The Ford Mustang has always been an affordable sports car for those wanting the experience without the high price tags of the Lamborghini. With the 2021 model year, prices went up for all its models, though. Will it still provide the same sporty ride for less money?

The answer is apparently yes because MotorTrend listed it on their Best Cheap Sports Cars Under $40,000 list. The Mustang is there, but it’s there with its EcoBoost High-Performance Package and its EcoBoost Handling Pack as well. 

Ford Mustang’s EcoBoost High-Performance package and Handling Pack

With this Ford Mustang package, you get a 2.3-liter turbo-four engine that’s tweaked to produce 330 hp, which is 20 hp more than what the normal EcoBoost motor generates. The previous year’s model saw 310 hp with its motor. With the high-performance EcoBoost motor, you can expect an acceleration time of just under 5 seconds, which is about four seconds faster than the EcoBoost gets with the automatic transmission. 

You also get GT brakes, aerodynamics as well as suspension components. The EcoBoost Handling pack offers a stiffer anti-roll bar, magnetic dampers, and a limited-slip differential, not to mention a set of high-quality Pirelli P Zero Corsa-4 summer tires. 

As far as what this pack brings to the driving experience of the Mustang, it appears critics were impressed with how its ride was more stable on the road surface. They also liked how it increased road sensations but didn’t increase the roll of the body. 

How does it compare to others on the list?

Out of all those that made it on the list, the Ford Mustang is the second most expensive one after the Tesla Model 3, which starts at $39,690. The Mustang comes in at around $600 less than the Model 3. It was also one that MotorTrend went back and forth on when deciding whether it belonged in this category or not.

They liked that it was a rear-drive coupe and that you could get a six-speed manual transmission with it. Under the hood is the 2.3-liter turbocharged Inline four-cylinder motor that comes with the high-performance package. But, what MotorTrend didn’t like was that it seemed overpriced for what you really get. Plus, it just didn’t seem as well put together as others you find on the list. 

The Ford Mustang is only about $200 more than the Civic Type R, which also landed on the same cheap sports car list from MotorTrend. This Honda generates 306 hp. The Camaro LT1 comes the closest to the Mustang when you look at the motor output. The Ford Mustang with the high-performance package offers 330 hp, but with the Camaro, you get 325 hp with the V6 engine. 

What else can you expect with the 2021 Ford Mustang?

The new 2021 Ford Mustang offers many features that are now standard this year. Those would include rain-sensing wipers, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, and blind-spot warning. 

With the Coupe style, you can expect to get around 13.5 cubic feet of storage space with the split rear seats up. In the Convertible, it’s only 11.4 cubic feet with no option to fold down the rear seats. 

This model comes with a 4.2-inch display screen and two USB ports. You can opt for the Sync 3 system with the entry-level versions, but it comes standard on the Premium trims. This will get you an 8.0-inch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an available built-in navigational system. 

The Ford Mustang with the High-Performance Package and EcoBoost Handling pack gives you an entry-level sports car for under $40,000. Without them, you still have a great performing vehicle, but it won’t offer as much zip to your acceleration.