With 305 horsepower at your disposal, a stainless-steel dual exhaust, and a drop top to match, the 2014 Ford Mustang V6 Premium Convertible truly is fun in the sun. No doubt, the car was a blast, top up or down. $27,200 base, $31,300 as tested, EPA fuel economy 19 MPG city, 29 MPG highway.
Ford’s V6 Premium edition convertible Mustang features a few bells and whistles not found on the base model. For instance, my Mustang featured Dual Zone Electronic Temperature control. Basically, the driver and the passenger can select different temperature settings. With the top down, this didn’t matter much to me, but a cool feature none-the-less.
Other features of the premium package include ambient interior lighting, a four-gauge instrument cluster, including 4.2-inch LCD message center with Track Apps and Ford MyColor. The car was also equipped with an auto-dimming rear view mirror (great for night time driving), tilt-steering with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum accents. The car even featured upgraded clutch, brake and accelerator pedals.
My favorite part of the trip was putting the top down and hitting the open road. Ford has made many design improvements over the years. For instance, putting the car’s convertible top down is now a breeze. Two buttons at the top center of the car’s cockpit give you easy access to top down fun.
As for acceleration and power, the V6 Mustang had plenty. With 305 horses at my disposal, thanks for Ford’s 3.7L 4V Ti-VCT V6 Engine, I found it easy to pass the occasional Sunday driver out on the highway. Even better, the Mustang’s dual exhaust reminded me I was in an American sports car. No, it’s not nearly as throaty as a V8 Mustang, but it’s there and it does the trick just fine.
Of course, when all was said and done, I was most impressed with the car’s handling and ride quality. I drive a 2008 Bullitt Mustang on a daily basis, so I’m accustomed to a certain level of performance handling. My V6 tester held nicely to the road. Unlike other cars I’ve driven, twists and turns didn’t result in a serious degradation of handling. This convertible felt well grounded and ready to tackle whatever the road might deliver. Some of the credit goes to technology such as Ford’s selectable electronic power assist steering (EPAS), which automatically adjusts steering to deliver precise responses at high speeds and reduced steering effort at slower speeds when needed. Three settings are available: Standard, Sport, and Comfort.
In addition to the car’s impressive handling, the ride quality was equally impressive. The occasional bump in the road was anything but jarring and cabin noise with the top down was less than expected. If there’s any downside to this, exterior road noise was a bit louder with the top up than in other convertibles I've tested. Of course, being that it's a convertible, most owners will spend a good amount of time with the top down. If you’re looking for a quieter interior all around, maybe you’d be better suited purchasing a coupe.
I’ve driven quite a few convertible Mustangs over the years, and I’ve driven my fair share of V6 models. The last time I tested a V6 convertible was back in 2008. At the time I said, “The best thing about the 2008 Mustang Convertible is the driving experience. On the open road the V6 engine kept things exciting.” The same can be said about the 2014 model. Of course, things like a dual exhaust and improved horsepower make the newer model even more fun than back in 2008.
That said, I was very impressed with Ford’s 2014 V6 Convertible Mustang. Its handling was impressive, I was able to hold a conversation with the top down, and a few folks told me how much they liked the car’s exterior. In fact, some kids yelled, “Nice car Mister!” as I drove through a residential neighborhood on the last day of my test. “It’s only a V6,” I thought. Then I thought again. “A V6 with 305 horsepower and a dual exhaust.” Ok, that is pretty nice.
If there’s a downside to this car, it’s that blind spots are still prevalent with the top up. For instance, I had a difficult time seeing objects to the rear left and right of the car. The car also lacks trunk space, and, as I mentioned earlier, road noise with the top up could also be a bit of an issue with some folks. But overall, Ford really hit the mark this time around with their 2014 V6 convertible. If I were in the market to buy one, I would definitely fork over my hard earned cash.
