1970 Chevrolet Vega vs. 1972 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1972 Mercury Cougar is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Chevrolet Vega. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Chevrolet Vega would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1972 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1972 Mercury Cougar (167 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 86 more horse power than 1970 Chevrolet Vega. (81 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1972 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1970 Chevrolet Vega. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1972 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 651 kg more than 1970 Chevrolet Vega. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1972 Mercury Cougar (363 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 196 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Chevrolet Vega. (167 Nm @ 2800 RPM). This means 1972 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Chevrolet Vega.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Chevrolet Vega | 1972 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Chevrolet | Mercury |
| Model | Vega | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1972 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2287 cc | 5769 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 81 HP | 167 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 167 Nm | 363 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2800 RPM | 2400 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 89 mm | 101.6 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 91.9 mm | 88.8 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1005 kg | 1656 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4320 mm | 5080 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1670 mm | 1920 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1330 mm | 1310 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2470 mm | 2860 mm |
