Ford Mustang GT review: the last cheap V8 coupe in Bahrain
3.8/5MotorsSouq Editorial Team
Buy the GT, skip the base EcoBoost four-cylinder — the whole point of a Mustang in 2026 is the V8, and the four-pot version gives up the one thing that still justifies the shape. It is a compromised daily in Bahrain's heat and traffic, with a small boot and a back seat for luggage rather than people, but as a weekend car and a genuine analogue driving experience it has no rival left at the price.
Pros
- Naturally aspirated V8 with a genuine soundtrack
- Honest, feelsome chassis at the limit
- 10-speed automatic shifts convincingly
- Still relatively affordable for a V8 coupe
Cons
- Uncomfortable daily driver in Bahrain summer traffic
- Small boot and unusable rear seats
- Fuel and insurance costs are substantial
- Stiff ride over speed bumps and rough patches
Ford redesigned the Mustang for 2024 and changed almost nothing that mattered: a live rear axle gave way to an independent one a generation ago, the dashboard now carries two curved digital screens, but the recipe underneath — long bonnet, rear-wheel drive, an available naturally aspirated V8 — survived a round of electrification pressure that killed off most of its rivals.
The 5.0-litre Coyote V8 makes 480 hp and revs to a genuinely thrilling 7,500 rpm, sending power through a 10-speed automatic that shifts far more convincingly than that gear count suggests it should. It is not a subtle car, and it was never meant to be one.
Living with a V8 coupe in Bahrain
Summer changes the calculation. Ninety minutes in Manama traffic in August with the V8 idling is unpleasant even with the air conditioning working hard, and the car's low nose and stiff suspension notice every speed bump on residential roads. This is a car for early mornings and open roads, not a daily commuter.
Where it rewards you is exactly where you would expect: a clear run down the Bahrain International Circuit access roads or a causeway trip timed to avoid traffic turns the Mustang into one of the more honest driving experiences sold new in the Gulf. The steering has real feel, the chassis balance is trustworthy right up to the limit, and the noise from the active exhaust is worth the fuel bill on its own.
Running costs and resale
Insurance and fuel are the two numbers to plan for; both are meaningfully higher than a comparable Camry or Accord. Resale in Bahrain has historically favoured the manual GT and V8-specific colours — bright options move faster than the safe silvers and greys that dominate the rest of the market.