Can anything with four doors be a Mustang? A way to answer this is to ask whether anything with four doors can be a Charger. It not only can.
It already has.
From its reboot back in 2006 through to its final year prior to being electrocuted (oops, “electrified”) in 2023, the modern-era Charger has always been a sedan. The classic Charger of the ’60s and early ’70s was always a coupe. This year – 2026 – the Charger is both a sedan and a coupe and most people don’t seem to mind. So why should Ford mind? More exactly, why should fans of the Ford Mustang mind? It might just save the Mustang. Another way to put this is to point out that making the Charger a two-door again for 2024 was almost as bad as electrocuting – whoops, “electrifying” – it. At a stroke, Dodge not only lost almost all of its “civilian” buyers, it also lost Charger fleet sales to cop shops all over the country, because while a two-door Charger looks great, it is far-from-great as a Perp Carrying cop car. Cops need the extra doors. So do lots of people who’d love to have a two-door Charger but have got to have the extra doors because they have families.
The 2006-2023 Charger sold well because it had general appeal. It was not just a specialty car. The current two-door Mustang is exactly that. And it is in trouble on account of that. Though it has four seats, two of them are effectively useless because there is almost no getting back there and if you do manage, there is almost no room back there. The trunk is a purse, basically. The thing is as sexy as Sydney Sweeny in a bikini – and just as practical. Ford isn’t selling many – Mustangs, I mean. At least, not nearly as many as Dodge Chargers were being sold before Stellantis electrocuted – er, “electrified” – the poor thing. How many more was Dodge selling the last year before that happened, back in 2023? About twice as many as Ford sold Mustangs last year.
So, the credible rumor that Ford is going to bring out a four door Mustang for 2029 is really good news – if you want to see the Mustang line continue. As a coupe-only, it hasn’t got much future except as a draw to get people into showrooms to buy other Fords. But as a coupe and a sedan, it could draw lots of people into Ford stores to buy a Mustang. Cops too.
Especially if Ford does not make the same mistake Dodge has made.
Dodge is currently selling a lot more Chargers now that you can get one with two or four doors – and without an “electrified” drivetrain. However, it is only selling a fraction of what it was selling back in 2023, when the Charger came only as a four-door but came with a starting price of $33,200. Fast-forward barely three years later and the least expensive new Charger sedan lists for $51,995. That’s a kick in the head, isn’t it? It’s also too expensive even for cop shops, probably. It is certainly too expensive for probably tens of thousands of people who would otherwise love to have a new Charger but haven’t got the almost $20k additional a new one costs.
Ford does not have the same problem.
At least not yet. The current Mustang’s base price is $32,640 so less than what a Charger sold for back in 2023. If Ford can figure out a way to build a four-door variant and price it in the same ballpark, it would make the Mustang both appealing and viable (as a mass-market car rather than a specialty/boutique car). Ford could add to the fleet sales it already snatched from Dodge, too – because while Explorers make ok cop cars, sedans are preferred by most cops because they handle better and are much better-suited for high-speed pursuit work. Cops loved the old Charger. They would probably love something similar, even if it’s called Mustang.
Some High Church types may still object to the use of the “Mustang” badge on a sedan – even if it saves the Mustang from oblivion. Their objections are misplaced. So long as the Mustang – whether two-or-four doors – isn’t “electrified.” That device that Ford calls the “Mustang” Mach e is an affront to the Mustang’s lineage, not because it has five doors (it’s a five-door crossover) but because it’s a device. A device that makes fake and gay “Mustang” noises, which is a confession of sorts that Ford knows it’s a device and not a Mustang.
So long as there’s an engine under the hood, it does not really matter how many doors there are.
Just that there’s a beating heart under there.
. . .
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Ford MADE a 4-door “Mustang”. It was called the Taurus SHO. Let’s get with the program, historically speaking, lol. The Taurus SHO was in fact marketed to folks that wanted Mustang performance but needed the practicality of a sedan with a workable trunk. It should be noted that the Taurus was one of the best-selling Fords of all time, and though the SHO was somewhat “limited production”, it had (still does, in fact) a rabid following, not unlike the Mustang.
Re: “The thing is as sexy as Sydney Sweeny in a bikini – and just as practical.” I would argue that Sydney Sweeney has many…ahem…practical uses. Wink wink, nod nod.
Hi letmepic,
No, the Taurus SHO was not a four door Mustang. It was based on an entirely different platform and was FWD, with a Yamaha-sourced V6. The sedan being considered would be made using the Mustang’s underthings, so RWD – and it would (let’s hope) offer the same drivetrains as the Mustang coupe, including the 5.0 V8.
Hi Eric.
Yeah, I know the SHO wasn’t literally a 4 door Mustang, but that’s pretty much who it was market towards, guys who really wanted a Mustang but which wasn’t practical for them as they needed a sedan. And the people that wanted performance that approached the Mustang didn’t necessarily give a crap that it was FWD.
Using the 1989 numbers, we see they are surprisingly close. HP was 220 for the SHO and 225 for the GT Mustang. 0-60 was 6.6sec for the SHO and 6.2sec for the Mustang. Top speed for the SHO was 143, and the Mustang gave up at 140. It’s not accidental that those numbers are as surprisingly close as they are. Point blank, the SHO Taurus was aimed directly at folks that wanted a Mustang but needed 4 doors.
There is no reason they can’t do the same thing today, but they should be smart about it and not try and make a “4 door Mustang” but rather they should bring back the Taurus SHO.
From a marketing standpoint especially you know I’m 100% spot on here. Fans and critics alike will ridicule the very CONCEPT of a 4 door Mustang. But tell folks Ford is bringing back the Taurus SHO, and people will go ape shit for it.
Prove me wrong, lol.
Hi Letme,
Well, I drove both – at the time – so I can offer up some personal experience. Totally different experience. A RWD, V8-powered car has a different feel (and sound) than a FWD/AWD V6 car. It’s literally apples and oranges. A guy who likes Mustangs may like a car like the SHO. But not necessarily. On the other hand, a guy who likes Challengers (two-door Charger, basically) will like a Charger because the experience is essentially the same.
Sigh. I’m not trying to claim there is a genuine, perfect equivalency. All I’m saying is that if you’re trying to market something like this, you need to read the room and understand the people you’re trying to sell to.
Mustang folks will generally mock any attempt to deviate from the Mustang ideology. You know as well as anyone how the enthusiasts mocked the e-crap SUV that wears the Mustang label. A 4 door Mustang will be no different. Especially with the morons running Ford.
The proof the Mustang is an enthusiast car that has to meet the demands of its adoring public (and has successfully done so) is found in the fact the Mustang has been in production continuously since 1964.
The Charger was first produced in 1966, and the shift to front wheel drive killed it by 1987, only to return in 2006 as a RWD car once again, this time has a sedan.
The Challenger only made it 5 years (69 to 74) before it was canned. Then they turned it into a Mitsubishi (lol) for another 5 years (78 to 83), only to be resurrected one final time in ’08-’23, where if failed once again.
Remember when Ford tried to re-invent the Mustang as what later became the Probe? Yeah, that didn’t go well. And like I said, you have that e-crap version SUV-thing, but notice that they didn’t discontinue the ACTUAL Mustang.
The point of all this is, that Mustang owners like the Mustang because it’s a Mustang. It even survived the Pinto, er, Mustang II. The reason it has survived is because it has remained true to form. At least, somewhat. Rather than abandoning its roots and trying to become something it’s not. There are die-hard Christians that would rather sell their children into slavery than drive a bastardized “Mustang”.
You can make a 4 door performance car. You can even base it on the Mustang chassis. You can make it RWD, FWD, or AWD. You can make the driving experience identical to the Mustang. Or not. But what you can’t do, is try to pan it off as an actual Mustang. If you try to sell it as a 4 door Mustang, little old ladies will spit on it and curse your name. If you try to sell it as a current-gen Taurus SHO, the people will lift you upon their shoulders and carry you through the streets calling you a hero.
This is the enthusiast car world. It’s something I’m hoping you understand, as I haven’t yet seen you posting your desires for GM to resurrect the Firebird TA as a minivan so long as it maintains its RWD / V8 roots.
You can sigh all you like, let me!
The fact is the Charger sedan sold well. The two-door Challenger that shared the same platform didn’t. It’s not 1979 anymore, alas. Most people can’t afford an impractical car. But lots of them would like to have the same layout/mechanicals in a sedan that is practical. That is why the Charger sedan sold well. These are facts and they speak for themselves. I – like you – would much prefer the Mustang sold well as a coupe only. But coupes aren’t selling; they’re too expensive and too impractical. If Ford could get the price of the Mustang coupe down to $25k to start for the base version and $30k for the GT, they’d sell a bunch. But that’s not the situation, unfortunately.
A Firebird minivan would be silly. Agreed. But a minivan isn’t a sedan. A minivan is also FWD/AWD and most have fours and some have sixes. None have ever had a V8.
I think, by the way, that I qualify as an “enthusiast”!
I just hope Sydney stays in Cleveland as long as possible. Sadly the well equipped gals always end up in Saginaw.
No. A Mustang is a 2 door sports car. I am all for Ford making a sporty 4 door sedan, but it needs to be it’s own thing. Even if it’s built on a stretched Mustang platform. Something new.
Perhaps the… Stallion??
Now you’re cooking with gas.
Hi Kevin,
Even if it saves the Mustamg from being cancelled? I don’t see the problem with a sedan iteration, provided it is a Mustang. Meaning, RWD and with the same drivetrain options as are available with the coupe.
Why not? As I mentioned in the article, the sedan Charger did very well. Is it not really a Charger? How so?
Hey, Eric. Little fact-drop here:
In all likelihood, the Charger survives in production because of the fact they manage to sell quite a few units to police departments nationwide because it’s a 4-door production vehicle that manages to go pretty fast. My guess is without those sales, the Charger would be in the production graveyard along with the Challenger. Being able to charge whatever you like to govt agencies for “Police Pursuit” packages really helps keep the ink black.
Hi letme,
Fleet sales did help; absolutely. But the car also just sold well. 70,000-something in 2023. This is my point. Selling cars is what it’s all about. If Ford can sell more Mustangs – two and four door – then it helps keep the Mustang viable and I am all for that. The caveat is that the sedan version must be mechanically similar; it cannot be a FWD car, a hybrid car or an EEEEEEEEEEEEEEVeeeeeee.
Mustang until the mid 1980s (with the exception of the Mustang ii 1974-78) always had a four door car to share costs with.
Falcon, Maverick, and Fairmont along with their Mercury twins.
Nobody called them Mustangs though.
You can take a Fairmont and bolt on a Mustang front clip and all the Mustang goodies. There’s your four door Mustang.
Just call it a Falcon and be done with it.
My wife rolls her eyes at me when we’re in my 71 Charger and see a modern one on the street which causes me say in my best Crocodile Dundee voice “that’s not a Chah-Ja”.
There was a Mustang coo car back in the I wanna say early 80s
I dont know if it was a 4 door but you’d think it would almost have to be
RE: 2 door cars and family, “they’re kids, they’ll get over it”.
Hi Sparkey,
Yes, but the problem is saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaafety seats. Imagine trying to deal with one of those in the back of a two-door coupe. Every single time you took your kid for a ride.
We did, both the 71 Nova and the 70 Firebird were the family cars for years! Car seat anchor point mounted in the rear seat ‘parcel shelf’. They didn’t do the ridiculous “booster seats” in the ‘80s so once she outgrew the original car seat that was over. She could scramble in and out of the back seat just fine.
Next two door was the 79 Gran Prix, bought that in ‘84 when she was four. That was the vacation car for the 6 hour run to north central WA. Trunk big enough for a weeks worth of gear including her “Powder Puff” bicycle AND the trunk lid closed no bungee!
She did get over it just fine! MBA, teaches online for several universities and runs a small business in town.
4 door with a manual and Coyote would sell like hotcakes, Id buy one
It’s great being a car enthusiast and I have Mustang, but cars are getting expensive to buy and operate. The pool of buyers is shrinking.
I remeber the outrage back when ford proposed replacing the mustang with what came out as the front whell drive Probe, which wasn’t a bad sportscar, just more Japanese like.
The faithful were shocked that a front wheel drive car could take the place of a a rear drive ride like the traditional mustang. I was like, meh, just make an AFFORDABLE sporty type car for the masses, like the original falcon based mustang, and it’ll sell.
But a 4 door set up, with suicide type doors, like the Mazda RX-8 used, would be a great set up, and if they made it with a bench type seat, for 3 people, that would be ideal.
Anything to just get more cars, especially affordable ones, back into the market for us is a win all around
YMMV….
Until actual freedom returns we’ll have Trabants and Yugos for the connected proles, and ZIL/ZIS for the nomenklatura. Though they are now upgraded so the KGB and Stasi are built in. Flying, of course is for government and their tightly controlled companies.
And a Quattroporte Mustang is an abomination. Fortunately, I don’t ever see myself being in the market for a car made much after 1960. Unfortunately, even the supply of good usable modernized parts like RWD overdrive transmissions, is drying up.
Makes me glad I’m on the downside of my years rather than the upside.
Trabants and Yugos wpuld be an upgrade to cars like the Chevy trax
Well, Chrysler DID make a Dodge Charger based on the K-car platform in the 1980s…so anything is possible.
Anybody else remember that?
Surprisingly, the 81 to 87 years weren’t bad cars, if you got the higher end models.
The dodge Daytona, with a turbo manual set up, was actually faster than the old cars off the line, due to the lighter weight, for stoplight to stoplight runs.
That was my experience, but driver skill played a role too….
YMMV….
I would buy one tomorrow IF it comes as a regularly aspirated non-hybrid, non-CVT model. Also without all the saaaafety and nanny crap “assistance” stuff, which will never happen.
I’ll agree the four door Mustang looks nice and sporty but that sloping roof line looks harder to get into and once in there wont be much headroom.
I agree with Jim that they shouldn’t call it a Mustang but how about calling it a Torino or LTD? However using the base platform while building a sedan with more headroom and a usable trunk which a sedan actually needs to be successful would give certain economy’s of scale. This way Mustang buyers can have a Mustang and sedan buyers can have an LTD sedan with good handling.
A 4 door mustang would be ideal. It would not be hard to sell hundreds of thousands of them. It would be constructed of galvanized sheet metal like they used back in the 90’s. The perfected paint coatings would be used. The back seat would be a bench seat. Manual transmission only, having Ford’s 6.2 truck engine in it, or the Godzilla. There would be no a/c, or any other electronics or gizmos beyond mid to late 90’s engine management computer Roll up windows, maybe a few cigarette lighter outlets and triangle window vents.
The more we see what has happened the sadder we become. The game is a rigged profit triangle of manufacturer-insurance-dealer. The end user is a mark.
Ford still produces the Mondeo in China, and the latest version is decent looking.
If they need a sedan in the US, couldn’t they revive the Fusion name plate and build the cars on the same assembly line as the Maverick (same platform) in Mexico?
Or the Taurus name?
Hi Roscoe,
Yes, but then it’d be just another FWD/AWD 2.0 four sedan and why bother? The proposed four-door Mustang’s appeal would be the same as the four-door Charger’s; i.e., that it is rear drive and available with a V8.
Check out THIS dystopian bullshit:
ICE to give officers gloves that deliver painful electric shocks
https://www.wivb.com/news/national/ice-to-give-officers-gloves-that-deliver-painful-electric-shocks/
“It’s immediate and sharp, and it will distract you. I call it like a bee sting,” said John Peters, president of the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths, who is studying how the device has been used. “If the officer is getting any type of resistance from the person, this is certainly an effective tool.” Editor’s Note: Emphasis added.
Ford marketing must be totally out of fresh ideas, not unlike like the movie industry.
They seem to have a hard-on for (the presumed to be huge brand equity in) 3 model names – F series, Bronco and Mustang – and will then add trim levels and “clever” qualifiers for each nameplate.
Morning, Flip!
I’m ok with this, provided the sedan isn’t an EEEEEEEEEVeeeeeee. I remember some people being upset when the Charger sedan came out. After all, the Charger had always been a coupe before then. But the Charger sedan was vastly more successful than the Charger coupe ever was. Now, you can get either. I think that’s a sensible policy.
Ford could – and I think should – do the same.
If not, the Mustang (coupe) is probably not going to survive on its own and I’d hate to see it get cancelled.
Agreed.
I would prefer the Mustang survive in it’s current form, and if adding a 4 door platform mate will do it, I’m fine with that.
But hopefully they take a page from the Charger/Challenger playbook and give the sedan a proper DIFFERENT name.
Wasn’t the Falcon nameplate successful in Australia?
Go with that – or Thunderbird even (as it once was a sedan.)
The world doesn’t need 3 variants of the Mustang.
But yes, the bigger concern is that it’s a hybrid – or anything other than an ICE vehicle.
Reminds me of the Dad joke “why do chicken coops have two doors? If it had four doors, it would be a sedan.”
Again we are discussing the galactically incompetent brand management of Detroit and Dearborn.
If Ford chooses to produce a 4-door sedan again — even if built on an elongated Mustang platform — why not call it a Town Car or a Crown Victoria or even a Galaxie 500, to fetch the jaunty centenarian demographic?
Badging an entirely different EeeVee a ‘Mustang Mach-e’ was the kind of bonehead mistake one would expect from Lightning Jim Farley, who’s still obsessed with building a $30,000 EeeVee pickup to one-up the Chinese.
Ford has lost its way. It needs new management. My rating is ‘sell it till the pips squeak.’ Morons!
Every dog that lived his life on a chain
Knows what it’s like waiting for nothing
And by the way you look fantastic
In your boots of Chinese plastic
— Pretenders, Boots of Chinese Plastic
I saw what I assume was a prototype Crown Vic reboot rolling around the streets of Chicago in March of 2019. It was shrouded, but that silhouette is unmistakable.
Impeachment and the specter of 50 MPG CAFE returning in 2021 probably killed that idea.
I need to find the pictures and send them to @Eric.
Crack is a helluva drug.