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2019 Mustang EcoBoost Premium Review
The 2019 Mustang with the 2.3L EcoBoost ending is a fun sports car that may just surprise you with the performance and sound that it delivers.
While there is definitely a place for a V8 in the Mustang lineup, the 2.3L EcoBoost Mustang starts at $9,000 less than the GT.
This is a significant price difference. You can keep the savings, or you can opt for upgrades to go with the Mustang EcoBoost Premium with the Performance Package, Equipment Group 201A, Active Valve Performance Exhaust, Magne Ride Damping system and Recaro Leather seats.
The 2019 Mustang EcoBoost Premium I spent the week testing came with these upgrades, bringing the price up to $41,383 with Destination. For comparison that’s pretty close to the starting price of the GT Premium.
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2019 Mustang EcoBoost Premium Performance
Paired with the Performance Package 1, the Mustang EcoBoost Premium is fun to drive.
The 2.3L EcoBoost Mustang is fun to drive, handles very nicely and sounds good with the Active Exhaust System included in our tester. It’s proof that you don’t necessarily need a V8 under the hood to sound and feel good on the road.
This Mustang makes 310 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque and you can get it with a six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic. I tested it with a six-speed manual that shifts nicely.
While you don’t get the deep growl of a V8, the Active Exhaust system on the EcoBoost Premium offers control over the exhaust and delivers a beautiful sound while driving. There’s a quiet start mode so that you don’t annoy your neighbors, and you can also take it all the way up to Track volume with controls separate from the Track driving mode.
Quickly choose your drive mode.
On the road, the torque makes this EcoBoost Mustang shine with quick acceleration and a fun driving experience. With the manual, line-lock makes burnouts a breeze and the multiple drive modes let you easily toggle between commuting in traffic to tearing up a country road.
The steering is quite good with a nice light feel in comfort mode and more weigh in Normal and Sport modes. Switching drive and steering modes is as simple as toggling the switches in the lower center of the dash, so you can quickly choose the right mode for your mood or situation.
With the optional Magne-Ride damping system the Mustang is very comfortable as a daily driver, while still offering a fun when it’s time for spirited driving.
The cluster changes with the drive mode.
There’s no shame in skipping the V8 and buying an EcoBoost Mustang. This car is fun, priced right and practical when it comes to fuel economy.
Even with the performance upgrades, the 2019 Mustang EcoBoost Premium is rated for 27 MPG highway and 20 MPG city, with a combined 23 MPG. If you pass on the Performance Package you can get up to 31 MPG highway with the manual and up to 32 MPG highway with the automatic.
2019 Mustang EcoBoost Premium Interior
Beautiful lines and that well known Mustang look.
The 2019 Mustang EcoBoost Premium Fastback seats four, but it’s best with two or three people in the car thanks to a small backseat and restricted access.
Inside the EcoBoost Premium’s leather interior comes with heated and cooled seats. Our model featured Leather Recaro Sport Seats that offer more aggressive bolsters. They were still comfortable for cruising, but if you plan to take this on long trips and you are bigger like me, you may want to stick with the original seats.
The interior of the Premium features soft-touch leather and surfaces throughout as well as accent stitching. The driver and front passenger have plenty of room and with dual climate controls you can stay at the right temp.
The Ambient Lighting fills the cabin with soft lighting in your preferred color, which you can even choose specifically using color wheels. This is a cool feature that lets you customize your Mustang without spending extra cash.
On the outside, this is instantly recognizable as a Mustang. The Performance Spoiler is perfectly proportioned and the classic three-blade turn signals complete the look. The side-view mirrors shine a Mustang on the ground, which is an attention-drawing feat.
2019 Mustang EcoBoost Premium Tech, Sound and Safety
Ford offers one of the best infotainment systems with Sync 3 on the 2019 Mustang. The screen is easy to see, touch is responsive and the standard system is easy to use. Where it shines is with support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and FordPass Connect. You get Alexa in your car with Sync 3 so you can get navigation info an use a ton of Alexa skills as well as control your smart home.
I spend most of my time in Apple CarPlay which offers fast access to phone calls, messages, music and Waze so I can avoid traffic and know when there’s a good reason to slow down.
The 12-inch all-digital Cluster lets you choose colors and gauge styles.
With the EcoBoost Premium, you also get a second screen with an all-digital 12-inch LCD cluster that offers loads of customization options and looks incredibly cool. With this digital cluster, you get a different look for each drive mode and the system knows which mode you were in and can return you to that drive mode when you get back in the car. This includes drive mode, steering, and even exhaust. You can also choose a specific mode as default. You can change the color of the cluster to match your personal style or your car’s color.
There are track apps n the digital cluster that allows you to see g-forces, acceleration time and lap times plus countdowns. This is also where you access the Electronic line-lock to easily do burnouts.
The B&O Premium Sound System is great, immersing you in the music with 12 speakers, including a subwoofer in the trunk. I highly recommend this upgrade.
FordPass Connect puts a 4G LTE connection in the car. This lets you use your car as a personal hotspot to get a tablet or computer online. It also allows for remote control.
Use Track Apps to easily do a burnout in the 2019 Mustang EcoBoost.
You can use this connection and an app to lock and unlock or sound an alarm from your phone. If you have the automatic transmission, you can also use this to remote start the car so that it’s cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Driver convenience features vary based on the packages you choose. With Equipment Group 201A you get blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. I like this feature on the Mustang due to the limited visibility in blind spots.
You can opt for a Ford Safe and Smart Package that adds in several other features for $1,000. With this upgrade you get;
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Auto High Beam Headlamps
- Lane-Keeping Alert
- Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection – Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning with Brake Support
- Rain-sensing Windshield Wipers
It would be nice to see these included with the Premium package, but if you want to round out your driver assistance features and if you plan to take this Mustang on a lot of road trips, it’s a package you should consider adding.
