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The Ford Mustang Mach 1 has made its comeback after a 17-year hiatus. Here are 8 great reasons to buy one instead of its siblings.

The Ford Mustang Mach 1 was reintroduced in 2021 after almost a 17 year-long hiatus. The rereleased car is one of Ford’s best designs and it has features that outperform several of its competitors and sibling Mustangs as well. The car yields some impressive horsepower and torque, has amazing road grip thanks to the redesigned wheels and built-in stability controls, and several redesigns in the interior and exterior that make it incredibly fun to drive.

Related: What Makes The 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 So Great

All of the features and redesigns on the new Mach 1 make it one hell of an impressive machine, but is it more impressive than other Mustangs and does it justify the $52,000 starting price? To answer that, here are 8 great ways the new Mustang Mach 1 stands out from its fellow Ford muscle cars like the Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT500.

The Mach 1 comes standard with a highly functional 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. But, unlike most other Mustangs, this one has the optional upgrade to a high-performance 10-speed automatic transmission.

As part of the car's handling package, one can also get adjustable strut top mounts, a magnetic blade decklid spoiler, and an Engine Block Heater. While Ford has made manual tramissions available in previous models like the 2020 GT350, neither the GT350 or 500 include the 10 Speed Automatic.

Most modern Mustangs on the market can pull anywhere from 310 to 380 hp, the Mach 1 however is one of the fastest Mustangs ever to be made and can pull upwards of 480 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. This is one of the fastest Ford’s anyone can buy.

that said the Shelby GT500 does have an impressive 760 horsepower and a 0-60 time of less than 4 seconds. The GT350 can hold is own as well, clocking in at 526 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque.

Thanks to the redesigned front, which now features a built-in front aero splitter that acts sort of like an air intake and an aerodynamic design at the same time, the Mustang Mach 1 has 22% more downforce than a Mustang GT350. Considering how multiple websites praise this data, this might be one of Ford’s stronger selling points for the Mach 1.

It is important to remember however that the Shelby is still much faster than the Mach 1, 760 horsepower and such a quick 0-60 time is hard to beat.

Related: The Ford Mustang Mach 1 VS The Shelby GT500

One of the most appealing draws of this car is not just speed thanks to its engine block, but its handling package and driver response thanks to Selectable Power-Assisted steering as well. The ride is surprisingly smooth and adapts to the road easily.

This is mostly thanks to the name brand Magneride Shock Absorbers and, according to Ford, a fine-tuned suspension that includes heavy-duty front springs and an independent rear suspension.

Its base model comes with aluminum cast wheels that are 19 inches, while most base Mustangs come with 17 inches. Although some might prefer alloy wheels, which tend to be very sturdy and attractive, the Mach 1’s aluminum cast wheels are lighter than most other Ford wheels.

Also, the increased size of the wheels assures the car still has good grip. The lightweight of the wheels also helps give this car even more speed. One can also upgrade to 19 inch low tarnished dark wheels and to Michelin P305/30R20 tires.

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Most Ford models come with some sort of stability control, and the Mustang has one of the best. Ford Mustangs, and most GM cars with manual transmissions, come with what the company calls “No Shift Technology,” which means that cars with their manual transmission do not have to take their foot off the gas pedal while upshifting.

This No Shift Tech allows the car to maintain its present speed when shifting, meaning the car never loses momentum. One can’t help but wonder why manufacturers did not think of this technology sooner, or why it isn’t standard with all manual transmissions.

Of all the aerodynamic redesigns that make the Ford Mustang Mach 1 what it is, one that Ford is surprisingly proudest of is the new underbelly redesign. Apparently, the underbody pan smooths and increases the airflow under the Mach 1.

Allegedly, this redesign helps increase the car's downforce and brake cooling flow. This is the first Mustang that Ford has ever equipped with this special design. No word is available yet as to whether or not this feature can be seen in future GT350s or GT500s.

Related: This Mustang Mach 1 Looks Meaner Than The Original

While the Ford Shelby GT500 has a combined fuel economy of 14 mpg the Mach 1 can hit 18 mpg, making it one of Ford’s more fuel-efficient Mustangs, although with gas prices rising exponentially Ford might do themselves a favor to come up with technology that can increase that mileage, impressive though it may be for a Mustang.

The market is demanding that any car, even performance muscle and sports cars, be as fuel-efficient as possible. But that aside, 18 mpg for a Mustang is impressive and an improvement on previous models.

James J. Jackson is a writer with words in TheThings, Sacramento News and Review, Ariel Chart Journal, and more. Like many a gear head, he grew up holding the flashlight for his mechanic dad.