1973 Mercury Cougar vs. 2010 Kia Forte
To start off, 2010 Kia Forte is newer by 37 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 5,769 cc (8 cylinders), 1973 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2010 Kia Forte (173 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 5 more horse power than 1973 Mercury Cougar. (168 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2010 Kia Forte should accelerate faster than 1973 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 353 kg more than 2010 Kia Forte.
Because 1973 Mercury Cougar is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 1973 Mercury Cougar. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2010 Kia Forte, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. 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, 1973 Mercury Cougar (363 Nm @ 2400 RPM) has 135 more torque (in Nm) than 2010 Kia Forte. (228 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1973 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2010 Kia Forte.
Compare all specifications:
| 1973 Mercury Cougar | 2010 Kia Forte | |
| Make | Mercury | Kia |
| Model | Cougar | Forte |
| Year Released | 1973 | 2010 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 5769 cc | 2400 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 168 HP | 173 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 363 Nm | 228 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2400 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1650 kg | 1297 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5080 mm | 4481 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1920 mm | 1765 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1310 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2860 mm | 2649 mm |
