1971 Chrysler Charger vs. 1968 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1971 Chrysler Charger is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1968 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1968 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1968 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1971 Chrysler Charger (200 HP @ 4800 RPM) has 6 more horse power than 1968 Mercury Cougar. (194 HP @ 5400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1971 Chrysler Charger should accelerate faster than 1968 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1968 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 210 kg more than 1971 Chrysler Charger.
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, 1971 Chrysler Charger (355 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 58 more torque (in Nm) than 1968 Mercury Cougar. (297 Nm @ 3400 RPM). This means 1971 Chrysler Charger will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1968 Mercury Cougar.
Compare all specifications:
| 1971 Chrysler Charger | 1968 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Chrysler | Mercury |
| Model | Charger | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1971 | 1968 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4341 cc | 5769 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 200 HP | 194 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 5400 RPM |
| Torque | 355 Nm | 297 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1390 kg | 1600 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4570 mm | 4990 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1890 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1410 mm | 1320 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2680 mm | 2830 mm |
