For the past seven years, I have spent a week behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang of some sort, and that tradition has become a bit of a marker of summertime for me. I have my favourites, and ones that I enjoyed a bit less, but this year’s 2026 Ford Mustang GT Fastback FX Edition has gotten me feeling a bit mixed.
'Stang Style
Before we get into what the FX Edition is, let’s look at the current seventh generation Ford Mustang – codenamed S650. Its design is a natural evolution from the previous two generations, and I love that it is unmistakable as anything other than the legendary original pony car. The proportions are great, the head and taillights look sharp and the car can still attract a fair amount of attention.
However, if you ask me, I think the S650 in its standard form lacks a bit of the cohesiveness that made the outgoing models particularly handsome. The body lines, especially the rear quarter panels, looked a bit boxy and squarish, and I attribute the Mustang’s biggest styling miff to one that Ford inflicted on itself – the existence of the Dark Horse. The Mustang Dark Horse wears the S650 bodywork so perfectly that it makes every other model look like it is missing something – Mustang GTD notwithstanding, of course.
FX Effects
The FX Edition pays homage to the “Fox Body” Mustangs of the late 80s and early 90s. You don’t have to be keen-eyed to notice the white painted 19-inch retro-inspired wheels and the white badges and front grille inserts, and for me, the outcome is a bit of a mixed bag.
On one hand, I can appreciate the green-and-white scheme connecting the two eras, but on the other, the old-school scheme made the Mustang coupe look a bit cartoonish and washes away much of the sportiness –the Brembo brakes being hidden behind the wheels is a prime example. The good news is that the FX Package is only a $2,395 add-on to the standard Mustang GT so if you also find yourself not being a fan, you can opt without.
Cabin & tech
One aspect that Ford designers have continued to do well on is the interior design. Though it has gone with the trend of a minimalistic, screen-centric dashboard, there is still plenty of fun features built in. My favourite is inclusion of three classic Mustang gauge designs through the customizable instrument cluster, and a host of performance applications that allows users to track their zero to 100 km/h dashes, quarter-mile times, braking performance, and a G-force display. You can go as far as locking up the front brakes using the Electronic Line Lock feature to spin the rear tires to, uh, warm up them up for the track.
under the hood & driving impressions
Speaking of driving, the most important thing for any Mustang GT buyers is the throaty five-litre Coyote V8 engine that continues to rumble up the streets. This powerplant continues to be one of my personal favourites in the business for how willing it is to rev up and the sonorous soundtrack that ensues.
The pony count rings in at 480 which not a small amount by any measure, but to fully utilize them all will require a bit of patience with the throttle. The Mustang GT’s tendency is to swing its rear end if you are not careful with the gas pedal, but feed it gradually and it will respond with a linear acceleration and reward with the most intoxicating roar.
The beauty of the Mustang GT is that it continues to be offered with a six-speed manual transmission. It has a heavy clutch and the shifter requires a bit of effort to get into gears, but it is not the most difficult unit to use, thanks to its responsive throttle that allows the driver to easily find the engagement point. Best part is the rev-matching feature that enables you to seamlessly moves down the gears as you slow down so you can indulge in its delicious exhaust note.
efficiency
Fuel economy is rated at 15.7 L/100km in the city and 10.6 L/100km for a combined average of 13.4 L/100km. Our observed figure came in at the expected 15.7 L/100km for our week of city-heavy commute, and good news is that the Mustang GT can be fuelled using regular grade gasoline, but it is worth noting that the power figures are produced with 93-octane fuel.
Money
Base price of the 2026 Ford Mustang GT Fastback starts at $58,830, and our tester added the Mustang FX Package, Ford Co-Pilot 360 Assist+ drivers assistance technology, and Bang & Olufsen 12-speaker sound system that brought its as-tested total to $71,020. The Mustang GT continues to be a bargain in the performance car world, as any cars that can send near 500-hp to the rear wheels using a manual transmission will likely cost you well over a hundred grand.
Wrap it up
The 2026 Ford Mustang GT Fastback FX Edition is certainly not without its flaws. I think the styling has taken a minor step back and the FX Package is an awkward fit, and the new interior layout is a bit too minimal. However, I can’t argue with the way it brings a smile to my face as a summertime treat, and it continues to do that better than most. If it was up to me, I would simply spend a few thousand more and get the most bare-bones Mustang Dark Horse; I think that is where the sweet spot is.