1999 Mercury Cougar Review

The small, slick new Mercury Cougar hatchback coupe offers lots of flash for the bucks. This early 1999 model is a big departure from its boat-like predecessor and is reminiscent of the original Cougar.

That first Cougar was a trim, European-oriented 1967 model based on the original 1964 Ford Mustang. The Cougar was offered with a Jaguar-style dashboard and leather seats and was raced successfully.

But the Cougar became larger, posher and softer in the 1970s and ended as a big 1997 rear-drive V-8 coupe similar to the Ford Thunderbird.

The front-drive 1999 Cougar comes with a four-cylinder or V-6 and is more than ``European-oriented'' because it is a European car. Although built in Michigan, it mainly has been designed and developed by Ford Motor's European operation.

One reason for that is that the Cougar is heavily based on the Ford Contour and nearly identical Mercury Mystique sedans, which have a European design. Ford saved a fortune by not having to develop a new Cougar from the ground up.

For instance, the Cougar has the same engines and chassis as the Contour/Mystique and rides on the same wheelbase. There's OK, as the Contour/Mystique is well-designed. And the Cougar's fairly long 106.4-inch ``sedan'' wheelbase helps give a fairly smooth ride for a small coupe.

However, the Cougar has stiffer construction than the Contour/Mystique. Its steering and suspension have been given a sportier feel. And the more-rigid car has its own radically designed body and interior.

The Cougar uses Ford's ``New Edge'' styling, which keeps body lines smooth but prevents a car from looking like a jellybean. There are soft round lines, but also sharp creases and geometric features for a sculpted look.

The Cougar has a muscular stance and wedge shape, with a crisp intersection of lines and surfaces that create the impression of movement. The Cougar draws lots of stares, especially from the younger buyers that Ford's Lincoln-Mercury division is trying hard to attract.

The Cougar should be affordable to many younger folks. It costs $16,195 with the 2-liter, 125-horsepower four-cylinder and $16,695 with a 2.5-liter, 170-horsepower V-6, which is worth the extra bucks.

Even the four-cylinder model has air conditioning, power steering, split folding rear seat, power windows and locks, AM/FM/cassette, trip computer and rear defroster. Added for the V-6 model are a rear spoiler, cruise control and bigger wheels and tires.

Options include an $815 four-speed automatic transmission, $235 traction control for better grip on slippery roads, $500 anti-lock brakes, $615 power sunroof, $235 power driver's seat, $185 polished aluminum wheels and $375 front side-impact air bags, which are unusual in a small coupe.

The Cougar four-cylinder comes only with a five-speed manual transmission and offers decent performance. But the smoother V-6 gives neck-snapping acceleration (0 to 60 m.p.h. in 7.8 seconds) and comes with manual or automatic. The rather stiff manual shifter is precise and works with a light, short-throw clutch. The automatic is efficient, but the Cougar is more fun without it.

The four-cylinder/manual provides 24 m.p.g. in the city and 34 on highways, while the V-6 figures are 19 and 28 with manual and 20 and 29 with automatic.

The steering is a bit heavy, but precise. Handling is in the sports car class, and the car stops quickly with a smooth brake pedal. The ride generally is smooth but gets harsh on rough roads at lower speeds.

The Cougar's stylish, fairly quiet interior has decent room up front in supportive seats. But the backseat area is tight for 6-footers and rear seats make you feel as if you're sitting in a wash bucket. The racy interior has easily read gauges and the best placement of door handles I've seen in ages.

But radio controls are tiny and the plastic climate controls feel cheap--a sign of cost cutting, as is the old-fashioned hood prop rod. A cleverly designed front cupholder flips up from the console, but doesn't seem sturdy.

The rear hatch has a rather high opening, but the cargo area is large. It seems enormous for a small coupe with rear seatbacks flipped forward.

The new Cougar is impressive--especially the V-6 model. Ford's Lincoln-Mercury division, which is moving to California, wants a younger, hipper image. This car should help it get one.