Before you walk into the showroom at your local Mustang dealership, you might want to consider whether the 2020 Ford Mustang Ecoboost High Performance Pack is worth it when compared to the regular Mustang V6, or even the regular Ecoboost models. You’ve already decided the larger, 435 horsepower Coyote V8 engine installed in the Mustang GT is simply more engine power than you really need. Especially when you consider the added price point and reduce fuel economy of the GT line of Mustangs.

If you’re still trying to decide whether 2.3-liter turbo-four is worth looking into, let’s look at a few top reviews by professional Mustang test drive enthusiasts that give their honest opinion on power, performance, and price of the Ford Mustang Ecoboost High Performance Pack. One test driver reviewer states:

“It felt very European, actually. Like a proper European sports car. Light, petite and agile. An engine that won’t outrun the chassis. Steering that tells you exactly what the nose is doing.”

Ford Mustang Ecoboost High Performance Pack

First off, the HPP Ecoboost engine takes the current generation, 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. This engine model has been in production since 2015. For 2020 the Mustang EcoBoost, there have been plenty of upgrades that make driving this Mustang agile on corners, with plenty of power whenever you need it, and a good value when you consider the entrance price. A few of the upgrades included in the Ford Mustang Ecoboost High Performance pack are:

• 332 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque (an increase of about 20 hp)
• 22 pounds of boost with peak torque above 4,000 rpm
• 32-millimeter sway bar up front, and a 21.7-millimeter bar at the back
• 5% larger engine block and a bigger radiator
• Upgraded suspension and braking system
• Set of Pirelli P Zero Corsa-4 summer tires

You can get the high performance option on Mustang EcoBoost models including the convertible or the coupe, and with manual transmission or automatic. This will increase the retail price by about $5,000 as is a more affordable alternative to the classic, Mustang V8. The company estimates the high performance package will get about 23 mpg in combined highway and city driving.

“On paper, an extra 20 horsepower doesn’t sound like a whole lot, but you also have to consider it’s an entirely different engine and a bunch of other performance bits to boot.”

Is the HPP Mustang Ecoboost Worth It?

A second test driver from MotorTrend took the High Performance Pack Ford Mustang through some of Sausalito, California’s winding mountain road that dip and rise. He noted how the turbocharged pony struggle just a bit to overcome the inclines on cold, slick pavement. But that experience was contributed more to the choice of Pirelli’s engineers and Ford to put summer tires on the retail model. 

“After a blink of delay as boost builds, power is robust; the midrange torque crest passes over seamlessly to the near-redline horsepower peak. True to Ford Performance’s ambition, it feels stronger the higher it’s revved. Still, it never feels snappy or raw—and that’s a good thing.”

This reviewer felt the ride was more buttoned-down, with greater road sensations without increasing the roll of the car’s body. Of course, the thicker anti-roll bar and upgraded differential are probably responsible for a better road effect. But, whether the HPP Ford Mustang is worth the extra dollars, especially when the price hits close to the V-8 in the Mustang GT, that would depend on individual preferences.

Both reviewers found the ride was unique, enjoyable, and distinctly different from the standard Mustang Ecoboost. One thing is sure, if you’re a Mustang enthusiast looking for an alternative to the V8, then it’s definitely worth taking the test drive for yourself.