2011 Ford Mustang Car Review

Two all-new engines—a V-6 and a V-8—promise to make the Mustang lineup a lot more exciting for 2011. Although the 2011 Ford Mustang isn’t fully redesigned, it’s extensively refreshed, with a new line of powertrains, new power steering, and suspension changes that altogether guarantee that it’s going to be faster, more fuel-efficient and, likely, more fun to drive.

While the 2011 Mustang has changed little on the outside, this year marks the return of the ’5.0’ badge, which alone is likely to bring back waves of nostalgia for anyone aged 30 to 60. By the mid-to-late ’80s, the Mustang GT, with its stout 225-horse 5.0, was arguably the king of the pony cars and faster than many sports cars costing much more. In addition to those prominent fender badges declaring it’s a ’5.0,’ the new GT gets a higher 160-mph speedometer and three new colors: Yellow Blaze Tri-Coat, Race Red, and Ingot Silver. Inside, the changes include some additional soundproofing and new door seals, plus an upgraded instrument cluster, including a 160-mph speedometer and 8,000-rpm tach. Ford’s MyKey system will be offered on the Mustang for the first time for 2011, along with a garage-door opener, message center, and new blind-spot aids for the mirrors.

The Mustang received a complete refresh last year, for 2010, which most notably included completely reshaped sheetmetal on the outside, giving Mustang models a leaner yet more aggressive look. On the inside, the Mustang’s look has evolved somewhat but remains very retro, with deep-dish gauges, contrasting with a thoroughly modern center stack and updated audio controls.

Base Mustangs get a new all-aluminum 3.7-liter DOHC V-6, producing an impressive 305 horsepower and 280 pound-feet. The new 3.7-liter engine in the 2011 Mustang, part of Ford’s Duratec family, uses Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) and a Direct Acting Mechanical Bucket (DAMB) valvetrain to vary valve control through the rev range (up to 7,000 rpm) and achieve a three percent improvement in fuel efficiency and ten percent more power versus the same engine without this technology. Highway ratings with the new engine will be as high as 30 mpg, and it uses regular, not premium, gasoline. The 2010 Mustang GT packs a new 5.0-liter V-8 good for 412 horsepower, and rumbles to life with the sound of an old big-block muscle car yet revs happily to its redline. Almost as significant to budget-minded buyers today is that the new Mustang GT achieves a projected 25 mpg on the highway. Also contributing to the fuel-economy improvements are a new electric power-steering system, which manages feel responsive yet track well, and a host of small aerodynamic enhancements. Two new six-speed transmissions (versus five-speeds for 2010) come with either engine, and a limited-slip differential and new suspension settings will help take advantage of the boost in power. To help handle the added power, the 2011 Mustang V-6 gets revised damper tuning and spring rates, plus a new rear lower control arm and stiffened stabilizer-bar bushings; Ford also adjusted the car’s front/rear aerodynamic balance to help the Mustang feel more "planted." It also gets larger brake rotors—11.5 inches in front and 11.8 in back.

Seating in the 2011 Mustang is quite low and snug, though both convertibles and coupes have plenty of trunk space. Convertibles have a tight-fitting soft top that is power-actuated but requires two manual release levers. Ford has made various improvements both to overall noise and vibration control in both GT and V-6 models, and the convertible has received improvements for a stiffer body structure, with improved bracing, but we still recommend the coupe for enthusiasts.

To match the higher output of the engine, the new Mustang GT will get larger brakes, plus stiffer rear suspension settings. The 2011 Mustang GT also gets the Electric Power Steering System (EPAS), which Ford is in the process of phasing in through its entire lineup. Although Ford hasn’t yet detailed feature changes, the 2010 Ford Mustang GT will offer a wide range of features, including integrated blind spot mirrors, a universal garage-door opener, and Ford’s MyKey programmable vehicle key system. Beginning in August, a Performance Package will be offered on the V-6, bringing the lower axle ratio plus 19-inch wheels, a strut tower brace, summer performance tires, a sport mode for the stability control, and the firmer suspension from the Mustang GT. We strongly recommend this package, but for an even bigger bang for the buck the Brembo brake package costs just $1,695 and incorporates the larger rotors (14-inch discs in front) and calipers used in the Shelby GT500 Mustang, plus 19-inch matte-gray ’horseshoe’ alloys and summer performance tires.

• Awesome thrust from new V-8
• Refined, much-improved V-6
• Interior tech features—including SYNC
• Bang for the buck
• ’5.0’ badges are back

• Tight interior
• No telescopic steering adjustment
• Automatic transmission provides no manumatic mode
• Plastics could still be upgraded

Toyota has built more hybrids than any other carmaker, and it shows. The 2010 Toyota Camry’s powertrain is so smooth and unobtrusive that with the sound system working, it’s almost impossible to tell when the gasoline engine switches on and off; passenger have to look at the instrument panel display to tell for sure. Like the rest of the Camry line, the Hybrid’s ride is soft and well damped. The interior is spacious, with plenty of room for five adults and plenty of legroom in the rear. The handling is good, but the Hybrid weighs more than the standard car, so it’s not quite as nimble.

The 2010 Camry model line continues its reputation as a well-built and spacious sedan. Edmunds calls the 2010 Camry Hybrid "a hybrid that demands no sacrifices" and specifically praises the "top-notch interior, lots of amenities, and plenty of room for five."

Cars.com agrees that the Camry Hybrid can easily seat five occupants. And Mother Proof chimes in too, reporting, "The backseat is super roomy and easy to climb into," and noting also that rear-seat air-conditioning vents "keep things cool and comfy, even in August." Edmunds summarizes the interior by saying, "what it lacks in polish...the Camry Hybrid makes up for with space, quiet and comfort."

TheCarConnection.com notes that trunk space has been reduced by roughly one-third to accommodate the hybrid’s battery pack. The 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid offers 10.6 cubic feet of trunk space, against the 15.4 cubic feet found in other Camry models. Edmunds notes, "Oodles of cubbies and compartments make it a very family-friendly environment," and Cars.com points out that despite the presence of a battery pack, the "backseat does fold forward" to allow trunk access from inside the vehicle.

Hybrids sell on fuel economy, and the 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid is rated by the EPA at 33 mpg city / 34 mpg highway, for a combined rating of 34 mpg.

The Hybrid Synergy Drive system, used in the Prius and every other Toyota hybrid, is a "full hybrid" system, meaning it is capable of moving the car on electric power alone under some circumstances. The Camry Hybrid’s electric motor can power the vehicle on electricity alone, but only under gentle acceleration at speeds below 30 mph. When more power is needed and at higher speeds, the system combines power from the 40-horsepower electric motor and the 147-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, which also recharges the battery when coasting or braking.

The system is well integrated into the car, though the battery pack cuts trunk space by about one third (from 14.5 to 10.6 cubic feet).

The 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid accelerates from 0 to 60 mph "in a very respectable 8.4 seconds," Edmunds concludes. Mother Proof notes that drivers may "feel the moment when things move from electric to gas and back again," but that the car’s dynamic qualities more than compensate. "The ride and handling are no sacrifice at all. This Camry virtually glides down the road and takes turns smoothly and easily."

Since the 2010 Toyota Prius obtains a combined 50 mpg rating, Autoblog questions whether the Camry Hybrid’s fuel efficiency is high enough. Likewise, Popular Mechanics questions whether people are "willing to pay about the same for the larger Camry Hybrid as they will for the slick but smaller Prius." But Edmunds calls the 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid’s 33 mpg city / 34 mpg highway "impressive" in its own right.

The 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid is, basically, the standard midsize Camry sedan with a different and far more frugal hybrid powertrain. For the 2010 model year, Toyota has given the Camry Hybrid revised instruments and a very mild restyle that includes a unique and distinctive grille. Those changes can go unnoticed, however, and the Camry Hybrid is largely identical to non-hybrid models.

Car and Driver summarizes the 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid as "a pleasing if slightly dull vehicle" overall. The Camry Hybrid, according to Edmunds, is a "very impressive and complete sedan that now has the added benefit of an attractive price." Still, it "doesn’t make nearly as much of a green statement as the Prius," notes Car and Driver, because it’s so similar to the standard Camry.

Compared to several previous generations of Camry, the 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid is larger and has a blunter nose, which Cars.com describes as "more sculpted, angular forms". "Its looks are still fresh," says Motor Trend. Sixteen-inch aluminum wheels come standard, but Cars.com points out that options include "17-inch aluminum wheels".

Inside the 2010 Camry Hybrid, Mother Proof praises the "calming gray leather, chrome accents and cool blue dials." Edmunds specifically calls out "a very family-friendly environment" with looks that are "snazzier than in years past," not to mention the Camry Hybrid’s noise suppression, which "rivals King Tut’s tomb for quietude."

The Camry Hybrid, like most Toyotas, does well on the safety scale. It is fitted with a total of seven airbags. Electronic stability control, which Toyota calls Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM), is also standard to modulate the throttle, individual wheel brakes, and even the steering to keep the Camry Hybrid stable on slippery surfaces.

The Camry Hybrid won five stars, the highest rating, in the federal government’s crash tests, while a non-hybrid Camry was rated "good" in tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The IIHS rated that Camry "marginal" for the rear-impact test only.

Cars.com points out that the "electronic stability system," an option in other Camry models, is fitted as standard on the 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid. The 2010 Camry Hybrid also includes anti-lock brakes as standard equipment. Edmunds summarizes the count of seven airbags, "The 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid features standard front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, a driver knee airbag, antilock brakes, stability control and traction control."

Specific to the hybrid, Road & Track notes that "as part of their crashworthiness, hybrids have automatic disconnect of their high-voltage source" and that standard EMS/firefighter training now includes "where to cut into hybrids with minimal hazard."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the 2010 Camry Hybrid five stars, its highest rating, in both frontal and side crash safety. It scores almost as high in NHTSA’s rollover avoidance test, earning four out of five stars. Edmunds reports that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) "gave the Camry its highest rating of ’Good’ for frontal-offset and side collision protection."

The 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid offers so many standard features that it’s equivalent to the highest XLE trim level on a regular Camry, plus a smart-key system. Among them are dual-zone automatic climate control, a 440-Watt JBL audio system with Bluetooth, a power glass moonroof, leather interior with reclining rear seats, 16-inch aluminum wheels, and an ionizing system for interior air. Options include a navigation system, heated front seats, and heated outside mirrors.

Edmunds lists the standard features on the 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid as including "dual-zone automatic climate control" and "keyless ignition" plus much more. Motor Trend keeps the list going, saying the 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid also includes as standard "a six-speaker stereo with CD player and auxiliary input jack," along with air conditioning with a pollen and dust filter, "power windows, power locks, automatic halogen headlights, [and] vehicle immobilizer."

Mother Proof notes approvingly that, "Power seats adjust in every direction, and the steering wheel tilts and telescopes into the perfect piloting position," adding that the steering wheel contains "controls for the stereo and phone." Satellite radio and a DVD navigation system round out the list of feature.