2020 Ford Mustang Bullitt review: The archetype of cool

Darkish Highland Inexperienced is not the Bullitt’s only coloration, but it really is the only a person that issues.


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The Bullitt is not all that diverse from a standard Ford Mustang GT — visually or mechanically — but it has just enough tweaks to turn heads. And with its rumbling V8 and 6-pace handbook transmission, it really is a Mustang which is easy to really like.

Table of Contents

Like

  • Exceptional V8 powertrain
  • Seems awesome
  • Practical Sync 3 tech

Don’t Like

  • Limited interior
  • Spendy as opposed to other Mustang products

The Bullitt definitely flies underneath the radar. It won’t have any badges, conserve for its identify on the fake rear gasoline cap, and you will find no Mustang emblem on the honeycomb grille. The only dead visible giveaways are the black, 19-inch wheels and Darkish Highland Inexperienced paint, however you can also invest in a Bullitt in blue or black (but you should not).

Ford’s 5.-liter V8 motor places out 480 horsepower, which is a slight bump above the Mustang GT many thanks to a greater throttle human body and an consumption manifold borrowed from the Shelby GT350. To complement that energy, 420 pound-ft of torque are out there pleasant and minimal in the rev assortment, so you will find hardly ever a lack of energy. Regular overall performance equipment contains a Torsen constrained-slip differential, front aero splitter, upgraded front springs and staggered Michelin Pilot Activity 4S tires (255/forty up front, 275/forty in again).



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The whole package deal just functions. Coupled with the constrained-slip diff, the unbiased rear suspension signifies the Bullitt can happily slalom by tight curves. Certain, at 3,850 lbs it really is not particularly what I’d simply call spry, but the immediate steering will help, as do the sticky Pilot Activity 4S tires. You can even get the Bullitt with Ford’s magnetic journey suspension — a $one,695 possibility — which can change the dampers up to one,000 moments per next.

A couple of diverse travel modes definitely permit you dial in the journey. I’ll leave Snow by yourself for clear good reasons, and obtain the Bullitt is very best knowledgeable in Activity. Just about every mode switches up the traction manage and throttle reaction, and I can personalize the steering exertion involving Convenience, Usual and Activity settings. An particular person My Method allows you set the parameters to your particular liking, so I can have the overall performance set to Activity but the exhaust set to Observe, simply because I like aggravating my neighbors. Of training course, you will find also Line Lock, for sweet smoky burnouts.

My a person grievance? My Method is hardly ever the default when you start off the vehicle. What very good is having a personalized placing if you have to choose it just about every time you start off the vehicle?

Still, which is a pretty little grievance thinking about all the things else is so great. The clutch pedal sense is just ideal, the cue-ball shifter feels great in my hand, and equipment modifications are tremendous-enjoyable. Activity mode has computerized rev-matching, but you can turn it off. The Brembo brakes — 13.eight-inch ventilated discs up front, twelve.5-inch reliable discs at the rear — are speedy to seize but provide linear pedal sense. I definitely could travel this vehicle all working day.

It is really not a tech-rich sporting activities vehicle, however, with only blind-location checking and regular cruise manage. If you want the most current driver-aid attributes, you almost certainly aren’t browsing for a Mustang in any case.

But just simply because the Bullitt won’t have any driving aids won’t imply it really is devoid of tech. My tester has an eight-inch touchscreen jogging Ford’s easy-to-use Sync 3 infotainment technique with Apple CarPlay and Android Car. The optional navigation technique attributes a person-box entry so I only require to enter “ice product” and I get a list of nearby destinations for deliciousness. I also like that the “Exactly where am I?” feature offers latitude and longitude coordinates as well as the nearest street. (I’m a map geek, what can I say?)

The cue-ball shifter is a person of the very best factors about the Bullitt’s interior.


Emme Hall/Roadshow

Though the Sync 3 technique is pretty person-welcoming, the display screen is occasionally laggy, typically when clicking on an icon that I haven’t applied just lately. It is really like the feature wants to be dragged from its memory banks when it was in the middle of a deep rest.

The twelve-inch reconfigurable gauge cluster is pretty dope, in particular with the ribbon tachometer unfold across the display screen. This is also the place the Mustang’s Observe Applications stay, with pages for a timer, accelerometer, brake overall performance, lap timer and launch manage.

As for charging, there is a USB-A and twelve-volt outlet up front and a person of each individual in the centre armrest, as well. There are no charging ports for rear seat travellers, which is no major deal simply because, my lord, why would anyone at any time want to sit again there? When I fold my reasonably slender 5-foot, 9-inch body into the again seat I obtain my head is touching the rear glass. The driver’s seat is pushed most of the way forward and I have the tiniest little bit of legroom, but I would only put a kid or my worst enemy again there. The rear seat is superior applied as a secondary cargo space in addition to the 13.5 cubic-foot trunk. Base line, the Mustang is tight. If you require much more area, search at the greater Dodge Challenger.

The Bullitt is an $eight,000 up grade above a Mustang GT Quality.


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The major downside to the Bullitt is that it really is an $eight,000 upcharge above a Mustang GT Quality. The as-analyzed value on my example is $fifty two,595, which include $one,095 for destination. And given that the Bullitt only gets 14 miles per gallon city, 23 mpg freeway and 17 mpg blended, you will find a $one,000 gasoline guzzler tax extra on.

The Mustang is not the only muscular sport coupe close to, possibly. I have normally been a lover of the Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody, however it sort of drives like a boat. The Chevrolet Camaro offers a six.2-liter V8 motor with Bullitt degrees of energy, and in the immortal phrases of The Useless Milkmen, is thoroughly bitchin’.

Ford also offers sportier Mustangs, don’t neglect: the Shelby GT350 and GT500. Both of those are much more high-priced, but they are significantly superior in phrases of handling and provide much more energy, to boot. But they are also diverse cars and trucks for diverse functions. And the Bullitt is just so amazing.

All the things from the Bullitt’s eco-friendly paint to the snazzy wheels to the rumbling exhaust pays homage to the Mustang’s movie-vehicle heritage and its legendary put in American lifestyle. It may possibly not be the fastest, very best-handling Mustang, but it really is very easily my favored.