In terms of total sales, 2011 was not a great year for the Ford Mustang. But in terms of reviews and critic accolades, the 2012 Ford Mustang ran away with a number of awards from media outlets the world over. While it was the Boss 302 Mustang that garnered most of these awards, the ol’ Mustang GT got its fair share of accolades as well.

Independent analyst Consumer Reports named the 2012 Ford Mustang as its top car in the “Sporty” car category. It’s a big win for the Mustang.

As we mentioned above, the 2012 Boss 302 Mustang has taken home a lion’s share of the awards. But Consumer Reports thought that the standard Mustang GT, which starts at about $10,000 less than the Boss, was the better all around bargain. We can see why.

Praising the 5.0 V8 engine for “scorching” acceleration and a great exhaust note, Consumer Reports goes on to say that this award is about more than just pure straight line speed. The handling, comfort, and ride of the Mustang are all a step above the competition according to Consumer Reports. There was plenty of competition in this category from both foreign and domestic automakers, but at the end of the day it’s the 2012 Mustang GT that stood out from the rest of the competitors.