There can be little doubt that Americans love their muscle cars. While most sedans are being pulled from car lots due to low sales, muscle and sports car sales remain high. There are some truly great contenders, but the Ford Mustang is still one of the most popular muscle cars that have won American hearts for the past 57 years.

So what makes the Ford Mustang so popular? Is it really all that great? And is it getting better, or is Ford confident enough in the Mustang’s appeal that it relies on the tried and true?

The history of the Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang is a mere three years shy of being 60 years old. It first made its official debut at the World’s Fair in New York on April 17, 1964. The original price tag was $2,368.

Since then, the Mustang has gone through many changes. It has been available as a coupe and convertible, had multiple changes to the body frame, and operated with several different engines. There is even an EV Mustang called the Mach-E on the way. In other words, the Mustang is constantly evolving, which has a lot to do with the appeal. 

There’s a Ford Mustang for everyone

Ready to purchase a 2021 Ford Mustang? There are five trim levels and eight configurations that are better than ever. Tragically, the price has been bumped up for all trim levels since 2020. 

The lowest trim level is the EcoBoost. The coupe is the EcoBoost two-door Fastback. The EcoBoost comes equipped with a 2.3-liter I-4 engine and a six-speed manual w/OD. It starts at $27,155.

There is a convertible EcoBoost that starts at $32,655. It comes equipped with a 2.3-liter I-4 and a six-speed manual w/OD. 

The next trim level is the EcoBoost Premium. This trim level comes as a coupe, which starts at $32,175, and the convertible that starts at $37,675. Heated front seats, as well as SiriusXM radio, come standard.

The GT trim is only available as a coupe. It comes equipped with a 460-hp, 5.0-liter V8 engine. The GT has a starting price of $36,120. 

The GT Premium is where the prices really begin to rise. The GT Premium coupe starts at $40,120. The convertible model starts at $45,620. Both have the same engine as the GT trim. 

The top trim level for the 2020 Ford Mustang is the Mach 1. It has a starting price of $51,720. The engine, a 5.0-liter V8, produces 480 hp, making it the most powerful engine in the lineup. It also offers two transmissions. One is a six-speed manual and the other is a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Ford is upping its game

Far too many automakers settle for good enough. They do very infrequent updates and tend to use outdated materials up until the point that it begins to impact their bottom line. That’s definitely not Ford, which is always working on creating something new and stellar.

According to Autotrader, “Part of the Mustang’s success is due to the breadth of its lineup. A base coupe starts around $28,000 and still provides 310 horsepower from its V6 engine. That’s more power than any Mustang made in 2005. From there, the range adds convertibles, turbocharged 4-cylinder engines, honkin’ V8s, retro-style Bullit editions, and three flavors of pavement-slaying Shelby versions.  A new Shelby GT350R with everything runs about $80,000, which gives the Mustang the biggest spread between base and fully loaded in the Ford lineup.”