5 BEST / 5 WORST Mustangs of the 21st Century!

Good and Bad

The Ford Mustang is easily one of the most iconic vehicles to ever exist, but like most, it hasn't always been terribly desirable - or capable. As most pony car fans are well aware, there have been some dark times in Mustang history, and that even applies to more modern models from the 21st century. Thus, we've rounded up our own personal take on the five best Mustangs of this century, as well as the five worst.

5th Worst - 2000-2004 Ford Mustang GT 4.6L 2V

Pretty much everyone loves the New Edge Mustang and its great exterior design, and it goes without saying that the Terminator Cobra variants are incredible cars that respond insanely well to modifications.

However, the same cannot be said about the 2000-2004 Mustang GT equipped with the two-valve 4.6-liter V8.

Don't get us wrong - these are reliable cars that still exhibit that traditional V8 muscle car sound. We still love them, and they're great cruisers. But they just aren't easy to coax a lot of power out of, and that makes them a bit less desirable in a world where so many other pony cars do.

Photos: Ford

5th Best - 2012-2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca

When the Boss 302 returned in 2012, it did so to much fanfare, and for good reason - not only is the Boss an iconic nameplate in the pony car world, it was also a fantastic track-focused machine in its own right. However, the limited-edition Laguna Seca turned things up a notch by representing the best-handling solid rear axle Mustang of all time.

The Boss 302 Laguna Seca provides its lucky owners with one of the rawest, most honest experiences out there, particularly when it comes to the way it sounds and looks.

Photos: Ford

4th Worst - 2015+ Ford Mustang EcoBoost

The S550 generation Mustang EcoBoost was a necessary car in a world where younger folks and rental car companies exist. And in all fairness to the non-V8 fans out there, it's also punchy and very much responsive to mods, the independent suspension provides excellent ride quality, plus it's obviously more efficient than the Coyote V8.

However, the inline-four cylinder powerplant also doesn't sound quite as great to our ears, nor does it rev terribly high, making for a less than optimal pony car experience, overall.

TLDR: Not a bad Mustang, just not a great one either.

Photos: Ford

4th Best - 2021-2023 Ford Mustang Mach 1

The S550-generation also saw the return of the Mach 1, which is another beloved nameplate from Mustang history. The track-focused machine was essentially replaced by the (admittedly) sharper Dark Horse for the S650 generation, but the Mach 1 is darn near every bit as good - personally, we think it looks better - and it can be had for much less money at the moment, too.

On top of that, the Mach 1 got a lot of Shelby GT350 goodies, including its suspension, Tremec transmission, and cooling system, but with the more reliable Gen 3 5.0-liter Coyote V8 instead of the problematic 5.2-liter Voodoo V8.

Photos: Ford

3rd Worst - 2011-2017 Ford Mustang 3.8L V6

The rental car-grade Mustang that preceded the arrival of the EcoBoost was the very first Mustang to make 305 horsepower and get 30 mpg. It was the very first Mustang V6 that wasn't a total dog, thanks to a naturally aspirated 3.7L Cyclone V6 that has come to be revered for its reliability. Because you have to remember, just one model year earlier, the 4.6L 3V V8 put out only 315 horsepower, and now the base motor V6 was boasting 305.

With optional Track Packs, the 3.7L Mustang isn't shove-you-in-your-seat fast, but with less weight over the front axle, it was more playful than the V8 in corners.

Alas, the 11-14 cars suffered from solid rear axles, while the 15-17 models weren't available with a premium trim. And any money spent modifying them would be better spent saving up for a V8. And, as such, while we kinda love these Mustangs, they're not quite as good as the EcoBoost or any of the V8 cars. 

Photos: Ford

3rd Best - 2013-2014 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

One can easily make the argument that the S197 generation Shelby GT500 is the last true Mustang muscle car, as it touted a whopping (and eye-opening at the time) 662 horsepower from its supercharged 5.8-liter V8, and also, a solid rear axle. One could only get a manual transmission in this GT500 as well, making it a proper modern classic - and most likely the reason why Hellcats exist, too.

Photos: Ford

2nd Worst - 2005-2010 Ford Mustang 4.0L V6

Here we have another base pony car, also from the S197 generation, that just didn't do much of anything well. It's not terribly quick, not very economical, and also not terribly comfortable, making for an all-round underwhelming ownership experience.

To be fair, auto journalists at the time were impressed with the moderate bump in horsepower. And it's got the handsome retro styling of the S197 generation going for it. But it's clear that Ford positioned this car at younger folks and rental car agencies, and not enthusiasts.

Photos: Ford

2nd Best - 2020-2023 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

One could make the argument that the Shelby GT500 from the S550 generation is the best road/track pony car to ever exist - at least, until the GTD and Dark Horse SC came along. It was also reasonably priced when new - though Track Pack cars were hard to find and often marked up.

These days, the last Ford-built GT500 is gaining in value, but it's still a pretty solid bargain in terms of bang for the buck.

Photos: Ford

Worst - 2000-2004 Ford Mustang 3.8L V6

Speaking of boring, rental car-grade cars, the V6-powered Mustang from the New Edge generation is about as ho-hum as they get. Slow and soulless, these 3.8-liter V6-powered machines are throwaway cars in today's world, which at least makes them attractive to folks looking for a cheap mode of transportation that has a Mustang badge on it.

As Mustang enthusiasts, we love all Mustangs. And these latter-SN95 models are certainly better than almost anything you could find in the 1970s and 1980s. But for a 21st-century Mustang, they're not the ones we'd recommend buying.

Photos: Ford

Best - 2015-2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R

While the Voodoo has its issues, there's no denying that the S550 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R is the purest pony car experience that has existed since Carroll Shelby was cranking out race cars. It revs to the moon, and came equipped with an adaptive suspension, carbon fiber wheels, giant sticky tires, and a manual transmission that shifted smoothly above 8,000 rpm - but nothing else one doesn't need, meaning that it was 100 pounds lighter than the standard GT350.

Photos: Ford