While most automakers are sharing all the models they are killing off due to massive tariffs and ever-changing industry standards, Ford has some good news: The Mustang is selling surprisingly well.
Earlier this week, Ford shared a sales report showing that 14,071 Mustangs were sold in the first quarter of 2026. The gas-guzzling ones, not the Mach-E. And during a time when gas prices are going up, up, up. In the first quarter of 2025, Ford only sold 9,377 Mustangs. That’s an increase of over 50% year over year.
It seems a bit wild at first. It’s like $87 to fill a tank right now, nobody has a job, and automakers are pushing their electric SUV drones — yet more people are getting Mustangs than ever before. And it’s not like every sporty car saw a resurgence in the first quarter of 2026. The Toyota GR 86 was down over 26% year over year, and the Nissan Z was down over 85%.
America wants freedom, America wants the Mustang
First things first: the Mustang name carries weight. And that’s the other thing: other heavy modern muscle cars are dead. There is not much direct competition with the Mustang for those who want a semi-affordable overabundance of horsepower. The Camaro and Challenger are both gone. You can see why those who want American muscle are going for the Mustang. The real question is: Why do more people seem to want American muscle all of a sudden?
There has been a bit of a rebellion against electric vehicles, for one. For a while, it seemed like it was the only option out there. Every reveal was yet another electric SUV or a soulless (silent) version of a previously existing vehicle. However, the current Trump Administration cut electric vehicle incentives for automakers and buyers and the sentiment has become less “save the world” and more “save yourself.” And EVs cost more money. Noticing a decline in interest, automakers have decided to give the W to China and pivot from their previous all-electric strategies. Porsche has raised a white flag, with its CEO saying it’s time to return to its sports cars.
Americans don’t want overpriced, oversized electric SUVs. They want an escape. They want power. The Mustang fits the bill.
A Ford spokesperson told CarBuzz: “Mustang’s appeal is timeless and continues to bring new buyers and drive sales for Ford. We are now entering into the heart of the Mustang selling season. Mustang’s long uninterrupted heritage — now going on 62 years — continues to appeal to a broad customer base. We are investing in Mustang and adding more models to the lineup, such as the Darkhorse SC and the Mustang RTR. Both come out later this year. And Mustang GTD has been a boost, too, providing a halo to the Mustang brand.”
It’s true. The Darkhorse SC is coming, but it will cost over $100,000. I don’t think this will make up the majority of sales when it comes to the Mustang, but it does show that there’s enough interest in the car to keep making more variants. The Mustang’s appeal, whether it’s an EcoBoost or Darkhorse SC, is its versatility. It can be an everyday commuter with a comfortable interior (and even room for short friends in the back). Or it can roar down the track with 760-plus horsepower (in the case of the SC). My boyfriend drives his 2024 Frod Mustang GT to work all the time, but he also brings it to the track to bully lower-horsepower Miatas until they reach a turn.
He said of his Mustang: “I like the visceral power and the way it makes me feel emotionally. It feels liberating. Here at the track, you are pushing it to the limit. It feels very freeing.”
