2002 Ford Explorer vs. 1974 Mercury Cougar
To start off, 2002 Ford Explorer is newer by 28 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, 2002 Ford Explorer (210 HP @ 5250 RPM) has 49 more horse power than 1974 Mercury Cougar. (161 HP @ 4000 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2002 Ford Explorer should accelerate faster than 1974 Mercury Cougar. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2002 Ford Explorer weights approximately 364 kg more than 1974 Mercury Cougar. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. 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 47 more torque (in Nm) than 2002 Ford Explorer. (335 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1974 Mercury Cougar will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2002 Ford Explorer.
Compare all specifications:
2002 Ford Explorer | 1974 Mercury Cougar | |
Make | Ford | Mercury |
Model | Explorer | Cougar |
Year Released | 2002 | 1974 |
Body Type | SUV | Coupe |
Engine Position | Front | Front |
Engine Size | 4009 cc | 5752 cc |
Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
Engine Type | V | V |
Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 2 valves |
Horse Power | 210 HP | 161 HP |
Engine RPM | 5250 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Torque | 335 Nm | 382 Nm |
Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 2000 RPM |
Engine Compression Ratio | 9.7:1 | 8.6:1 |
Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
Number of Doors | 5 doors | 2 doors |
Vehicle Weight | 1939 kg | 1575 kg |
Vehicle Length | 5240 mm | 5010 mm |
Vehicle Width | 1830 mm | 1920 mm |
Vehicle Height | 1790 mm | 1300 mm |
Wheelbase Size | 3200 mm | 2860 mm |