Ford Mustang V6: A Closer Look at Performance and Legacy

Introduction to the Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang has been around for over five decades, and during its long life, it has been the best pony car ever sold. Christened after a World War 2 fighter aircraft, when most people think of the Mustang, they only hear a V8 burble. However, since its second-generation avatar appeared in the mid-1970s, Ford has been offering the Mustang with V6 engines as well.

Generations of the Ford Mustang

From the 1970s up until 2017, Mustangs continued to be sold with different types and sizes of six-cylinder engines under the hood. The sixth generation of the Ford Mustang will be the last of the breed to be powered by a V6. Launched in 2015, the latest-gen Mustang improved upon its predecessors with better aerodynamics, newer technologies, and driving aids, as well as a new set of turbocharged four-cylinder engines.

Performance of the Ford Mustang V6

Ford's highly-acclaimed EcoBoost motors were more than powerful for a Mustang and were technologically far superior to the V6 they replaced. At the time, the 2017 Mustang was still available with a 3.7-liter, naturally-aspirated six-cylinder petrol engine. This engine came with dual overhead cams and multi-point fuel injection, was transversely mounted in the engine bay, and drove the rear wheels.

• Engine Capacity: 3,726 cc
• Max RPM: 6,500
• Power Output: 300 hp
• Torque: 379 Nm at 4,000 rpm

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Transmission and Acceleration

The Ford Mustang V6 could be optioned with either a manual or automatic transmission, and both were 6-speed units. The Mustang V6 automatic could finish the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 5.5 seconds, reaching a top speed of around 181 km/h. While the V6-powered Mustangs were undoubtedly more fuel-efficient than their V8 counterparts, they were also considered more frugal compared to their manual gearbox-aided siblings.

Performance Comparison

In terms of outright performance, there wasn’t much difference between the manual and automatic cars. For example:

1. Mustang V6 with automatic transmission: 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 5.5 seconds
2. Mustang V6 with manual transmission: 0 to 100 km/h in around 5.4 seconds (a tenth quicker than the automatic)

The only noticeable difference was in fuel economy. The Ford Mustang V6 with the manual transmission averaged about 11.2 L/100 km, while the automatic could manage 10.7 L/100 km. The automatic variant was more efficient, making it easier to drive in everyday scenarios.

Legacy of the Ford Mustang V6

When compared to the present-day EcoBoost four-cylinder, the naturally-aspirated six-cylinder sounded much better, and is widely regarded as being more reliable and rugged than the engine it replaced. However, the truth of the matter is that the 3.7-liter V6-powered Mustangs were considered less cool and were almost never a favorite among the muscle car community.

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This was not just because of the crowd-favorite 5.0-liter V8, but the V6 was doomed as soon as the 2.3-liter EcoBoost motor took center stage. Nevertheless, it’s not all bad news for those who still own a V6-powered ‘stang, as the smooth-six is now being looked back on with nostalgia by the very folks who didn’t appreciate it when it was available.