2013 Ford Mustang V6 Review

To drive a Ford Mustang, for someone who's used to small 4-cylinder runabouts like me, is to develop a split personality. Opting for the pure power and rumbling of the engine makes you quickly forget about saving on fuel, easier parking spots or city traffic nimbleness. Fortunately, the 2013 Ford Mustang V6 offers both power and reasonable gas consumption.

I grumble about the rumble, but not too much

Actually, this car is not that noisy - it only get that way when you put the pedal to the metal; you get an earful of the distinctive rumbling that recalls musclecars of the 60s and 70s. With 305 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque lurking behind the iconic Mustang emblem, the Mustang V6 is back with a bang.

I managed an average of 10.5L/100 km. I expected it to be more due to my new split personality - you know the one that was all ears for the rumble rather than the one with the eye on the fuel gauge.

Last year, the V6 was fitted with a second muffler, so it could finally merge with the herd. Now, onlookers will have to think twice before uttering the usual "Ah, it's just a V6..." With 305 hp, this statement must be rethought. Although the V6 version has 115 fewer hp than the Mustang GT, the driving experience is as sporty as ever.

With 305 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque lurking behind the iconic Mustang emblem, the Mustang V6 is back with a bang. (Photo: Marie-Andrée Ayotte)

A gearbox with bite

Shifting from one gear to the next requires effort. It's not simply a smooth push of a finger like you'll do in some Japanese cars such the Honda Accord Coupe. No, shifting into gear needs full strength of the wrist and a tight hold on the shift knob.

The gearbox bites and torque follows suit. It gives you a taste for the drag strip and the smell of burning tires. Take advantage of the Mustang's manual transmission to get the full benefit of the 3.7L V6's impressive muscle.

The downside

Behind the wheel of the Ford Mustang, you suddenly feel invulnerable and ready to dominate the road. Thanks to the adjustable Recaro seats and sporty 3-spoke steering wheel, you can go ahead and devour the road like an insatiable and ravenous beast.

On the downside, the dashboard verges on the simplistic, with a ho-hum vintage look we've already seen too much of. For this untamed animal, a little more creativity from the manufacturer, like in the Ford Fiesta, for example, would have been nice.

Less 80s-style plastics, a little less boring dash and a more advanced audio system would have made me happier. Plus, the retro dash doesn't jive that well with the modern Recaro seats.

On the downside, the dashboard verges on the simplistic, with a ho-hum vintage look we've already seen too much of. (Photo: Marie-Andrée Ayotte)

Like revisiting the classics?

Mustang, at such an affordable price, becomes THE car par excellence for Sunday excursions. Our grandparents' habit of cruising on the weekend has been passed onto a whole generation of baby boomers who I kept crossing paths with on this sunny Sunday drive. Owning a Mustang doesn't necessarily mean you'll stand out from the crowd...more likely, you'll fit right in. Rather, sitting behind the wheel of a Mustang means escaping from the humdrum of everyday life by charging down the road under the spell of a classic thoroughbred.

Vehicle manufacturers are tapping into today's appetite for dream cars of the past, attracting a whole generation which has the money and the motivation to again see their classic loves. There are plenty of them, including the Chrysler PT Cruiser, the Mazda MX-5 Miata, the Volkwagen Beetle as well as the Ford Mustang, especially since its 2005 revision.

Starting at an affordable $26,999 for the V6 Premium trim, the revised 2013 Ford Mustang Coupe is hotly pursued by its competitors, the $28,995 Dodge Challenger SXT Plus and the $29,155 Chevrolet Camaro 2LS.

Mustang, at such an affordable price, becomes THE car par excellence for Sunday excursions. (Photo: Marie-Andrée Ayotte)

A beauty and a beast, and not too expensive...

Sitting behind the wheel of this classic car, the 2013 Ford Mustang is affordable, a little too heavy on gas to be an urban vehicle and too stylish to be hauling a trailer around. You'll pick this beauty for her looks, her handling and... for being the perfect Sunday driving machine!