1989 Mercury Cougar vs. 2012 Nissan Sentra
To start off, 2012 Nissan Sentra is newer by 23 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1989 Mercury Cougar. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1989 Mercury Cougar would be higher. At 3,799 cc (6 cylinders), 1989 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, both vehicles can yield 140 horse power. So under normal driving conditions, the acceleration of both vehicles should be relatively similar.
Because 1989 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 1989 Mercury Cougar. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2012 Nissan Sentra, 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, 1989 Mercury Cougar (292 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 93 more torque (in Nm) than 2012 Nissan Sentra. (199 Nm @ 4800 RPM). This means 1989 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2012 Nissan Sentra. 1989 Mercury Cougar has automatic transmission and 2012 Nissan Sentra has manual transmission. 2012 Nissan Sentra will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1989 Mercury Cougar will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1989 Mercury Cougar | 2012 Nissan Sentra | |
| Make | Mercury | Nissan |
| Model | Cougar | Sentra |
| Year Released | 1989 | 2012 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3799 cc | 2000 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 140 HP | 140 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3800 RPM | 5100 RPM |
| Torque | 292 Nm | 199 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4800 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | 6-speed manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Length | 5050 mm | 4567 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1850 mm | 1791 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1340 mm | 1511 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2880 mm | 2685 mm |
| Fuel Consumption Highway | 8.7 L/100km | 7.6 L/100km |
| Fuel Consumption City | 13.8 L/100km | 9.8 L/100km |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 72 L | 55 L |
