Ford Mustang stands alone
The Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Dodge Challenger used to be the pinnacle of American muscle, but it seems those days have long passed. Dodge pulled the Challenger from the market following the 2023 model year. Chevy followed suit and discontinued Camaro production after January 2024. That makes the Ford Mustang the industry’s last petrol based muscle car – and it isn’t doing so well, sadly.
Mustang Mach-E outsold the American muscle car
The Ford Mustang isn’t off to a great start this year, with sales down 31.6% in the first quarter. Ford sold 13,707 Mustangs in the first three months of 2024, but that number dropped to 9,377 units in the same period this year. Sales are so bad that the Mustang Mach-E outsold the American muscle car with 11,607 examples leaving dealer lots in the first quarter.
While the two vehicles are siblings by name, that’s where their similarities end. Whereas the Mustang is a rear-wheel drive coupe, the Mustang Mach-E is an electric crossover. The Mustang starts at $31,920, while the Mustang Mach-E is a touch more expensive, starting at $36,495 before any discounts or tax credits.
The relentless march of crossovers onto American roads continues, suggesting practicality is currently king. It raises the question: is the fundamental lure of a thrilling drive, the kind a Mustang delivers, simply not resonating with buyers right now? Price and practicality always matter to some degree, but maybe the current economic climate (here in April 2025) tells a bigger story. With many folks tightening their spending, perhaps a car bought purely for the joy of driving feels like an indulgence few are willing to make at the moment.
Sure, if you boil driving down to a simple 0-to-60 sprint, the electric Mustang Mach-E Rally technically is quicker than the V8 Dark Horse. MotorTrend clocked the EV at 3.4 seconds, just edging out the V8’s respectable 3.7 second to 60 time. Numbers on a page, right? But that completely misses the soul of the experience. What those figures fail to capture is the visceral thrill, the intimate connection you feel when rowing the gears.
Related: US Electric Vehicle Sales Rise Year-Over-Year in March, Defying Tariff Uncertainty
A V8-powered Mustang will cost you north of $46,000
Everything is getting more expensive with each passing month, largely due to inflation, and cars are no exception. On the bright side, you can get behind the wheel of a Mustang in bodystyle and amenities for a little under $32,000. Not all Mustang models are created equal, though. To get the true spirit of American muscle, you’ll need to opt for the GT trim, which starts at $46,560, still an excellent performance/cost ratio that the Mustang has been known for since inception.
If the Mustang style is all that you’re after, the base model will do just fine. It comes with a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that combines performance with efficiency. The 315-horsepower engine comes paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and is rated for a combined 26 mpg.
A Mustang equipped with a V8 is an entirely different vehicle. The 5.0-liter V8 engine comes paired with a six-speed manual transmission (an automatic is available) that puts drivers more in tune with the road. That powerhouse of an engine produces 480 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. At that price tag, however, the Mustang is in competition with sports cars, including the Toyota Supra. The Mustang Dark Horse, which starts at $64,380, is even pushing into Corvette territory.
Final thoughts
The Ford Mustang’s sales are a result of several factors, ranging from price to practicality. The last American muscle car has been in continuous production since 1964, but with sales declining, it could follow its muscle car competitors off into the sunset. Then again, the Mustang’s slow start in 2025 could simply be due to the colder-than-normal weather and economic factors. Ford’s other vehicles aren’t exactly off to a great start either, so hopefully sales will increase as warmer weather rolls in.
The post The Industry’s Last Muscle Car Isn’t Doing So Hot appeared first on Autoblog.
