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In the American muscle wars, Ford’s 2010 Mustang has received a new ally with the news ConsumerReports placed it above Chevrolet’s Camaro and the new Dodge Challenger. The Consumers Union October issue hit the stands Sept. 1. ConsumerReports put six cars to the test — the Mustang, Camaro and Challenger, as well as Hyundai's Genesis Coupe, Nissan’s 370Z and Subaru’s refreshed WRZ — in categories such as reliability, handling, fuel economy and overall road manners.
The Mustang shone on in most categories, attracting anywhere from an “Average” to “Very Good” rating. Overall, Ford’s pony accumulated 78 points, compared to the Chevrolet’s 71 points and 53 for the Mopar. Testers were impressed with the driver-friendly road manners. "The Mustang topped this group by delivering strong acceleration, communicative steering, and the most agile handling," David Champion, senior director of CR's Auto Test Center in East Haddam, Conn., said in a news release. The Mustang is, they said, an even more balanced and satisfying driver’s car than ever before. Some of that refinement might be attributable to the Mustang’s purpose-built chassis. Where the Camaro rides on Australia’s Holden-designed G8 underpinnings, and the Challenger’s skeleton is pulled from the 300 and Charger parts bin. Testers found the Mustang GT, at a suggested US$34,725, agile and civilized on the highway, with strong acceleration from the 315-horsepower 4.6L V8. On top of that, they registered 20 miles per gallon of combined city and highway driving. They complimented the smoothness and accuracy of the five-speed manual transmission, the improved fit and finish of the upgraded interior and even the pleasing “deep burble” of the exhaust. The Camaro, in comparison, had gaps in the interior plastic, and its extra weight affected handling. The 6.2-liter V8 carried by the $35,425 2SS version of the bow tie was a strong performer with 426 hp, and clocked 18 mpg. The Challenger’s styling captured the hearts of the ConsumerReports testers, who also enjoyed the 5.7L Hemi’s acceleration and the growl from the 370-hp when given hard throttle, but they were not as impressed with the car’s brakes. At $36,600, the Challenger is the most expensive of the domestic ponies. It also registers 18 mpg. ConsumerReports is the go-to source for independent, unbiased testing for more than seven million subscribers in print and online. For more information, visit www.ConsumerReports.org — Ken Simmons |
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