2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350

Overview

The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 is a powerful, high-strung muscle car designed to rock race tracks while still being at home on the street. Its special 5.2-liter V-8—code-named Voodoo, with good reason—makes 526 horsepower and revs to a dizzying 8250 rpm with an unforgettable shriek that sounds more Ferrari than Ford. The GT350's suspension is tuned tautly enough to handle cornering at race-track speeds without being bone-jarring on the street, and it has brakes to match. If you're a dedicated track rat, want even more on-track performance, and don't care if your GT350 is uncomfortable to drive on the road, there's the all-out GT350R. It's fitted with stiffer race-ready suspension, lightweight carbon-fiber wheels, and more aggressive aerodynamic components.

What's New for 2020?

The 2019 GT350 received a number of useful updates, so the changes for 2020 are minor. All GT350s are now equipped with FordPass Connect, which enables the car to connect to the internet, serve as a Wi-Fi hotspot, and receive live traffic updates. There's also a palette of available new colors with retro names, including Grabber Lime, Iconic Silver, Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, and Twister Orange Metallic. Unfortunately, Ford has announced that it will end production of the GT350 after this model year. That leaves the 760-hp supercharged GT500 as the lone Shelby Mustang.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

If you're entranced with the GT350, we think there's only one way to go: with the standard model, which is thousands less than the edgy GT350R. Forgo the short list of options; the GT350 comes thoroughly equipped for serious track driving, with standard Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 track-focused tires, and coolers for oil, transmission, and differential. But know that similarly priced competitors such as the 650-hp Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and 717-hp Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat are far more powerful and faster in a straight line—the Camaro is also a great race-track car—which makes them viable competitors and worthy of consideration. And then there's this: Ford is bringing a new 2020 Shelby GT 500 to market with a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 (not the Voodoo engine) with 760 hp.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Rock 'n' roll ain't noise pollution. Neither is the ungodly roar from Ford's raucous, high-revving 526-hp V-8, code-named Voodoo. Like learning how to be a snake charmer, taming the wild engine takes time and tenacity. Its natural aspiration and peaky nature make it docile at low revs. Crest 4000 rpm, however, and a thrust-filled crescendo builds until the 8250-rpm redline. Likewise, the six-speed shifter slots precisely into each gear and rewards ratcheting through the ratios. The buoyant clutch is effortless, with fluid feedback that doesn't punish your left leg in stop-and-go traffic. In our testing, the GT350 shot from zero to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds; the R version was a tad quicker at 3.9. Both trail behind the high-powered Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger but contend with other high-dollar rivals. It has a hair-raising soundtrack and ethereal track ability, yet the Shelby GT350 is still surprisingly livable in daily driving. Add tenacious grip, brilliant brakes, and satisfying steering, and you are treated to a symphony not just of sound but of pure, unbridled driving pleasure. Regardless of model, the Shelby's chassis is excellent; its limits are easily explored and exploited. The electrically assisted steering performs best on smooth surfaces at any speed, but it can be unpredictable on choppy streets where darting reverberations are disconcerting. The touchy brake pedal on our GT350 test car took some getting used to. Its initial bite was met with a tremendous response that felt too eager around town. That same feeling provided fortuitous reprieve at high speed, however.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The Shelby GT350 is a conversation starter, especially at gas stations, where fill-ups are frequent. Its EPA-rated fuel economy is on par with its arch rivals from Chevy and Dodge, and its real-world rating is similar, too. The Shelby GT350 we tested earned 19 mpg on the highway in our real-world test, falling 2 mpg shy of its EPA rating.

Interior, Infotainment, and Cargo

At first glance, the Shelby GT350 interior appears identical to that of the regular Ford Mustang. The mix of modern and retro styling is sweet, and front-seat legroom is abundant. Although faux-suede trim and Shelby badging are specific to the GT350 and add some differentiation, the plentiful hard plastics look and feel low-grade for a car at this price point. A pair of standard Recaro front sport seats are supportive yet still quite comfortable but only offer basic seat adjustments. We like the thin cross section of the flat-bottom steering wheel, which avoids the thick-rim trend. The GT350 is a hoot at the track and also an agreeable travel companion. In our testing, it held the second-most carry-ons and the most interior storage space among its space-challenged competitors. The back seat stows with a pull-strap release and folds up by hand. Only the Dodge Challenger we tested held more luggage than the Shelby.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

The standard infotainment system—called Sync 3—has an attractive interface and user-friendly interactions, and it features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. Unfortunately, the touchscreen's average response time and lack of customization are flaws. A 12-speaker B&O Play audio system is available to better hear a guitar-melting riff by an old-school rock band.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)

View Crash Test Results

Neither the Shelby GT350 nor the GT350R has been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. While driver-assistance technology is in short supply on these Shelby twins, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are available. Otherwise, they have useful integrated blind-spot mirrors that provide good rearward visibility.

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

The Shelby has comprehensive coverage that aligns with domestic rivals. Compared with the BMW M4 and the Porsche 718 Cayman S, it has less limited protection but a better powertrain plan.

• Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance