2020 Roush Performance Stage 3 Mustang

The CarCody take

The 2020 Roush Performance Stage 3 Mustang is a gasoline-powered subcompact car with rear-wheel drive, a 5.0-liter supercharged eight-cylinder engine, and an automatic S10 transmission. Its EPA rating is 14 MPG combined, split between 12 city and 18 highway. EPA lists annual fuel cost at $5,850 and tailpipe emissions at 618 grams per mile.

Who it suits. Drivers seeking a rear-wheel-drive supercharged V8 car Owners who can budget for high gasoline use Mostly highway driving at 18 MPG

What it is

The 2020 Stage 3 Mustang is a gasoline car from Roush Performance. It uses rear-wheel drive and sits in the EPA's Subcompact Cars class. See other Roush Performance cars.

Its powertrain pairs a 5.0-liter supercharged 8-cylinder engine with an automatic S10 transmission.

The numbers

The figure to plan around is 14 MPG combined. EPA breaks that into 12 MPG in city driving and 18 MPG on the highway.

That spread means stop-and-go trips use more fuel than steady highway travel. The car's official tailpipe output is 618 grams of CO2 per mile.

What it costs to run

EPA estimates $5,850 in annual fuel cost for this Mustang. It runs on gasoline, so your fuel spending follows how much city and highway driving you do and the price at the pump.

How it compares

Within its own EPA figures, highway economy is 6 MPG higher than city economy. The 14 MPG combined rating is the useful middle number for mixed driving.

The subcompact-car classification, rear-wheel-drive layout, and gasoline V8 setup distinguish its specification from cars built around smaller engines or other drivetrains.

Who it suits

This car suits a buyer who wants a rear-wheel-drive car with a supercharged 5.0-liter 8-cylinder engine and accepts a 14 MPG combined rating.

It also fits drivers whose use includes enough highway travel to benefit from the 18 MPG highway figure, while recognizing that city driving is rated at 12 MPG.

Trade-offs

The engine and rear-wheel-drive layout come with a clear fuel penalty: 12 MPG city, 18 MPG highway, and $5,850 in estimated yearly fuel cost.

Its automatic S10 transmission keeps the powertrain specification straightforward.

Verdict

Choose the 2020 Roush Performance Stage 3 Mustang if its supercharged V8, rear-wheel drive, and automatic transmission matter more to you than fuel economy. Budget for substantial gasoline use, especially in town, where the EPA rating falls to 12 MPG. The 18 MPG highway figure makes longer steady trips less costly than urban driving, but the combined result remains 14 MPG.