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2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302: High-performance, low-tech

The 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 offers no distractions from the driving experience, but rewards drivers with one of the rides of their lives.

Antuan Goodwin Reviews Editor / Cars
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Expertise Reviewing cars and car technology since 2008 focusing on electrification, driver assistance and infotainment Credentials
  • North American Car, Truck and SUV of the Year (NACTOY) Awards Juror
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Antuan Goodwin

It's not often that I have to begin a vehicle review with a five-paragraph explanation for the score assigned to it, but it's also rare that I have to assign such a low a score to a car that I loved as much as I did the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302.

Ford Mustang Boss 302
You may only see 2 exhaust tips, but there are actually 4. Josh Miller/CNET

Before you Mustang devotees grab your torches and pitchforks and converge on CNET's offices, demanding my head, you'll want to know that, in this very same review, I also praise the Boss' V-8 power, handling prowess, and firm, yet supple suspension. If it didn't have "Boss 302" logos slathered all over the fenders and seat backs, you'd forgive me for mistaking this Mustang for a certain premium German sport sedan. The ride is seriously that good.

However, at CNET we have to check the tech, and that's the one place where the Boss 302 is severely lacking, which is odd because both the Mustang GT below and the Shelby GT500 above it in Ford's lineup feature fantastic, advanced cabin tech packages that include Ford's Sync voice-controlled infotainment system. You won't even get a simple USB port when buying a 302. Factor in the poor fuel economy and, even with its seriously high performance score, the abysmal cabin tech rating puts a massive dent in the overall score for the Boss.

Check out the full review of the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 for the full rundown.