2022 Ford Mustang GT Premium Convertible Review

The legendary Ford Mustang lives on, no not the Mustang Mach-E, but the real Mustang. The pony car that’s been on the streets since 1964. The sixth generation Ford Mustang (code-named S-550) has been on sale since 2015, but a sleeker 7th generation model will soon replace it. The good news for the gearheads is that the 7th generation Mustang (revealed recently) will still feature the 5.0-liter V8 engine, rear-wheel drive, and a manual transmission.

We recently had the opportunity to review a 2022 Ford Mustang GT Convertible; although I’ve reviewed this generation of the Mustang on quite a few occasions, it’s hard to say no to the original pony car.

The 2022/2023 convertible Ford Mustang GT is offered in three trims, unlike the Mustang Coupe, which is offered in 7 trims and includes the highly potent Shelby GT500. The base Mustang EcoBoost convertible has a starting price of $37,295, the EcoBoost Premium has a starting price of $43,295, and the GT Premium Convertible starts at $56,745. These prices do not include $2,095 for Freight & PDI, options, or dreaded taxes.

Our review 2022 Ford Mustang GT Premium Convertible had a price tag of a whopping $74,635 before taxes. That’s a lot of money. Our review car had over $16,000 worth of options, detailed below:

• Equipment Group 401A ($2,700)
• GT Performance Package ($6,500)
• Magneride Damping System ($2,500)
• Floor lines/floor mats ($250)
• Active Valve Performance Exhaust ($1,495)
• 19” Aluminum wheels ($1,500)
• B&O 12 speaker sound system (1,000)

Like the standard Mustang coupes (not including special editions), the convertible Mustang is offered with either a 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder turbocharged engine or a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine. The 4-cylinder engine produces 310 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 350 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm. The V8 engine produces 450 horsepower at 7,000 rpm, and 410 pound-feet of torque at 4,600 rpm, all of these figures are on 93 octane fuel. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission or a 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission.

I’ve driven the Mustang GT numerous times, but the driving dynamics of the Mustang haven’t changed since this generation was introduced. It’s powerful and loud and handles pretty well for a large sports car. The V8 engine is smooth and has lots of power; our car was equipped with the 6-speed transmission, which is a pleasure to shift gears with. Even in congested city driving, the clutch doesn’t feel heavy and changing gears isn’t cumbersome. The Mustang GT comes with a rev-matching feature, making downshifts a lot smoother, and you don’t have to worry about manually matching revs.

Our review Mustang convertible came with the optional Active Valve Performance exhaust system. This gives you the ability to annoy your neighbors at will, or not, if you’re an upstanding citizen. The exhaust system can be placed in “Quiet,” which, in my opinion, is loud enough (I’m getting old), “Normal,” “Sport,” and “Track.” I set the car in the “Quiet” mode at all times; as I said, I’m getting old, and my ears appreciate a bit of peace and quiet. The Normal mode would be considered the “Sport+” mode in most cars because it’s loud. The other two modes are deafening, in my opinion. These modes are perfect for young men trying to attract attention to themselves, which may or may not work out the way they want it.

The Mustang also comes with different driving modes; the “lesser” modes make the Mustang more compliant for daily driving with softer steering and suspension and a quieter exhaust note. As you move up the driving modes, the steering wheel becomes heavier, the suspension becomes stiffer, and the exhaust louder. I mostly left the car in the most comfortable settings; driving around the city, I wanted the most comfortable ride possible.

In terms of looks and the interior, the Mustang has stayed relatively the same over the last few years. It’s a good-looking car. The next generation Mustang will see more changes but retain the same overall shape. The biggest difference will be an all-new interior, which I’m looking forward to playing around with.

When this generation of the Mustang was first introduced, it was quite the value proposition. The 2022 Mustang GT Convertible, especially with all the options, is quite an expensive car. I never thought I’d write about a standard Mustang (not some limited-edition model) that costs over $80,000 (with taxes).

However, everything is expensive nowadays. You have a choice of buying an expensive Mustang or hanging on to your money in hopes of lower prices in the near future. Please visit Ford Canada’s website for more information on the Mustang and other vehicles.