When you say Ford Mustang, it can conjure up a very wide and different array of iconic models in peoples head. Most will probably associate the name with a V-8 coupe of some sort or maybe an old-school muscle car, but nowadays you can buy the Mustang as a drop-top four-cylinder. And, we bet you aren’t yet convinced whether one is worth the money or not.

Well, it depends a lot on what you plan to do with your new Mustang. If you want to have a fast daily that’s properly quick, you get the V8-powered GT. Meanwhile, if you want to take your car to regular track days, you spring for the GT350R, widely acknowledged as being the best car ever to bear a Mustang badge. So, where does that leave the Mustang convertible with a four-pot? It’s for people who don’t want to go around corners at crazy speeds faster than the next car just have to out-accelerate most cars on the road.

It has softer suspension than the hardtop, and because it has no roof, it doesn’t have the coupe’s structural rigidity. This translates into a far more relaxed driving experience where you are not edged to drive faster, brake later, and whip the car’s tail out at every opportunity. It can still do all these things very well, but when you subject it to them, the feedback it provides you suggests it is not enjoying the treatment.

As a swift cruiser that looks great and, maybe more importantly, you look cool in, there are few better cars out there for the money. Its turbocharged engine is pokey enough to make any overtaking maneuver a breeze, and because it is downsized, it returns much better efficiency numbers compared to the V-8. The automatic gearbox on our tester could have been snappier, and even though this convertible is a really relaxed flavor of Mustang, getting it with the six-speed stick makes a lot of sense.

2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible Video Review

Other people who have driven the car seem to unanimously agree with our findings after driving the drop-top EcoBoost Mustang. The car has enough power, it’s still fun to drive even with the poorer chassis rigidity, it’s comfortable, it looks really cool especially if specced right and you can get over the lack of a sonorous V-8 engine note when you think about just how more efficient the EcoBoost is. It has a completely different audience - people who would buy this turbo drop-top would never look at the more hardcore coupe variants, and the same applies the other way around. Everybody seems to be on the same page about recommending it, just don’t expect the sharpest handling cabriolet out there - it isn’t.

Is the 2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible a Good Car?

It definitely is a good car if you’re not looking for the last word in flat cornering and just outright sportiness. If you view the Ford Mustang convertible EcoBoost as a surprisingly long-legged, efficient drop top cruiser with a hint of corner exit oversteer, then the answer is an emphatic yes. Just keep your expectations in check - it’s much more cruiser than it is corner carver and for some people that might be the best thing in the world. Plus it’s not a bad car by any means, and this facelifted model that we tried also looks and feels more upmarket than before, one of the biggest complaints with the pre-facelift Mustang.

How Fast is the 2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible?

Well, it’s fast enough and certainly faster than you might think when you hear all it runs is a 2.3-liter four-cylinder. However, it puts out 310 horsepower and 350 pound-feet / 474 Nm of torque and that’s nothing to sneeze at. With these figures, the Mustang Convertible Ecoboost sprints to sixty in well under six seconds, so you won’t be left wanting for more shove. The ten-speed automatic transmission the engine was paired to on our tester does an admirable job of making the most of what power and torque there are. You will usually find it shifts up and wants to keep revs low when left to its own devices, but you can shift gears manually via steering wheel-mounted paddles - you might thing shifting through ten gears might be confusing or daunting, but through the way they are spaced, you’ll only be using the first six gears. Shifts in normal mode are smooth, but when you put it in the sport mode, they get a lot more noticeable and not necessarily in a good way.

2019 Ford Mustang 4-cylinder Convertible specifications

Should I Buy the 2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible?

Again, picking a Mustang Convertible EcoBoost is only for those who mainly like to cruise around, so in that respect yes, it’s very recommendable. It looks really good in person and any person that sits inside it looks good. It’s perhaps more of a style statement than other Mustang variants, but for the right person it’s definitely a good buy. And that right person will most likely get one with the automatic gearbox. Buying one used makes a lot of sense because depreciation works in your favor here and there are also those who may not like the post-facelift Mustang front fascia and will be forced to look at a used one.

How Much Does the 2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible Cost?

Ford will sell you the base Mustang Convertible EcoBoost from $31,895, but if you want a really nice one with more bells and whistles, then you should be willing to part with $36,910 for a premium example, like our tester. The extra $5,000 gets you interior mood lighting, digital gauge cluster, heated and cooled perforated leather front seats, as well as the Enhanced Security Package. But even the base drop-top turbo Mustang comes well specced with standard full-LED headlights, keyless entry and button start, active noise cancellation, a lockable center console storage cubby and a lockable glove box and the base version of the SYNC infotainment.

2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible vs. The Competition

The Mustang doesn’t really have that many rivals because it is about the size of an Audi A5, Mercedes C-Class or a BMW 4-Series, yet it’s considerably cheaper than those cars and about as fast in a straight line. Its only real rival is the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible.

Which is Better: the 2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible or the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 2.0 Turbo Convertible?

The Ford Mustang Convertible EcoBoost’s main rival is the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible with the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. The Chevy is slightly down on power compared to the Ford, however it is actually the more fun to drive of the two and it definitely rewards the keen driver more. And even if it drives more like a sports car, the Camaro drop top actually looks more like a traditional muscle car, so buyers looking for that classic look may be tempted to go for the Camaro. The Mustang looks and feels European by comparison, which is not a bad thing, it’s just different and addresses a different crowd.

2019 Ford Mustang vs. 2019 CHevrolet Camaro

Which is Better: 2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible or the 2019 BMW 430i Convertible?

Since Ford has imbued its new Mustang with a distinctly European energy, it should be measured by something of comparable size and power from an established manufacturer based on the Old Continent. The BMW 430i fits that description, and its $53,100 starting price makes the Mustang look like it’s extremely good value, plus it’s also faster in base spec too. However, the difference you pay over the Mustang to get the 4-Series convertible goes to superior handling, an interior that is better in every single way (apart from retro design cues), superior efficiency and higher resale values. I think these cars have been cross-shopped a few times, especially since for the kind of money you pay for the BMW, you can have the V8-powered GT version of the Mustang that makes up for some of its shortcomings with its powerful (and loud) engine.

2019 Ford Mustang 4-cylinder Convertible vs. 2019 BMW 430i Convertible

2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible Interior

Ford has significantly improved the interior of the Mustang as part of the mid lifecycle refresh. It got a new instrument binnacle, different center console trim, revised seat upholstery designs and some material improvements. The overall effect is pleasing and the facelift has certainly not ruined the undeniably cool retro appeal of the Mustang’s interior. One gripe still remains: the level of perceived quality of the interior is far below that of the premium cars in its size and performance bracket.

2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible and Child Car Seats

Fitting a child seat onto any of the rear seat mounting points is far easier in the convertible than it is in the coupe - only when the top is down, though, because otherwise you have to seriously contort your body in order to get into the rear passenger compartment. So, in theory, you could fit two child seats in a Mustang convertible quite easily.

2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible Interior Quality

There is nothing to shout about when it comes to the quality of the Mustang’s interior. It’s not bad - there are no flimsy bits or really nasty materials, but at the same time it’s really no better than you’d find in a much smaller and cheaper Ford, the new Fiesta. In fact, I think the new Fiesta’s interior feels of more high quality than that of the Mustang, although the Mustang does win out on interior design.

2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

Ford’s latest version of its proprietary infotainment system, SYNC 3, is better than any version before it. That’s not to say it’s now a class leading system, because it isn’t. But unlike previous SYNC systems, this one is not frustrating, it has a clear menu structure and it feels like it has just enough processing power to run everything needed. It is displayed onto a 12-inch screen that dominates the center console and there really isn’t more to say about it - it’s OK.

2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible Performance

2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible Engine

The Ford Mustang Convertible EcoBoost has a 2.3-liter inline-four engine fed by a single turbocharger to achieve 310 horsepower (in the U.S., because the European version is rated at 290 horses) at 5,500 rpm. Torque is plentiful 350 pound-feet / 474 Nm and it peaks at 3,500 rpm, giving the car a muscular feel if you accelerate when the revs are hovering around that value. It hits sixty in 5.3 seconds and it can do the quarter-mile from a standstill in just over 14 seconds. The unit itself is related to the one that powered the Ford Focus RS, however in the Mustang it doesn’t sound anywhere near as raucous in stock form - but it probably can be made to sound better with an aftermarket intake and exhaust upgrade combo.

2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible Gas Mileage: Average Ratings

Ford claims you the drop-top turbo Mustang returns 20 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway and while the latter is vaguely achievable, the in-town claim is much harder to get close to without maximum restraint.

2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible Ride and Handling

If you’re looking for a comfortable drop-top to enjoy the sun in, then the Mustang Convertible is a good choice. This new generation is the first ever Mustang with fully-independent rear suspension and this has a dramatic effect on how the car rides compared to the previous generation model. On the smaller wheels, it’s quite plush and it irons out most bumps with ease. However, the obvious tradeoff is in the handling department - the soft suspension results in roll through the corners and the steering is nothing to write home about either; it’s vague and dull by sports car standards, although it’s accurate enough to keep the job of steering the car from becoming a chore.

2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible Reliability

Is the 2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible Reliable?

The Mustang has a decent reliability record in the U.S. and Ford as a brand is about middle of the pack in customer satisfaction surveys. The 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine is known for propensity for head gasket leakages, but this issue strictly applies to the Ford Focus RS hot hatch and it has to do with Ford actually using a wrong head gasket on units destined to go in the Focus.

2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible Warranty

Ford sells the Mustang Convertible Ecoboost with a standard three-year or 36,000-mile warranty and an extended five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible Safety

2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible Crash Test Results

When the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tested the pre-facelift Mustang Convertible back in 2015, it was rated as Good in all areas but the small overlap crash (where it received an Acceptable rating) and was therefore deemed a safe car.

However, when the (theoretically safer) Mustang coupe was tested in Europe by Euro NCAP, it was given two stars out of five and back then it was not available with crash mitigation tech that has since been added.

2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible Safety Features

The 2019 Ford Mustang can be had with a decent suite of safety aids. It has dual front airbags, side airbags, driver’s knee airbag as well as one integrated into the glove box door to protect the passenger’s lower legs in an impact. If you want pre-collision assist, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, auto high beams, autonomous emergency braking and forward collision warning, you will have to opt for the $1,000 Ford Safe and Smart Package - this is an option box well worth ticking when speccing up your future Mustang.

Which Ford Mustang is Right for Me?

2019 Ford Mustang GT350R

The Mustang GT350R coupe is the exact opposite of the EcoBoost Convertible. It is stiff, grippy and far more precise. It is the epitome of the current Mustang lineup and some say the best Mustang ever made, so if over 500 horsepower, clever magnetic shock absorbers and actual sporty bits that not only make the car look cool but actually have an effect on its performance are up your alley, then sign your name up for one. Sure, you don’t have the limitless headroom of a drop-top, but really everything else about it is much better - it’s a proper enthusiast pleaser, the GT350R.

Read our full review on the 2019 Ford Mustang GT350R

2019 Ford Mustang GT Convertible

Probably the best compromise if you want the growl of a V8 but the extra sunshine of a convertible is the Mustang GT Convertible. Its 5.0-liter V8 engine makes 460 horsepower and the soundtrack is incomparably better than that of the EcoBoost version. And with that extra power, it is much faster in a straight line, but it isn’t any better through the corners - in fact, with the extra weight over the front wheels, its handling is worse than that of the more nimble turbo model. So if you can live without the V8 soundtrack and intend to just use the Mustang for cruising around and taking in the sun (and other people’s gazes), then maybe you should stick to the EcoBoost mainly because it is considerably more economical to run.

Read our full review on the 2019 Ford Mustang GT Convertible

Final Thoughts

If you don’t approach the 2019 Ford Mustang Convertible EcoBoost thinking it’s a drop top sports car, then you may actually like it. You should also not expect German levels of build and perceived quality. It doesn’t handle as well as similar cars from premium manufacturers either, but it is considerably cheaper and it has an unbeatable image. Nothing sounds cooler than mentioning you have a Mustang and for that reason alone (and also the fact that given its asking price it is really good value), the EcoBoost convertible is an intriguing choice for a quick drop top cruiser not aimed at canyon carvers.

2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Convertible Photo Gallery