The 2024 Ford Mustang debuted last year as the first model year of the iconic pony car’s seventh generation. Of course, enthusiasts and critics immediately began putting it to the test, pitting it against rivals to see how it stacks up. The Mustang Dark Horse was named the victor in a competition against the BMW M2 and again in another race against even more competitors, and the Mustang GT did the same in its own class. This time, the base Mustang EcoBoost is on deck as Hagerty puts several models up for the honors as the fastest car you can buy for under $35,000.
The 2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost is in league with other affordable but fast cars, including the Subaru WRX, the Volkswagen GTI, Hyundai Elantra N, Mini Cooper S, Mazda3 Turbo, and Toyota GR86. Hagerty praises the Mustang EcoBoost as the last standing American “cheap speed” option. It’s powered by the turbocharged 2.3L EcoBoost I4, and it’s no slouch, throwing 315 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. While it has the most horsepower in its matchup of rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) models, it’s also the heaviest at 3,810 pounds.
The 2024 Mustang EcoBoost is turned out on track against the WRX, Mazda3, and GR86. The Mustang EcoBoost lunges off the line, and while it paces its competition at first, it doesn’t take long for it to jump ahead of its competitors. It navigates its 10-speed automatic gearbox with ease, and flashes across the line well shut of the competition.
The Elantra N won its competition in the front-wheel-drive class, so there’s only one thing left to do to find out which affordable fast car reigns supreme: race them. The RWD Mustang EcoBoost heads back out, this time against a FWD rival, and it digs in with ease and leaves the Elantra N in the dust. The Elantra N is just a spec in the rearview by the time the Mustang finishes its run. The race was won entirely at launch, thanks to the Mustang’s superior traction compared to the “wheel-hopping Elantra.”
For reference, the 2025 Ford Mustang EcoBoost starts at $34,210, including destination freight charges, meaning the pony car is still a good option for those looking for a fast vehicle on a budget.
Comments
They also admit in the video the Ecoboost they used costs over 35K due to the Performance Package and that the others that had a manual option used them. It may have been a bit different if the N had the DCT and the Ecoboost wasn’t a performance pack, or still had a manual option.
Either way the EB was hands down the ugliest car there.
Also the N had a higher trap speed.
Just spec’d it out. A blue Performance Pack EB is almost 37k. 2k more than the 35k and 3k more than the N.
EcoBoost performance pack does not give it much HP or torque minimal.
The EB Performance Pack doesn’t add any power, it’s pretty much a suspension package so it’s only contribution to a drag race are stickier summer tires.
Not sure if it changes the rear gear like the GT, but grip definitely helps launch.
Power no, but it definitely helps grip and launch.