1997 Kia Potentia vs. 1999 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 1999 Mercury Cougar is newer by 2 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1997 Kia Potentia. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1997 Kia Potentia would be higher. At 2,530 cc (6 cylinders), 1999 Mercury Cougar is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1999 Mercury Cougar (168 HP @ 6250 RPM) has 30 more horse power than 1997 Kia Potentia. (138 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1999 Mercury Cougar should accelerate faster than 1997 Kia Potentia. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 Kia Potentia weights approximately 121 kg more than 1999 Mercury Cougar.
Because 1997 Kia Potentia 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 1997 Kia Potentia. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 1999 Mercury Cougar, 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, 1999 Mercury Cougar (223 Nm @ 4250 RPM) has 41 more torque (in Nm) than 1997 Kia Potentia. (182 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1999 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1997 Kia Potentia. 1999 Mercury Cougar has automatic transmission and 1997 Kia Potentia has manual transmission. 1997 Kia Potentia will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1999 Mercury Cougar will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 Kia Potentia | 1999 Mercury Cougar | |
| Make | Kia | Mercury |
| Model | Potentia | Cougar |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1999 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 1998 cc | 2530 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 138 HP | 168 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 6250 RPM |
| Torque | 182 Nm | 223 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4250 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 85.1 mm | 82.4 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 87.9 mm | 79.5 mm |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1465 kg | 1344 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4960 mm | 4710 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1730 mm | 1770 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1330 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2720 mm | 2710 mm |
