How much does the 2021 Ford Mustang cost?

Prices have softened 1.66% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 2,042 listings available, which suggests you have a meaningful amount of inventory to compare.

If you find a listing below $28,516.35, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2021 Ford Mustang a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Ford Mustang earns a 4.71/5 user rating, and our experts give it an 8.17/10 overall score. The model scores 9/10 across Performance, Cost effectiveness, and Safety.

Owners consistently praise its performance, looks, and features, and many call out how fun it is to drive. The Mustang also gets credit for its styling and for offering a manual transmission, which helps it stand out if you want an engaging sports car. On the trade-off side, the expert review points to poor visibility and a cramped back seat, so it fits you better if excitement matters more than everyday practicality.

The Mustang’s mix of heritage styling and modern tech makes it a strong fit if you want a performance car that still feels current. With 30.3% of listings marked as good or great deals, there’s also enough market activity to keep shopping options interesting.

Is the 2021 Ford Mustang reliable?

Owners rate it 4.71/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback points to a car that feels dependable in the ways that matter to enthusiasts: strong performance, appealing design, and features that keep owners happy over time. The expert review also reinforces that sense of confidence by describing the Mustang as a fun-to-drive sports car with modern creature comforts and a factory warranty backing the more serious performance hardware. Ford’s standard maintenance coverage also helps reduce early ownership friction.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about the badge and more about how hard the car was driven and maintained, especially on higher-performance versions.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Ford Mustang?

At 73.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should run a vehicle history report before you get serious about any listing, especially if the car has performance upgrades or a price that looks unusually attractive. A pre-purchase inspection should focus on body condition, signs of prior repair, and whether the car has been maintained consistently. Because this model can be bought in very different configurations, you should also make sure the equipment level matches what you expect.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base EcoBoost includes 17-inch alloy wheels, manual seats, pushbutton start, power windows, a leather-wrapped shift knob, 4G LTE WiFi, a six-speaker stereo, and the basic Sync system with a 4.2-inch touchscreen. It also comes standard with the full suite of Ford Co-Pilot360 driver-assistance features.
• Powertrain: The EcoBoost uses a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 310 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, while the GT’s 5.0-liter V8 makes 460 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. Both engines can be paired with a six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic, and both are rear-wheel drive.
• Safety package: Ford Co-Pilot360 is standard and includes automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control and parking sensors still cost extra.
• Infotainment: The base car gets a 4.2-inch color display with voice controls, while Sync 3 brings an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system is intuitive, but there is no home button below the screen.
• Fuel efficiency: The most efficient version is the 2.3-liter EcoBoost with the 10-speed automatic, which returns 21 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. The V8-powered GT with the automatic returns 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined.

Which 2021 Ford Mustang trim should I buy?

The 2021 Ford Mustang is offered in 5 trim levels: EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium, GT, GT Premium, and Mach 1.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: The EcoBoost is the value play, but it keeps you on the basic Sync setup with the 4.2-inch screen and misses the upgraded cabin features found higher up the range.
• Sweet-spot trim: The EcoBoost Premium adds the 8-inch Sync 3 touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated and cooled front seats, dual-zone climate control, and power-adjustable front seats, making it the best all-around daily-driver choice.
• Premium/top trim: The GT Premium is the best pick if you want V8 performance plus the nicer cabin treatment, including leather-trimmed front seats and the upgraded comfort and tech features shared with the Premium EcoBoost.
• Off-road trim: The Mach 1 is the most serious performance choice, but its higher price and track-focused hardware make it less practical for typical daily driving.

The standard Co-Pilot360 safety suite is included, but adaptive cruise control and parking sensors still require extra cost.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Ford Mustang?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully without expecting every listing to be a bargain.

• Deal availability: 30.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 2,042 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.66% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 73.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $28,516.35, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Ford Mustang's resale value?

The current average of $31,460 sits slightly below last year's $31,991.

That price movement suggests the market has cooled a bit, which can help you buy more selectively now. For a future seller, the softer trend means you may not see rapid appreciation, so condition and trim choice matter more if you want to protect value. Stronger-equipped versions and well-kept examples should hold buyer interest better than neglected cars.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.71/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Ford Mustang safe?

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

Ford CoPilot360 is standard, and it includes automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic high beams. That gives you a strong safety baseline even on the base car. You’ll still need to pay extra for adaptive cruise control and parking sensors.

The expert review also notes that visibility is good for an American sports car, which helps everyday confidence behind the wheel. If you want the most complete safety setup, you should pay close attention to which options are fitted on the specific car you’re considering.

Should I buy a 2021 Ford Mustang or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 30.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 73.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 1.66% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.71/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• Ford added the new Mach 1 trim for 2021, expanding the performance lineup.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $27,032, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $31,460 average.
• It is framed as a strong value-focused Mustang with multiple powertrain options and a nostalgic Bullitt special edition.

The bottom line: If you want the newer model-year setup with the expanded trim lineup and strong owner satisfaction, the 2021 is the better target. If your priority is spending less up front, the 2020 is the more budget-friendly path and still delivers the core Mustang experience.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.