2001MercuryCougarMercury Cougar2001 Mercury Cougar V6CoupeCoupeFWDFlat Rock, MIExterior and interior changes are extensive for the Cougar. At first glance outside, you'll notice new front and rear fascias, new headlights with a projector and reflector system, a new grille, a new spoiler, new fog lights, and 16-inch painted or 17-inch machined aluminum wheels. New clearcoat metallic colors include Dark Shadow Grey, Tropic Green, French Blue and Sunburst Gold. The Cougar S is finally a go for production (we hope).Unique styling, solid handling, large cargo space, faster Cougar S finally available. Acceleration from four-cylinder model can't match looks, heavy steering, poor interior ergonomics.The Cougar stands out as one of the more distinctly styled vehicles on the road today. And don't expect Cougar customers to be cross shopping for the 2001 Grand Marquis; this kitty cat is aimed at a much younger crowd. The Cougar's New Edge look combines sleek, rounded main forms with creased straight-edge detail. The most interesting parts of the Cougar's appearance are the cat-eye headlamps with smoked lenses, large triangular taillights, sculpted doors and hood, and the character line that runs along the lower portion of the greenhouse. Underneath this eye-catching skin are components that are much more familiar. The Cougar is built on the same European-engineered platform as the old Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique. It also shares roughly 70 percent of its parts with these two entry-level sedans. This is important to Ford, because it keeps the cost of the Cougar down. The Cougar is blessed with an excellent suspension, neutral handling characteristics and powerful brakes. This translates to plenty of fun on curvy roads. The only thing slowing the Cougar down is an overly heavy steering feel and engines that don't quite measure up to the car's exciting looks. Ford offers either a 125-horsepower, four-cylinder engine or a 2.5-liter V6 that produces 170 horsepower. Compared to the engines found in the Mitsubishi Eclipse or the Volkswagen GTI, the Cougar is a bit shy on power. Good thing there's the limited-production Cougar S that will be available in early 2001. A high-performance version of the V6-powered car, it comes standard with 200 horsepower. The car's suspension is also performance-tuned to handle the extra power. For all Cougar interiors, you'll find a conventional control layout with a decidedly unconventional appearance. Accessing the backseat is a breeze, thanks to a front passenger seat that slides forward when the backrest is folded and then returns to its preset position once riders are secured in back. The rear seats are firm and place the rider high in the car; taller adults will find that their heads are squashed into the headliner. For 2001, the interior has been notably updated with a CD player now standard. Visually, the door inserts have a perforated black material and there's a new steering wheel with revised cruise-control switches and a Cougar head emblem. There's also a new instrument cluster with a satin aluminum face and graphics, new gauge surround rings and pointers, and a new cluster shroud with a technical grain. Many components are also refinished with a new appearance and others will be painted with satin aluminum paint. The Cougar S should be a welcome sight to performance enthusiasts. And despite the relative lack of power, the regular Cougar still has a lot to offer. It's affordable, functional, fun to drive and neat to look at. Acura IntegraFord MustangHonda CivicMitsubishi Eclipse336,000336,000336,0005UnlimitedNANANA62.5 litersV6170 hp @ 6250 rpm165 ft-lbs. @ 4250 rpm185 in.69.6 in.52.2 in.3013 lbs.106.4 in.37.8 in.34.7 in.53.9 in.51.3 in.51.2 in.46.1 in.42.6 in.33.2 in.14.5 cu.ft.OptionalStandardOptionalOptionalNot AvailableOptionalNot AvailableRating = Not TestedRating = Not TestedNot TestedNot TestedNot TestedNot Tested16 gal.20 mpg / 29 mpg20 mpg / 29 mpg320 mi. / 464 mi.320 mi. / 464 mi.Insurance costs can vary greatly for this vehicle, depending on such factors as driver age, driver gender, teenage drivers in the household, driving records, theft loss data for your particular geographic region, miles driven per year, and other widely variable factors. Additionally, some companies charge a premium for certain makes and models, while others do not.$15,955$17,2007.35%$475N/A3% of the Total MSRPI4 (5M): 2L I4 DOHC SMPI 16-valve engine with variable valve timing; 5-speed OD manual transmission; 105-amp alternator; 72-amp battery; front-wheel drive, 3.82 axle ratio; stainless steel exhaust; front independent strut suspension with anti-roll bar, front coil springs, gas-pressurized front shocks, rear independent multi-link suspension with anti-roll bar, rear coil springs, gas-pressurized rear shocks; rack-and-pinion power steering; front disc/rear drum brakes; 16 gal. capacity fuel tank; side impact bars; front and rear body-colored bumpers; clearcoat monotone paint; enclosed projector beam halogen headlamps; driver's and passenger's power remote body-colored heated outside mirrors; 15" x 6" silver alloy wheels, P205/60SR15 BSW A/S tires; compact steel spare wheel; air conditioning, air filter, rear heat ducts; premium AM/FM stereo, seek-scan feature, single-disc CD player, 4 performance speakers, integrated roof antenna; power door locks, power remote hatch release; 1 poweraccessory outlet, driver's foot rest; instrumentation display includes tachometer, water temperature gauge, in-dash clock, exterior temp, trip computer, trip odometer; warning indicators include oil pressure, battery, low coolant, lights on, key in ignition, low fuel, brake fluid; driver's and passenger's front airbags; ignition disable; tinted windows with driver's 1-touch down function; variable-speed intermittent front windshield wipers, rear window defroster; seating capacity of 4, front bucket seats with fixed headrests, driver's seat includes 8-way adjustment (2-way power), front passenger's seat includes 4-way adjustment with easy entry feature; 50/50 folding rear bucket seat with fixed headrests; height-adjustable front seatbelts; cloth seats, cloth door trim insert, full cloth headliner, full carpet floor covering with floor mats; interior lights include dome light with delay; steering wheel with tilt adjustment; driver's side vanity mirror; day/night rearview mirror; fullfloor console, glove box, front and rear cupholders, driver's and passenger's door bins; carpeted cargo floor, cargo cover, cargo tie downs, cargo light; black grille, black side window moldings, black front windshield molding, black rear window molding and body-colored door handles.
V6 (5M) (in addition to or instead of I4 (5M) equipment): 2.5L V6 DOHC SMPI 24-valve engine; 130-amp alternator; 4.06 axle ratio; tailpipe finisher; touring-ride suspension.
V6 S (5M) (in addition to or instead of V6 (5M) equipment): Requires premium unleaded fuel; traction control; sport-ride suspension; 4-wheel antilock disc brakes; rear wing spoiler; body-colored bodyside molding; additional exterior lights include front fog/driving lights; 17" x 7" machined alloy wheels, P215/50ZR17 BSW A/S tires; cruise control with steering wheel controls; power door locks with 2-stage unlock, remote keyless entry; warning indicators include low washer fluid, door ajar, service interval; ignition disable, panic alarm; rear window wiper; front sports seats with adjustable tilt headrests, center armrest with storage, driver's seat includes 14-way adjustment (6-way power), 2-way power lumbar support; leather seats, leather-wrapped gearshift knob, aluminum interior accents; interior lights include front reading lights, illuminated entry; leather-wrapped steering wheel; dual illuminated vanity mirrors; glove box with light, 2 seatback storage pockets.