does a lot to liven up the interior.

An odd addition for 2025 is the manual lever that operates an electric park brake. This is a weird mix of physical and electric controls that enables the Mustang's Drift Brake function, but it's really odd to use every day, and I would have far preferred if the car had simple mechanical linkages to a park brake.

That said, in terms of look and feel, there's still plenty to appreciate about the Mustang.

Two seats sit behind the driver and front passenger. It's much more comfortable to sit back there with the roof off, otherwise it's dark and claustrophobic. Although, it's a tight space no matter whether the roof's on or off.

Under the boot lid, there's fair stowage for two carry-on suitcases side by side, as well as a pair of backpacks. For a sports car, the Mustang actually does surprisingly well in storage capacity.

However, instead of a spare wheel, the car gets a tyre repair kit.

Does the Ford Mustang have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

The new technology on offer inside the Mustang's cabin has got to be its biggest flex (and improvement).

Not only is it bigger than ever before, but the way the 13.2-inch infotainment screen blends into the digital driver's cluster is seamless.

Sync 4 software is used in landscape fashion (slightly different than the portrait screen used in the Mustang Mach-E and Ranger) and it's easily mastered with big icons and intuitive menu systems.

It'll sometimes stutter as you're scrolling between pages, but this didn't deter the otherwise impressive experience.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is now wireless (and there's also a wireless smartphone charger) and it's a full-screen implementation.

One of the coolest aspects of the Mustang's tech suite is the ability to configure the digital driver's cluster with different gauge displays.

Owners can run through different dials and instrumentation reminiscent of the ‘Fox Body’ Mustang (1979 until 1993), early 1967 and 1970 models, as well as tech-forward alternatives that do away with dials altogether.

It also comes with the ability to choose the background colours for all kinds of menus and screens.

FordPass connected services are available for the new Mustang, which means owners can connect to their car from their phone to monitor bits and pieces such as pre-cooling the interior, fuel level check, and remote-start functionality.

The infotainment system contains a bunch of Track Apps for measuring acceleration and lap times too.

Is the Ford Mustang a safe car?

At the time of writing, Ford has not supplied, nor has ANCAP procured, a Mustang for crash-testing. Ford has earned a bad reputation for Mustang safety in the past with its sixth-generation (two-star in 2015, then three-star in 2017) scores.

Here's hoping Ford has improved the overall safety credentials of the new car.

What safety technology does the Ford Mustang have?

Although it lacks an 'official' safety rating, the seventh-generation Ford Mustang has been boosted in the safety stakes.

In terms of active safety measures, it gets must-haves such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot warning, while a rear-view camera and rear parking sensors are also standard.

The 2025 Ford Mustang comes with seven airbags in total.

In my time with the car, the adaptive cruise control kept a good distance behind the car in front and reacted quickly to brake lights or sudden acceleration.

Its lane-keep assist can be quite insistent that you're crossing the lines, though it's easily turned off with a double tap of the steering-wheel-marked button.

How much does the Ford Mustang cost to run?

All Fords come with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty. Complimentary roadside assistance is even better, as long as you continually service the car within the Ford dealership network.

That servicing costs $379 for each of the first four visits. Over three years that totals $1137. This is more affordable than the $1342 you'd pay for servicing the Nissan Z over the same period.

For the GT Convertible variant I had, insurance costs are $1932 for 12 months of coverage. This is a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male living in Chatswood, NSW with a clean driving record. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

Is the Ford Mustang fuel-efficient?

Unfortunately, refuelling the Mustang is not a cheap exercise. First of all, it only takes expensive 98-octane premium unleaded petrol.

Secondly, Ford claims the 5.0-litre V8 engine sips 12.8 litres per 100 kilometres, my time with the car returned an 11.5L/100km rating.

Admittedly, a lot of driving was completed on freeways, meaning the V8 didn't have to work as hard, as often, as if it were cycling up and down the tachometer.

What is the Ford Mustang like to drive?

There's no getting around the fact that the Mustang's 5.0-litre V8 is a loud thing to start up in the morning. Although Ford has fitted a 'Quiet Start' mode that hushes the bi-modal exhaust, it's still surprisingly loud to fire into life.

But that's what customers sign up for with the purchase of the V8 version. It's a sound worth celebrating and can easily put a smile on your face. It's best appreciated with the car in Sports mode with the soft-top roof retracted – it's a guttural, warbling, and tough-sounding exhaust note.

The sound is accompanied by appropriate shove, with its 345kW/550Nm outputs providing a walloping shove in the back as you squeeze the throttle.

The Mustang's Gen-IV Coyote V8 pulls strong and linearly right up to its redline and maximum power is delivered right at the top of the crescendo at 7250rpm. It makes revving out the engine a joyous exercise, and one that the driver will want to do again and again.

The 10-speed automatic transmission isn't the best pairing for the engine – it's far better suited to a six-speed manual. Though, you can't get a manual transmission with the convertible body style.

It seamlessly shifts between gears in an almost imperceptible manner, though this phenomenon makes it feel like a continuously variable automatic. It runs up and down the gears constantly and there's no satisfying 'bang' as the next gear slots in line.

By opting for the convertible, there's less insulation to combat road and wind noise. You can hear a fair bit of racket at 100km/h on the freeway, but it makes it that much easier to hear the V8 exhaust noise.

The other annoyance with the convertible is its troublesome scuttle shake. There are constant vibrations on freeways and back roads, and the body shuffles as you roll over large bumps in the bitumen.

This is a big, lazy car and it feels it on the road. It's less of a sports car and more of a cruiser for beachside coastal drives with the top down.

Ride comfort is tight and you feel the imperfections in the road, but larger impacts don't thump and the Mustang is good at absorbing speed humps and train tracks – despite the shimmy from a lack of body rigidity.

Optional MagneRide dampers ($3835 option on the GT Fastback) are available to sharpen up the experience, but again the convertible goes without this option. This Mustang is far better suited to flowing roads rather than switchback bends.

The steering is heavy and the turning circle wide, so drivers will have to keep its cumbersome manoeuvrability in mind when driving the Mustang around town.

Should I buy a Ford Mustang?

I doubt that Mustang Convertible buyers are still sitting on the fence reading this review. By this point, you're probably all-in. That's not a bad thing.

The Ford Mustang Convertible is such a fun car to drive in all kinds of scenarios. It sounds epic no matter the speed you're travelling and the open-top experience is a dream on a sunny day.

There are annoyances you'll have to contend with. The scuttle shake is a worrying feeling (but not out of the ordinary for a convertible) and the automatic transmission can be cumbersome. But it's not enough to ruin the otherwise enjoyable driving experience.

Its cabin doesn't offer the best in materials, and it's a shame to see so many carryover bits and pieces from the preceding generation. But, there's no denying the technology is not only helpful – the level of customisation on offer is pure fun.

This seventh-generation Mustang Convertible is all about improving upon an already solid base, and there's no doubt it's incrementally better than before. As long as you're willing to pay nearly $100,000 for the privilege.

How do I buy a Ford Mustang? The next steps.

Ford has collected 3000 Mustang orders over the course of the last 12 months and it's working hard to connect buyers will cars.

We were told at the launch that customers with unique tastes – whether it's a specific colour or unique options – will wait longer for cars to arrive in Australia.

However, there are examples of Mustangs with V8 and four-cylinder powertrains sitting on dealership forecourts around the country.

For us at Drive, there is no better Mustang experience other than one with a V8 – so go into a Mustang GT purchase expecting the best Mustang variant and it's unlikely you'll be disappointed.

Unfortunately, the Mustang Dark Horse is sold out and no further allocation is on the horizon, despite the model being a full-time offering in the United States.

Don’t forget to check the Ford website for dealership locations in order to find your Mustang. You can also find Fords for sale at Drive Marketplace.

We strongly recommend taking a test drive at a dealership before committing because personal needs and tastes can differ. We'd also recommend test-driving the Nissan Z and the Toyota Supra before deciding whether the Ford Mustang is the car for you.

If you want to stay updated with everything that’s happened to this car since our review, you’ll find all the latest news here.

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