2010 Ford Mustang Quality Review

The Ford Mustang nameplate carries a rich history and brings to mind countless images, most of which are positive. One of the resounding negatives, however, has been the interior quality, which for decades has lagged behind both expectations and the Mustang Ford's competitors. For the 2010 Ford Mustang, Ford has made a concerted effort to boost quality, and reviews read by TheCarConnection.com show that it was a stunning success.

The seating arrangement inside the 2010 Ford Mustang is adequately comfortable, but it definitely won't be confused with a luxury coupe. Up front, Autoblog says that the Ford Mustang's "seats are comfortable and offer decent thigh support, but they could use more lateral support." Consumer Guide remarks that the front cabin offers "good headroom and legroom, but the cabin feels cozy due to low seats, a high dashtop, and tall windowsills." Edmunds notes that Ford has made an effort to improve driver comfort in Ford Mustangs equipped with the Premier package by including "a power-adjustable driver seat." Although the front is passably comfortable in the new Mustang, Ford won't pretend that the rear seats of this 2+2 are meant to boost adult carrying capacity to four. According to Consumer Guide, the rear is "inhospitable for adults with little room, an uncomfortable seat, and back-straining entry and exit."

Sports coupes like the 2010 Ford Mustang generally aren't known for their cargo capacity, with the possible exception of the Chevrolet Corvette, but the new Ford Mustang surprises with its available space. ConsumerGuide reports that "coupe cargo space is good for the class" thanks to the fact that the "trunklids open wide on non-intruding hinges." However, Consumer Guide also comments that "cabin storage is sparse, with the door map pockets being almost useless," although a "lockable console bin is a nice touch."

One of the biggest improvements for the new Ford Mustang comes in the interior, where quality is up markedly over the outgoing 2009 model. Car and Driver is impressed with the new "instrument panel that stretches from door to door and from the base of the windshield to the top of the center console," a new "thermoplastic olefin molding [that] feels squishy and looks rich." Jalopnik reviewers also like the new "big boy interior," which ConsumerGuide calls a "big step up from previous Mustangs."

All new 2010 Mustang Fords come with "soft touch plastics, greater sound deadening and shiny new instruments," according to reviewers at Jalopnik. Motor Trend also notes that "going from multipiece to single and hard plastic to TOP cures the creaks and squeaks of the previous Mustang."

Another major upgrade for the 2010 Ford Mustang comes in the form of better sound insulation, which eliminates unwanted road noise and emphasizes the roar of the engine. Combined with the improved ride quality, it makes the Mustang experience feel much more upscale than before. Autoblog says that "changes like reshaping the mirrors, moving the radio antenna from the front fender to the rear quarter and moving the windshield washer nozzles behind the trailing edge of the hood all cut wind noise inside the cabin," and the "result is that the sonic signature of the Mustang's 4.6L V8 has now been enhanced." Edmunds reports that the changes mean "wind noise is down 12 percent," making for a more comfortable cruising environment.