2008 Mercury Grand Marquis vs. 2012 Nissan Altima
To start off, 2012 Nissan Altima is newer by 4 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis would be higher. At 4,606 cc (8 cylinders), 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2012 Nissan Altima (270 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 46 more horse power than 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis. (224 HP @ 4800 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2012 Nissan Altima should accelerate faster than 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis weights approximately 324 kg more than 2012 Nissan Altima.
Because 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis 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 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2012 Nissan Altima, 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, 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis (369 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 20 more torque (in Nm) than 2012 Nissan Altima. (349 Nm @ 4400 RPM). This means 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2012 Nissan Altima. 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis has automatic transmission and 2012 Nissan Altima has manual transmission. 2012 Nissan Altima will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis | 2012 Nissan Altima | |
| Make | Mercury | Nissan |
| Model | Grand Marquis | Altima |
| Year Released | 2008 | 2012 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 4606 cc | 3500 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 224 HP | 270 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4800 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 369 Nm | 349 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 4400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Diesel | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Front |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | 6-speed manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 4 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 1836 kg | 1512 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5370 mm | 4595 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2000 mm | 1796 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1440 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2920 mm | 2675 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 72 L | 76 L |
