1976 Chrysler Valiant vs. 1974 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1976 Chrysler Valiant is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1974 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1974 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 5,752 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1976 Chrysler Valiant (163 HP @ 4400 RPM) has 2 more horse power than 1974 Mercury Cougar. (161 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1976 Chrysler Valiant should accelerate faster than 1974 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 155 kg more than 1976 Chrysler Valiant.
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, 1974 Mercury Cougar (382 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 56 more torque (in Nm) than 1976 Chrysler Valiant. (326 Nm @ 1800 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1976 Chrysler Valiant.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Chrysler Valiant | 1974 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Chrysler | Mercury |
| Model | Valiant | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1976 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4015 cc | 5752 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Horse Power | 163 HP | 161 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4400 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 326 Nm | 382 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1800 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Vehicle Weight | 1420 kg | 1575 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5050 mm | 5010 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1890 mm | 1920 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1300 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2830 mm | 2860 mm |
