2022 Ford Mustang Mach 1
“When dinosaurs roamed the earth” is a popular expression that occurred to me often as I was enjoying the 2022 Ford Mustang Mach 1. This wonderful car might not be an actual dinosaur, but it is certainly facing extinction.
Too bad, because the latest Mach 1 is a joy to drive.
For the record, Ford, along with numerous other automotive manufacturers, has pledged to halt the production and sale of gasoline and diesel powered cars in major markets by 2035. So there probably won’t be any new V8 powered Ford Mustangs for sale in a few years (I’d be surprised if any were offered for sale after 2025, candidly).
Thankfully, you can still buy V8 Mustangs now, and my recent experience with the best one currently available, the Mach 1, was exceptionally pleasant.
The best thing about the Mach 1 is undoubtedly its engine, the same 480HP 5.0L naturally aspirated V8 used in the (no longer available) Bullitt Mustang. Loud, revvy, and seriously potent, this gem of a motor sings, especially high in the rev range. And when paired with the stout Tremec 6-speed manual borrowed from the Shelby GT350—OMG please don’t get the 10-speed automatic in this car!—it loves to boogie.
The best boogie-ing is found when you head out to a lightly traveled and twisty back road near you and GO. The engine springs to life, and you’ll find yourself shifting up and down through the gears more than necessary. And you’ll smile because, in 2022, this Ford is as fun to drive as any other new car on the market, regardless of price.
The manual transmission’s no-lift-shift and rev-matching features (for up- and downshifting, respectively) absolutely enhance the experience, by the way.
Despite its impressive athleticism, the Mach 1 is docile around town—although its loud exhaust note may annoy your neighbors—and quite comfortable on the highway. The relatively tall sixth gear helps keep the revs (and noise levels) down while cruising, something I wish the BMW M3/M4 and Subaru WRX STi were better at.
Is the Mach 1 the perfect automotive all arounder? No. It’s tough to get into and out of, the rear seats are microscopic, and there’s not much trunk space. And then there’s its fuel consumption problem noted below.
The exterior design is best described as classic Mustang, updated. Deliberately evocative of the first- and second-generation fastback Mustangs, the current model manages to blend many contemporary styling cues with some retro touches in a way that even non-Ford fans would likely find attractive. The current generation Mustang dates back to 2015, and its look has aged very well for a seven-year-old design.
The same can’t be said for the Mach 1’s interior, which is starting to look old. The digital indicators and gauges are generally ok, although the dual screens ahead and to the right of the driver are smaller and more difficult to see than I’d like, and the whole thing just looks seven years old, which it is.
What would an ideal Mach 1 dashboard look like? Umm, probably a lot like what you’ll find in the current Mustang Mach-E.
One observation that I’ve made about performance versions of other “normal” cars like the Subaru WRX STi also applies to the Mach 1: taking a $35,000 car and turning it into a $50,000 - $60,000 car for enthusiasts means that your fancy sports car ends up with a mostly entry level interior. It’s not ugly or bad, but it’s not the same as what you’ll find in a $50,000 BMW or Audi either.
If you guessed that a 480HP V8 engine is not going to produce excellent fuel economy figures, you’d be correct. The Mach 1’s numbers are, gulp, 14MPG City/22MPG Highway.
Pricing starts at around $54,000, but loading it up with options can easily add $10,000 or more to the MSRP. My two cents on speccing your Mach 1: unless you plan to track your car, the $3500 Handling Package (with its sticky Michelin Pilot Cup Sport 2 tires) and $1600 Recaro seats are probably unnecessary.
Despite guzzling fuel and lacking a lot of space for people or things, the Mustang Mach 1 is Big Fun to drive and own. It’s one of the last cars you can buy with a V8 and manual transmission, and when it goes the way of the dinosaurs it probably won’t come back. Get one while you can.
Note for readers: A trauma surgeon friend and I have launched an automotive podcast that may interest you. It’s called, “Cars on Call”, and it features discussions about a myriad of automotive subjects from two physicians’ perspective. It’s available on Apple, Spotify, and other platforms, and I hope you give it a listen.