1990 Honda Civic vs. 1974 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1990 Honda Civic is newer by 16 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, 1974 Mercury Cougar (161 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 11 more horse power than 1990 Honda Civic. (150 HP @ 7600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1990 Honda Civic. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 549 kg more than 1990 Honda Civic. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Because 1974 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 1974 Mercury Cougar. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1990 Honda Civic, 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, 1974 Mercury Cougar (382 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 234 more torque (in Nm) than 1990 Honda Civic. (148 Nm @ 7000 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1990 Honda Civic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1990 Honda Civic | 1974 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Honda | Mercury |
| Model | Civic | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1990 | 1974 |
| Body Type | Hatchback | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1595 cc | 5752 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 2 valves |
| Horse Power | 150 HP | 161 HP |
| Engine RPM | 7600 RPM | 4000 RPM |
| Torque | 148 Nm | 382 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 7000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 10.2:1 | 8.6:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 3 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1026 kg | 1575 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3780 mm | 5010 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1680 mm | 1920 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1280 mm | 1300 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2310 mm | 2860 mm |
