1978 Mercury Cougar vs. 1989 Volvo 440

To start off, 1989 Volvo 440 is newer by 11 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1978 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1978 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 4,941 cc (8 cylinders), 1978 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1978 Mercury Cougar (133 HP @ 3400 RPM) has 13 more horse power than 1989 Volvo 440. (120 HP @ 5400 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1978 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1989 Volvo 440. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1978 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 795 kg more than 1989 Volvo 440. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Because 1978 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 1978 Mercury Cougar. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1989 Volvo 440, 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, 1978 Mercury Cougar (336 Nm @ 1600 RPM) has 161 more torque (in Nm) than 1989 Volvo 440. (175 Nm @ 3300 RPM). This means 1978 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1989 Volvo 440.

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