2008 Ford Mustang

Many reviewers applaud the retro styling and feel-good ambiance of the Ford Mustang, called by some the ideal American muscle car. However, critics say the interior styling doesn't match the eye-catching exterior, and materials could be of better quality. The sportier car is the Mustang GT, with its 300-hp V8 engine, and many auto writers strongly recommend it over the base 210-hp V6 version of the Mustang. Handling is good, but many insist it could be greatly improved if the Mustang would replace its old-technology solid rear axle with an independent suspension. The firm ride gets mixed reviews; some call it appropriate and compliant, while others say it is jiggly and uncontrolled.

For 2008, the Mustang gets standard side-impact airbags and scores an impressive 5-star rating in frontal and side-impact crash tests. There's a certain coarseness and lack of refinement in the Mustang that is mentioned by many reviewers, who say shoppers could look at front-wheel-drive coupes like the Scion tC (*est. $15,300 to $17,800) or Pontiac G6 (*est. $18,765 to $30,210). The 2008 Dodge Challenger (*est. $37,320) is targeted more at the high-performance Mustang variants, such as the aforementioned GT and the Shelby GT500 (*est. $42,330 to $47,155).

While there are many reviews and comparison tests featuring the new Shelby models, we searched for articles that covered the mass-production base Mustang and GT. One of the most complete articles was from NewCarTestDrive.com, which makes references to each Mustang variant and includes driving impressions. Edmunds.com, Kelley Blue Book and others provide good reviews, with a well-balanced discussion of pros and cons. Cars.com and Ifcar.net include the Mustang on their "Recommended" lists.