1995 Ford Escort vs. 1974 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1995 Ford Escort is newer by 21 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 5,764 cc (8 cylinders), 1974 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1974 Mercury Cougar (152 HP @ 3600 RPM) has 62 more horse power than 1995 Ford Escort. (90 HP @ 5500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1974 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1995 Ford Escort. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1974 Mercury Cougar weights approximately 925 kg more than 1995 Ford Escort. 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, 1995 Ford Escort, 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 (377 Nm @ 1800 RPM) has 242 more torque (in Nm) than 1995 Ford Escort. (135 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1995 Ford Escort.
Compare all specifications:
| 1995 Ford Escort | 1974 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Ford | Mercury |
| Model | Escort | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1995 | 1974 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1597 cc | 5764 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 90 HP | 152 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5500 RPM | 3600 RPM |
| Torque | 135 Nm | 377 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 1800 RPM |
| Drive Type | Front | Rear |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1105 kg | 2030 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4140 mm | 5480 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1690 mm | 2010 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1350 mm | 1340 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2530 mm | 2910 mm |
