Consumer Reports test drives 2015 Mustang ahead of fall debut

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Terry Goodman always wanted a 1965 Mustang. She feels the iconic car is a great piece of American history, and really fun to drive.

"Every day in that Mustang is a happy day. You just feel good in it, no matter what's going on in your life," she said.

Over 1 million Mustangs were sold in its first two years. It created a new car segment defined by an affordable entry price, and a unique style -- with a long hood and a short deck. The simple rear-drive car could be equipped from mild to wild.

Consumer Reports tested the 1965 Mustang 50 years ago. It was priced at under $2,500.

"The Mustang was a huge hit. But, equipped with a 101-horsepower, six-cylinder engine on the first Mustang we tested, it took a whopping 16.8 seconds to get to 60 mph. That's really slow. The following year we tested a 289 cubic-inch V8. Needless to say, that was much faster," said Jake Fisher with Consumer Reports.

Now Consumer Reports has taken the 2015 Mustang out on its test track. A lot has changed in 50 years, including a sleeker design, a more powerful V8 engine and an optional four cylinder turbo-charged engine.

"Finally there is an independent rear suspension. That was something that was conspicuously absent from the Mustang for quite a long time," said Fisher.

Once the 2015 Mustang goes on sale this fall, Consumer Reports engineers will conduct their usual full battery of tests.

Of course, the entire 50 years haven't been rosy for the Mustang. There was the Mustang II of the 1970s during the oil crisis; those aren't remembered very fondly. But Consumer Reports says the car kept getting better and better over the years. In fact, they've been recommending the Mustang every year since 2008.