- Doors and Seats
2 doors, 4 seats
- Engine
5.0i, 8 cyl.
- Engine Power
345kW, 556Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (98) 12.5L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
5 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
3/5 star (2017)
Ford Mustang Bullitt 2019 new car review
Doc and his DeLorean. Bond and his Aston Martins. Bandit and his Trans Am.
Some cars have become immortalised on the silver screen and become synonymous with the stars that drive them. None more so than Frank Bullitt and his 1968 Ford Mustang GT Fastback.
The pair thrilled movie goers in ‘68 with arguably the greatest car chase ever committed to film, racing through the streets of San Francisco at terrifying speeds, in the days before special effects could remove some of the danger.
It’s hard to quantify the impact the movie has had on the image of the Mustang, but it says a lot that Highland Green ‘68 Fastbacks remain one of the most in-demand classic ‘Stangs. Ford itself has produced several special editions to hark back to the cinematic original, and this latest iteration was announced in 2018 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the movie’s release.
- Looks like the original
- Sounds great
- Adaptive dampers standard
- $10k more than GT
- Tiny power increase
- Poor safety score
Is the Ford Mustang BULLITT right for me?
You really need to be a Bullitt fan to truly appreciate this car. It costs a lot more than Mustang GT for only selected performance enhancements, because it’s all about the image.
Even without the Bullitt logos scattered around the car, true fans of the film will understand and appreciate the meaning of the deep green paint and retro rims. But with only 700 examples coming to Australia demand should comfortably out-strip supply so you won’t want to think too long.
What does the 2018 Ford Mustang BULLITT cost?
As a result of its limited numbers and special features Ford has added to the price over the standard Mustang GT that it’s based on. Aside from the looks, the Bullitt gets the MagnaRide adjustable dampers as standard, usually a $2750 option,
If you can find one of the 700 the retail price is $73,688 plus on-road costs, but due to the scarcity of them some are already advertised as low kays second-hand offerings for more than $90k.
When you consider you can buy a brand-new Mustang GT from a dealer for $62,990 (plus on-roads) you have you really value what the Bullitt brings.
What is the Ford Mustang BULLITT's interior like?
Ford invested heavily in improving the interior for the updated 2018 Mustang, after the initial model that made it to Australia was criticised for its heavy reliance on hard, cheap-looking plastic. So the blue oval added more soft-touch materials, more premium finish for the dashboard and added a digital instrument panel.
For the Bullitt there’s a white cue ball-style gear knob, a Bullitt logo replaces the Mustang badge on the centre of the steering wheel, Bullitt logos on the sill plates and an individual build plaque on the passenger side of the dashboard.
Our test car came fitted with the optional Recaro seats, which add $3000 to the price, but come finished in matching green stitching and offer plenty of comfort and good support.
How much space does the Ford Mustang BULLITT Fastback have?
Those up front are well catered for but the rear seats are better served carrying objects not people. Technically the Mustang is a 2+2 but the rear chairs are extremely tight on space in every direction. Even with the front seat occupants sacrificing plenty of legroom getting into the back and finding a comfortable seating position is a challenge thanks to the rear window encroaching on headroom while there is precious little in the way of both knee and toe room.
What's the Ford Mustang BULLITT's tech like?
The Bullitt may be a retro model but that doesn’t mean Ford isn’t moving with the times. The latest generation Mustang features a contemporary 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and Ford’s latest SYNC3 infotainment system.
Digital dashboards are becoming more common but Ford has done a great job with the functionality and displays on the ‘Stang. You can choose between three different looks - Normal, Sport and Race Track (which Ford says is inspired by its Le Mans-winning GT supercar) - that each provide a unique way of presenting the same information. If that’s not enough you can also change the colours too.
SYNC3 is one of the better infotainment systems on the market, integrating all the relevant technology into easy-to-navigate menus on an 8.0-inch touchscreen. It incorporates navigation, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth.
How reliable is the 2018 Ford Mustang BULLITT?
The Mustang feels solid and well built, but if you jump it through the streets of San Francisco and bang into other cars while chasing hitmen, it may show some wear and tear.
But seriously, Ford has worked on improving the refinement of the Mustang with this latest generation and it does feel more solid than you expect from your typical American-made car.
How safe is the Ford Mustang BULLITT?
This is a sore point for Ford, after the Mustang was crash-tested by the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) and score a poor two-star rating. The subsequent additions of autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control take the score up to three-stars.
If you look into the specifics of the ANCAP crash test results the biggest markdown is its poor rear occupant protection; which is another reason to treat the Mustang like a two-seater. Protection for those in the front was better, scoring ‘Good’ or ‘Adequate’ results.
What is the Ford Mustang BULLITT's warranty like?
Like all Fords the Mustang is covered by a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.
What are the on-going costs for the Ford Mustang BULLITT Fastback?
Ford has spent much of the last decade attempting to improve its after-sales experience. To that end it has introduced lifetime capped price servicing, seven years of map updates for SYNC3 and free loan cars when you book your service.
Service is required every 12 months/15,000km and after three years you’ll be looking at a bill for $1385; which isn’t cheap but nor is it eye-wateringly expensive for a sports car.
Is the 2018 Ford Mustang BULLITT value for money?
That depends on how much you love the movie. The cosmetic tweaks, standard adaptive dampers, red Brembo brake callipers and new alloys help justify some of the price premium, but not enough for just a casual Mustang fan.
Unless you’re a Bullitt tragic or just really, really love the colour, you’re better off buying a standard GT.
What's under the Ford Mustang BULLITT's bonnet?
In addition to the upgrades Ford made to the Mustang’s 5.0-litre V8 with the 2018 update (direct injection and a revised compression ratio) there are more changes for the Bullitt.
There’s a Ford Racing air filter, new open air induction system and intake manifold with new throttle bodies and a new Powertrain Control Module lifted from the high-performance Shelby GT350 Mustang not sold in Australia.
The result is 345kW of power and 556Nm, which is the same pulling power as the standard GT but an extra 6kW. That mean, technically speaking, the Bullitt is the most powerful Mustang you can buy from the showroom.
It also comes with the same active exhaust system developed for the GT350, which allows for four separate modes - Quiet, Normal, Sport and Race Track - depending on how much of the V8 growl you want to hear.
The answer should be a lot, because it’s such a sweet sounding V8. It has a deep grumble at idle that turns into an intoxicating scream as you take it towards its 7000rpm redline.
Unfortunately, though, its bite doesn’t match its bark. It feels modest low in the rev range, taking time to work its way to the engine’s sweet spot above 4500rpm. Tall gearing for the six-speed manual transmission means it lacks the kind of initial kick you expect from a V8.
How much fuel does the Ford Mustang BULLITT Fastback use?
Claimed use on the combined cycle is 12.5-litres per 100km, but you’ll see mid to high teens if you spend most of your time around town. But if fuel economy is a big concern you should be looking at an EcoBoost Mustang.
What's it like to drive the Ford Mustang BULLITT?
The Bullitt once again benefits from the 2018 Mustang upgrades, which included completely overhauled suspension, not just the adaptive dampers, new steering calibration and new tyres.
The 19-inch retro alloys are now wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, developed specifically for the car; replacing the pre-2018 model’s Pirelli P Zeros.
The changes helped sharpen up the handling, making the steering feel more responsive and direct. However, the Mustang remains more a muscle car, rather than a purebred sports car. The front end lacks the level of feel you really need to place the car with precision. It’s not a small car either, it’s a burley V8 coupe, and feels it when you throw it through a series of corners, it especially struggles with low-speed changes of direction.
The ride is improved, coping better with bigger bumps, especially with the adaptive dampers set to Normal. In Sport or Sport+ settings you will pick up most bumps in the road surface with varying degrees of harshness.
How does the 2018 Ford Mustang BULLITT compare to the competition?
The short answer is the Bullitt has no real rivals. It’s a unique proposition built for die-hard enthusiasts.
Looking more broadly at the Mustang and the obvious rival is the HSV-converted Chevrolet Camaro. Although Ford fans may struggle to consider anything with a bow tie, which potentially rules that out.
Other than those two there aren’t any V8-powered coupes under $100k, but there are some exciting two-door performance cars if you’re willing and able to stretch your budget. Such as the BMW M240i (from $79,100), BMW M4 Pure (from $139,529), Lexus RC F (from $137,729) and Porsche 718 Cayman (from $114,990).
Drive's Verdict
The Mustang is not the fastest or the best-handling sports coupe you can buy. But is many respects that doesn’t matter so much in the Bullitt, because this is a car designed to appeal to your heart not your head.
For anyone who ever dreamt of being Lt. Frank Bullitt chasing a black Dodge Charger through San Francisco this special edition allows you to live at least part of that fantasy. It looks like Frank’s car, it sounds like it and when you have the cue ball shifter in your hand it feels like it too.
While some may dismiss it as a marketing gimmick, for lovers of the original Bullitt this is a well-executed tribute to an American icon.
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