Overview & Reviews

Depending on how old you are, you probably have different recollections of the Mercury Cougar: Baby boomers will likely remember the original V8-powered pony car and its evolutionary change into a big, personal luxury coupe. Car enthusiasts of a younger vintage are probably more familiar with the Cougar as a small, spry front-wheel-drive sport coupe. About the only common link between all Cougars is their Ford genetics.

Debuting in 1967, the first Mercury Cougar was closely related to the second-generation Mustang. Mercury's version was marketed as being more plush and European. Coupe and convertible versions were offered, and this was the first time that "XR-7" appeared as an option package. From a performance standpoint, these early Cougars were highly regarded, especially as they could be equipped with a variety of powerful V8 engines.

By the mid-1970s, however, the focus on performance had diminished. The Mercury Cougar of this era was more of a personal luxury car. Mercury even experimented with sedan and station wagon variants. The Cougar finally settled into its role as a luxurious coupe at the dawn of the 1980s. As a close relative of the Thunderbird (atop Ford's new "Fox" chassis), the Cougar remained rear-wheel drive and could be V6- or V8-powered.

With consumer tastes shifting away from this type of vehicle in the 1990s, Mercury cut all previous ties for the Cougar's final iteration. As a smaller front-wheel-drive coupe with a focus on style, this Cougar was meant to draw in young buyers who otherwise perceived the Mercury brand as being old and out of touch. However, this approach didn't quite work as well as Mercury had hoped. Faced with disappointing Cougar sales, Mercury finally pulled the plug on one of its most popular and well-known nameplates in 2002.

Most recent Mercury Cougar

The Mercury Cougar spanning from 1999 to 2002 was based on the Ford Contour (and the associated Mercury Mystique), a small sedan with European breeding. Mercury hoped these underpinnings would give the Cougar a sparkling on-road personality while the coupe's sharp "New Edge" styling did the rest, yet this generation of Cougar never met with much success. Some say the car's branding as a Mercury ruined its chances with the younger consumers the company was after, though our experience with the car gives us a few theories of our own.

The Cougar had the makings of a credible entry-level sport coupe thanks to its accurate handling, head-turning exterior styling and an available 2.5-liter V6 with a five-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic. It also had a generally well-laid-out and comfortable interior (rear seats excepted), a surprisingly utilitarian hatchback body style and a price that was considerably less than other competing models of the time.

On the other hand, the car was merely adequate in a lot of ways. Steering feel was heavy, and acceleration was nothing special, even with the 170-horsepower V6 (the standard four-cylinder put out a meager 125 hp). Outward visibility was also poor. In a comparison test of six sport coupes we conducted in 2001, the Mercury Cougar finished last.

Needless to say, this wasn't one of our favorite sport coupes. Shoppers still interested in a used Cougar from this vintage, however, can pretty much look at any year, as Mercury didn't make any significant changes during the model's four-year run. Slightly altered front styling went into the '01 model, when the instruments and steering wheel were also revised. For the Cougar's final year, Mercury released the 35th Anniversary Package with chrome wheels, hood scoop and an in-dash CD changer. There were also a few special appearance packages, such as the C2, the Zn ("Zinc Yellow") and the XR.

Past Mercury Cougar models

The last and best of the traditional Mercury Cougars came along in 1989. Along with the still-related Thunderbird, the Cougar was redesigned atop a new chassis with an independent rear suspension, and to everyone's surprise, gave up its V8. Instead, this Mercury Cougar used a pushrod 3.8-liter V6 with 140 hp (supercharged to 210 hp in upscale XR-7 trim).

The 1991 model year saw the demise of the five-speed manual transmission and the dropping of the supercharged V6 in favor of Ford's classic 4.9-liter pushrod V8, rated at 200 hp. A better 205-hp 4.6-liter SOHC V8 replaced it in 1994, when the body got a styling refresh and the motorized seatbelts were traded for dual airbags. More styling changes came in 1996, and the interior was made over for the Cougar's last year in 1997.

The basics stayed consistent throughout this Cougar's model cycle. A 200-inch-long body, roughly 3,600 pounds of weight and numb steering kept it from being truly sporty, but rear-wheel drive and the all-independent suspension gave it respectable handling and a rather serene ride. Acceleration was fine with any engine besides the basic V6, though gas mileage was pretty dismal regardless. Interiors are attractive (despite Ford's old hard-to-use radio) and four adults will fit, though the Cougar's interior space and comfort are more in line with that of a midsize car than its size and weight suggest.

There are definitely smaller, lighter, faster, more efficient ways to cruise the streets in two-door style, but if rear-drive, a V8, a decent-size backseat and a low price are of top importance (and muscle cars aren't your thing), this generation of the Mercury Cougar is probably a pretty good pick.

User Reviews:

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  Mercury Cougars Water Leaks - 1999 Mercury Cougar
  By Ron LeHotsky - April 1 - 9:40 pm

  Mercury Cougar allows water to leak into areas that should be kept dry: drivers seat, passengers seat, & especially hatch area. Had to throw out multiple carpets and deal with stench of mildew. Able to see where water enters into hatch (through a spot welded seem near tail-lights) but solid sheet metal is above this area; multiple dealerships have been unable to diagnose how it gets in. Source is definitely not the rubber seals around the tail-light or hatch; these are tight. Only other source might be rubber gutter seals above windows, but there is no way to know unless they are removed. Problem is they cant be replaced. New ones must be purchased, custom painted, & installed.

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  99 Mercury Cougar - 1999 Mercury Cougar
  By MrFroge - March 30 - 2:00 am

  A great car for those who like the "New Edge" style of automobiles. A coupe with a hatch back that allows cargo as large as a Queen size bed.. It gets a lot of attention at the traffic light.

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  Good Car! - 1999 Mercury Cougar
  By Laura - March 13 - 7:10 am

  I have had my car a little over a year. The transmission had a little hiccup but was cheap fix and the alternator went out the first year I had it. I was disgusted at first ( I had downgraded from a Honda Accord) but the car is proving itself worthy! Its a fun car to drive and I get a lot of compliments on the appearance!

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  2000 Mercury Cougar - 2000 Mercury Cougar
  By Pebbles073 - February 28 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Cougar for almost 2 years now and I LOVE it!! Never had a problem. The car is stylish (turns alot of heads) and very quick. My lease is over 9/03 and I will be sad to see it go, its definitely been my favorite lease so far.

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  Not very pleased - 2000 Mercury Cougar
  By hitmore35 - February 28 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Cougar for 2 years, and its been in the shop for MAJOR issues about 10 times. 3 times for the fuel pump (twice replaced), 2 recalls, Transmission slips, brakes, leaks of all sorts, electrical failures, and the list goes on... Its a shame because the car itself it very nice looking, but its TOTALLY not worth the trouble. Im looking forward to moving on to a different car soon.

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  No Surprise They Stopped Making These - 2000 Mercury Cougar
  By Tony - February 27 - 4:53 pm

  I factory ordered this car in 2000 with every option except leather and the moonroof. I had warranty problems from day one and gave this car to my daughter after 3 years of frustration. It is going on alternator #5 in only 65,000 miles and we will soon dump this car for a used Honda. Nice looking car, fun to drive, but beware!!

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  Comfortable cruiser - 1996 Mercury Cougar
  By Zillafire7 - February 26 - 10:00 am

  The cougar has a very powerful engine, that after 8 years is still able to lit up the michelins. The interior, while basic, is comfortable for 4 adults, provided the two in the back are shorter than 6ft. In the wet, RWD combined with 280lbs/ft of tourque conspire against agressive throttle imputs, but in the dry, can make the car feel like a sports car. Brakes are a little weak compared to new cars, but decent.

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  Regrets the Cougar! - 1999 Mercury Cougar
  By Big Big Mistake - February 26 - 9:56 am

  The car looked great. I was just about to turn 40 and was tired of being practical. I wish I stayed practical. The alternator has been replaced 4 times. The cup holder tips. The tires wear out easily. The engine light is constantly on for a number of reasons. Ford should pay for these recalls. The stereo buzzes and short circuits, but does come back on if you hit a bump in the road just right. The car is very uncomfortable and the ride is awful. I only have less that 200 words to describe this car, so I will use one word... awful.

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  Ill miss it - 2000 Mercury Cougar
  By cougarluv - February 12 - 11:36 am

  I owned this car from day one, and every trip is a joy. I loved sitting in it. I loved listening to music in it. I loved driving it. It looks so interesting and unique, inside and out. Havent had any serious engine problems with this car at all, but a bunch of strange quirks have been showing up this year, and after having to go to the shop every other month to stop the annoyances, like the stereo turning itself on randomly, the moon roof getting stuck open, the drivers window not rolling up, etc., in addition to the repairs Ive had to do for wear and tear, I think its time to say goodbye. Its current gas mileage is still better than some newer cars you can buy today. A really amazing car

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  Awesome Car - 1999 Mercury Cougar
  By jdunning - February 7 - 9:30 am

  I bought this car used with 108,000 miles on it...my 99 Sable had just crapped out with 220,000 on it so i figured another Mercury would do me good for getting back and forth to college. I now have 139,000 on it and have never had a problem. It has plenty of power except for a dull spot from 3-4000 rpms, then at 4000 she gets up and goes...its the 4 speed auto and it will do 115 in third gear at 6000 rpms...which from a 175 horse v6, is pretty impressive. Another thing is the gas mileage. I get 33mpg on a trip if I drive reasonably. Put your foot in the gas and it drops to about 24.