2025 Ford Mustang GT Fastback Auto review

How much does a Ford Mustang GT Fastback cost?

When the sixth-generation Ford Mustang reintroduced the brand to Australia almost 10 years ago, it was very much a blue collar performance hero.

But in 2024, you won’t get any change out of $90,000 to get the most popular version of the newly introduced ‘S650’ seventh generation, the GT (V8) Fastback (coupe) auto on the road. That’s the model we’re testing here.

Sure, there are cheaper Ford Mustangs. The most affordable is the EcoBoost Fastback which is powered by a four-cylinder engine and for 2025 is priced at $66,990 plus on-road costs.

The GT Fastback manual is $78,990 and the GT Fastback auto $81,990. The flagship GT Convertible is $87,667 (all prices plus on-road costs).

At least Ford’s softening the blow with some affordable servicing costs. You’ll get through the first four visits to the workshop for just over $1500. The warranty covers the car for five years and there’s free roadside assist as well (if you service at a Ford dealer).

Standard GT Fastback gear includes a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster that sits behind a single piece of glass alongside a 13.2-inch information touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital radio and embedded satellite navigation are all supported with audio being amplified through a 12-speaker B&O system - including a large subwoofer in the boot.

The front seats are trimmed in a combination of fake and real leather, and come with heating and cooling. Both are also partially powered, with backrest adjustment still manual.

Keyless entry, dual-zone climate control, adjustable ambient lighting and the FordPass connected car system with smartphone app are all part of the deal as well.

Via an embedded modem, FordPass offers a combination of safety and convenience features.

A wireless phoner charger has been dropped out of the equipment list for 2025. And sadly, there is no spare tyre.

Ford Mustang GT Fastback exterior design

The 2025 Ford Mustang GT Fastback is instantly recognisable.

While it rolls on the same wheelbase as the old model, the new Mustang is longer, wider and higher. It gets a more angular front-end, vanes in the grille and tri-bar LED headlights.

At the rear of the Mustang, the shape of the wheel arches are more pronounced and chiselled. At both ends, the Mustang is shod in handsome staggered 19-inch grey alloy wheels housing Brembo brakes and rolling on Pirelli PZero rubber.

The Mustang's V8 is distinguished by a larger grille opening because it sucks more air than the Ecoboost four-cylinder. And it adds vents in the bonnet because it’s got plenty of hot air to expel as well.

What is the Ford Mustang GT Fastback like inside?

If the exterior of the 2025 Ford Mustang GT Fastback feels evolved than it’s gone through a more substantial overhaul inside the cabin.

The fundamentals don’t change, it’s still a low-riding 2+2 with minimal rear seat space and a surprisingly generous boot (we’ll come back to that stuff later), but from the driver’s seat there is a lot that’s new.

The digital screens have become much more prominent and some of the signature controls like the old silver toggles have been banished.

This is one of the most configurable instrument panels you will ever come across. It has different views depending on what drive mode you choose, from Eco to Track with the vibrant tacho stretched across the screen.

But you can also dive into the My Mustang menu on the touchscreen and set the instrument panel up to look retro with digital instrumentation reincarnations of three previous generation Mustangs dials - very cool.

There’s also a bunch of performance screens to access through the crystal clear touchscreen, as well as the more mundane stuff.

I’d prefer physical air-con controls to the combination of touch points and bar graphs that are provided. And I do miss those silver toggles, more because they were something different than especially useful.

Beyond the interior tech, the GT offers big and comfy front seats designed for bigger drivers.

The trims and materials of the US-built Mustang look good at a glance. But examine more closely and it’s noticeable how many hard surfaces there are. It’s not good enough for $90,000.

Storage is also pretty average, but in a sports car that’s more forgivable. The door bins are small, and if you use the cupholders in the centre console they’ll impair access to the gear stick. Helpfully, manual shifting in the auto is completed via the paddles on the steering wheel.

But any compromises up-front pale in comparison to the rear seat, which is useless for human habitation. Better to use row two for extra luggage space.

In fact, the boot is quite big and the rear seat also spilt-folds down to expand space. You can even fit a large mountain biker in here, albeit with the front wheel removed.

Is the Ford Mustang GT Fastback good to drive?

The 2025 Ford Mustang GT Fastback Auto is indeed very good to drive. It only takes about 10 seconds to make that decision after firing up the Coyote V8 engine and having a listen to that exhaust note in whichever of four different modes you choose.

It’s chunky, earthy mechanical music.

The 345kW/550Nm engine’s performance is more massive than melodious. At first mild press of the throttle it feels pretty slow revving and a bit dull, but get into a bit more and it comes alive.

It revs quickly and cleanly past 7000rpm, by which time you are going too fast and the noise is just all-encompassing. It is such a reminder of days gone by when affordable V8s were everywhere.

It’s not all sweetness and light. The 10-speed auto is a bit dull-witted in normal mode and bit hyperactive, tumbling over the lower gears, in sports modes. You also have to be decisive with the paddles to register a manual shift. Most of the time though the transmission just has to get out of the way and let the engine do its very impressive work.

The downside of enjoying the engine is, of course, fuel consumption. It claims 12.8L/100km, which we comfortably undercut on test, albeit to a still horrendous result of close to 11L/100km. The manual is worse if that’s any consolation.

With a 60 litre tank, you’re not going to get far before pumping more of that expensive 98 RON fuel.

The Ford Mustang backs up its immense powertrain with an evolved chassis and suspension set-up. It offers up massive grip, nimble turn-in and electric-assist steering that lets things down a bit by being good not great. It feels too heavily weighted at trundling speed and a tad light when sports driving.

Speaking of which, the new Mustang really embraces its sporting character with a drift brake you pull on like a handbrake to drive sideways, a line locker to perform burnouts and a drag mode to maximise acceleration. These are features for the racetrack, a place we didn’t venture.

The downside of Mustang’s sports focus is a jarring ride that really doesn’t gel well with Australia’s roads. The smoother the better, or try the Magneride adaptive suspension option to provide a wider spread of chassis performance.

Move back into the real world of stop-start urban driving and the Mustang is no star. It’s too enclosed to see out of easily and only has a reversing camera. The auto is at least easier to live with day-to-day than the manual.

What safety features does the Ford Mustang GT Fastback have?

The 2025 Ford Mustang has taken a sizable step up in safety equipment with a more sophisticated set of driver assistants including blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.

Other features include autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with deployable lane centring, lane keeping, traffic sign recognition and tyre pressure monitoring.

There are seven airbags but no front-centre airbag. What we don’t know yet is how the Mustang will go in ANCAP testing. The old one only got three stars

How does the Ford Mustang GT Fastback compare?

As already pointed out, V8 rear-wheel drive low-riding sports and performance competition for the 2025 Mustang GT fastback is pretty scarce.

Drop the V8 and there are a few more rivals in its part of the market. The Toyota Supra, its close relation the BMW Z4 and the Nissan Z and its Nismo spin-off are the sort of vehicles that might be cross-shopped.

Should I buy a Ford Mustang GT Fastback?

If you’re hankering after a loud and proud V8 sports car then the 2025 Ford Mustang is the only choice. Literally. Unless you have a much bigger budget.

As it is, the money you need to take delivery of the Mustang GT Fastback Auto isn’t exactly in the bargain basement either. The rate of acceleration of this car’s pricing is the only thing that matches its engine.

But when you’re the only show in town you can charge what you want.

^{The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.}