One in every of my biggest triumphs as baggage take a look at czar has been managing to suit all six luggage into the trunk of a Ford Mustang coupe. Doing so got here with a fairly large asterisk (the baggage have been extra squished than I might normally permit, however it was a Mustang, not a CR-V, so who actually cares?) and fairly just a few nicks to my poor palms (the baggage weren’t the one issues smashed occasionally), however I used to be so shut to creating it occur that I simply needed to bend the foundations (and my digits) to get’er achieved. A badge of honor, if you’ll, for each the Mustang and your not-especially-humble baggage tester extraordinaire.
There’s now a brand new Mustang, nonetheless, so it is time to see if I can repeat the feat. Instantly, the spec sheet would point out I used to be going to have a fair more durable time of it. The Mustang Coupe’s trunk has shrunk to 13.3 cubic-feet versus 13.5. Usually, I would say “who cares,” however might I remind you of all that bag and finger squishing final time? Both means, a 13.3-cubic-foot trunk continues to be excellent for a coupe. That is greater than fairly just a few sedans, particularly within the luxurious realm, and the final Mustang drove that time house — the BMW 3 Sequence sedans, Polestar 2, the Cadillac CT4 and CT5, Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Alfa Romeo Giulia all did worse than the final Mustang. Let’s have a look at how the brand new one does!
Right here is the trunk. It is value stating right here that regardless of the massive quantity, the opening is kind of small and unusually formed. This can be a large cause for all that finger squishing.
Effectively, that is all there’s to say about that, let’s get to the baggage. As with each Baggage Take a look at, I take advantage of two midsize curler suitcases that might have to be checked in on the airport (26 inches lengthy, 16 large, 11 deep), two roll-aboard suitcases that simply barely match within the overhead (24L x 15W x 10D), and one smaller roll-aboard that matches simply (23L x 15W x 10D). I additionally embrace my spouse’s fancy in a single day bag simply to spruce issues up a bit (21L x 12W x 12D).
Now, due to the final Mustang’s success within the take a look at, but additionally due to (once more) all that finger squishing, I figured I would make issues simpler for myself and try the identical Tetris formation that labored final time. The brand new Mustang is, in any case, an evolution of the earlier era quite than a from-scratch creation. Then once more, it did lose two-tenths of a cubic foot.
Fail.
Clearly the trunks are completely different. The principle offender is that the brand new one comes inward extra from the taillights (discover there’s more room between taillight and opening).
This isn’t the top, nonetheless. Simply because the baggage will not slot in the identical formation as final time does not imply they don’t seem to be going to suit. It simply means my palms are in for an additional exercise.
Earlier than we transfer on …
The Mustang has cavities on each side of the trunk that support in luggage-stuffing. The one on the fitting aspect is extra helpful, and though the last-generation Mustang I examined had the same cavity, it was filled with a subwoofer in my Mach 1 take a look at automotive. This 2024 Mustang GT does not have a type of. In a means, I think meaning THIS Mustang really has extra cargo quantity than THAT Mustang despite the fact that the 2024 Mustang usually has much less cargo quantity than the 2015-2023 Ford Mustang usually.
OK, transferring on …
Tada! It may be achieved! It may be achieved! Ish.
It took fairly just a few makes an attempt, similar to earlier than, and I used to be all set to surrender once I moved this bag right here and that bag there, and all of it clicked. This takes benefit of the cavity on the fitting, and permits for all the baggage to suit. BARELY.
The flamboyant bag appears essentially the most squished, however very like within the final Mustang take a look at, it is actually simply the flowery bits up prime which can be squished. It might be packed simply nice and match. The remainder of the baggage, nonetheless …
Mainly, all the baggage have been squished to the purpose that they actually could not be packed full and nonetheless match. As such, all six luggage do not actually match. If this was a automotive or SUV in a mass-market, consumer-oriented phase, there is not any means I would do that. Nevertheless it’s a Mustang, so once more, who cares?
Additionally, if there have been simply an additional inch in each course — hell, an additional centimeter — there’d be no downside in any respect. They actually would all match. It is simply that shut. If I did not attempt to match all of it in, and as a substitute left a bag out, there’d be a bunch of additional house remaining.
As such, I nonetheless suppose that is spectacular. And an incredible feat for the Mustang and this baggage tester. Huzzah.