2021 Ford Shelby GT500 Review

　　

2021 Ford Shelby GT500 Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　It's hard to believe that Ford will ever make a more ultimate Mustang than the 2021 Shelby GT500. Of course, somebody probably said the same thing when the 1968 Shelby GT500 KR came out, and look where we are now. Still, the GT500 is just about the fastest thing on the road for under $100,000. Ford fits it with a monstrous 760-horsepower 5.2-liter supercharged V8, massive brakes, massive tires, special aerodynamic body pieces, and an adaptive suspension that allows you to both dominate a racetrack and comfortably cruise on the highway.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Ford Shelby GT500 2dr Coupe (5.2L 8cyl S/C 7AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$321/mo  for Shelby GT500 Base

　　Shelby GT500 Base

　　2dr Coupe (5.2L 8cyl S/C 7AM) (Most Popular) - $70,300 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　The GT500 has such a breadth of capabilities that it's hard to compare it to one specific class. On the bonkers-horsepower muscle car front, there's the Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye. It has 797 hp and superior comfort, but it comes at the expense of precise and sporty handling. You could also consider the Camaro ZL1; it's super fun to drive but its output of 650 hp will never win on barroom bragging rights. Then there are more upscale picks such as the BMW M4 and the Chevrolet Corvette. So what should you get? Read our Expert Rating of the GT500 to help you decide.

　　

What's it like to live with?

Believe it or not, zzdcar purchased a 2020 Ford Shelby GT500 to test out for a year and get the full ownership experience. Check out the link for in-depth coverage from our editors on topics ranging from performance to practicality to scheduled, and unscheduled, maintenance. 

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　8.0

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.5/10

　　How does the Shelby GT500 drive? Monstrous. That's the easiest way to sum up the capabilities of the GT500. Straight-line performance is nothing short of shocking. Our test car ripped from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and through the quarter-mile in only 11.3 seconds at a staggering 130.7 mph. Braking from 60 mph was also impressive with a recorded distance of only 98 feet; that's close to some supercars. Handling numbers were also highly impressive and the Shelby pulled 1.17 g on our skidpad. Again, near the performance of some supercars.

　　The somewhat numb steering earns a minor demerit as does the Shelby's overly wide turning circle. You can expect to make plenty of three-point turns in this car. But the smoothness and quickness of the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic deserve special mention. The transmission is adaptive and responsive to the driver's input, making stop-and-go traffic or hot-lapping a total breeze.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Shelby GT500? The GT500 is impressively comfortable considering how capable it is. Other than the considerable levels of road and exhaust noise — and they're really not out of step for this class of car — there's little to complain about. You can adjust the trick MagneRide suspension to allow for a relatively comfortable ride on the highway or switch to the Sport or Track setting for more enthusiastic driving.

　　The GT500's climate control system is also a strong point. It provides good temperature regulation and has plenty of vents with excellent adjustability. Some larger drivers might dislike the aggressive bolstering on the optional Recaro seats, but they do an excellent job of holding you in during quick driving.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The GT500's interior is fairly standard Mustang stuff. While that means it's instantly recognizable to most modern Ford owners, it also means the GT500 has the same strengths and weaknesses as any other Mustang. Buttons abound, especially on the steering wheel, and it's all too easy to press the wrong one.

　　Getting into the driver's seat, unless you're exceptionally tall, will probably mean having to squeeze between the bottom of the steering wheel and the thick thigh bolsters on the seat, assuming you have chosen the optional Recaro seats. Rear seats may or may not exist (the Carbon Fiber Track Pack removes the seats). In either case, the space is as cramped as in a typical Mustang.

　　

Technology

6.0/10

　　How’s the tech? It's with some surprise that Ford has been so stingy with seemingly basic technology in the GT500. Navigation and a decent audio system are bundled in the optional Technology package. You'll need that package to get driver aids such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. A free lap timer and g-meter don't come close to making up for that.

　　Thankfully Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard and function very well, even allowing you to keep smartphone navigation up while listening to terrestrial or satellite radio. The GT500's performance driver aids, though well sorted, don't hold a candle to what's available in the Camaro ZL1.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The Shelby GT500 maintains all the usability of a standard Mustang, making it an actual candidate to be a 760-horsepower daily driver. Though the trunk opening is less than ideal, it makes the most of its capacity to hold golf bags or suitcases with ease.

　　The optional Carbon Fiber Track Pack is both good and bad for cargo capacity. It eliminates the rear seats and the ability to fold them to carry longer objects, but you get a second trunk of sorts with the space they used to occupy. Interior storage space is also identical to a standard Mustang's. You'll find enough room for sunglasses, a phone and drinks, and everything stays secure during spirited driving.

　　

Fuel Economy

5.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? It's highly unlikely most owners of the GT500 will keep a close eye on their fuel bills, but they should brace for the extra expense this 760-horsepower Mustang will bring. The EPA rates the GT500 at 14 mpg combined (12 city/18 highway). In our time with the GT500, we managed to match the EPA's estimate and achieved 15.1 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation route. But we also had numerous tanks in the single digits. Of course, cars of this type rarely get stellar fuel economy, but the GT500 trails everything else in the class.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Shelby GT500 a good value? The price tag can easily be left out of casual conversation because it's so easy to geek out over the GT500's capability. But with our test car's as-tested price of just over $94,000, the value of all that performance suddenly comes into question. Sure, you can build out a BMW M4 to a similar price, but if outright performance is your game, the Camaro ZL1 1LE is more than $20,000 less expensive, as is a well-equipped C8 Corvette.

　　Even Ford aficionados might balk at the fairly standard Mustang interior and the lack of standard navigation, blind-spot monitoring or a decent audio system. But performance like this can blind potential buyers to any minor faults. Just make sure you get a gas card with some rewards points.

　　

Wildcard

10.0/10

　　Previous iterations of the GT500 always left a little something to be desired. They had power, sure, but they lacked refinement and credibility on anything but a long, straight road. But the new GT500 leaves all of that behind, somehow managing to be part drag-strip star and part road racer. It really does feel like the GT350's older, and much bigger, brother.

　　The Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye might have more power, and the hyperfocused Camaro ZL1 1LE might have more stick and cut a faster lap time, but the GT500 does nearly everything just as well and manages to provide occupants with a fairly comfortable ride and decent practicality.

　　

Which Shelby GT500 does zzdcar recommend?

There's only trim level and only a handful of option packages for the Shelby GT500. We'd get ours in white and hold the racing stripes, but we're not picky. To that, we would add the Handling package for the added alignment adjustability and the Technology package for the navigation, blind-spot monitoring and upgraded audio system. The Carbon Fiber Track Pack is appealing, but we suggest saving your money for the countless sets of new tires you'll eventually have to buy.

　　

2021 Ford Shelby GT500 models

The 2021 Ford Shelby GT500 is an ultra-high-performance variant of the standard Ford Mustang. Under the hood is a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 (760 horsepower, 625 lb-ft) that is connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission driving the rear wheels. Only one trim level is available, and optional extras are limited to a few packages and several stand-alone options. Standard feature highlights include:

　　Shelby GT500

　　Blends performance with comfort:

　　20-inch wheels Brembo ultra-high-performance brakes Adaptive suspension Limited-slip differential Magnesium engine brace Dual exhaust with quad 4.5-inch exhaust tips Rear spoiler Push-button hood pins 12-inch digital instrument panel 8-inch infotainment touchscreen Nine-speaker audio system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility Wi-Fi hotspot Leather-trimmed seating surfaces Six-way power-adjustable driver's and passenger seats Heated and ventilated front seats Dual-zone climate control Leather and faux suede-wrapped steering wheel Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)Technology package

　　12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system with subwoofer Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) Heated outside rearview mirrors with memory and Cobra puddle lights Driver's seat with three-position memory (not available with the Recaro seat option) NavigationHandling package

　　Adds increased suspension adjustability as well as aerodynamic improvements for better high-speed handlingCarbon Fiber Handling package

　　Combines the Handling package's features with carbon-fiber wheels and locking wheel nutsCarbon Fiber Track Pack

　　Removes the rear seats, replaces the rear spoiler with a prominent wing, and adds supersticky tires

　　

2021 Shelby GT500 Highlights

　　

Base MSRP	$70,300
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	14 MPG
Cost to Drive	$321/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles