1980 Mercury Cougar vs. 2001 Nissan Fusion

To start off, 2001 Nissan Fusion is newer by 21 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1980 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1980 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 3,271 cc (6 cylinders), 1980 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2001 Nissan Fusion (134 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 37 more horse power than 1980 Mercury Cougar. (97 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2001 Nissan Fusion should accelerate faster than 1980 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2001 Nissan Fusion weights approximately 505 kg more than 1980 Mercury Cougar. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Because 1980 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 1980 Mercury Cougar. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2001 Nissan Fusion, 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, 2001 Nissan Fusion (372 Nm) has 154 more torque (in Nm) than 1980 Mercury Cougar. (218 Nm). This means 2001 Nissan Fusion will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1980 Mercury Cougar.

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