1990-1997 Mercury Cougar Specs & Safety - Consumer Guide Automotive

Detailed safety information for this generation Mercury Cougar include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA. Specs for this generation Mercury Cougarinclude everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.

1990-1997 Mercury Cougar Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	2-door coupe

Wheelbase, in.	113.0

Overall Length, in.	200.3

Overall Width, in.	72.7

Overall Height, in.	52.5

Curb Weight, lbs.	3575

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	15.1

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	18.0

Seating Capacity	5

Front Head Room, in.	38.1

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	42.5

Rear Head Room, in.	37.5

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	35.8

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Powertrain Options and Availability

The current-model Cougar started out with only V6 power, a normally aspirated model for base LS versions and a supercharged variant for the XR7. In 1991, both the supercharged V6 and the 5-speed are eliminated in favor of an H.O. 5.0-liter V8 and automatic transmission. In 1993, a stripped XR7 model is the only offering, with the 140-horsepower becoming the standard engine and the 5.0-liter V8 moving to the option list. Ford's new 4.6-liter V8 replaced that engine as the optional powerplant in 1994. For 1996, changes to the V6 result in five extra horsepower, while tweaks to the V8 add 15 more pound-feet of torque, for a total of 280 pound-feet at 3000 rpm.

Engines	Size liters / cu. in	Horse- power	Torque	Transmission: EPA city/hgwy	Consumer Guide Observed

ohv V6	3.8 / 232	140-145	215	4-speed automatic: 19/27	4-speed automatic: --

Supercharged ohv V6	3.8 / 232	210	315	5-speed manual: 17/24 4-speed automatic: 17/23	5-speed manual: -- 4-speed automatic: --

ohv V8	5.0 / 302	200	275	4-speed automatic: 17/24	4-speed automatic: 15.5

ohc V8	4.6 / 281	205	280	4-speed automatic: 17/25	4-speed automatic: 18.2

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	1997 Cougar

Front Impact, Driver	5

Front Impact, Passenger	5

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Built In: USA

Drive Wheels: longitudinal front-engine/rear-wheel drive

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