KansasCity.com's view

It must be the paint.

Fast-food drive-through attendants gaze at cars all day, so I was surprised when Mercury’s bright yellow Cougar got a “nice car” comment from them on three separate occasions in the space of four days. Granted, a sharp looking coupe with a paint job so bright that it practically glows in the dark is bound to catch their attention because it is such a stark contrast to the steady parade of minivans and SUVs that patronize most burger joints. But, the comments are a good indication that the Cougar’s minor facelift and new equipment packages are capable of pushing the right buttons with twentysomethings, the target audience.

Two special-edition Cougars were announced at the Chicago auto show in February: the Zn and the C2. The Zn, which is the one I drove, has a base price of $20,595, features the aforementioned retina-searing yellow paint, hood scoop, 17-inch alloy wheels, black sports seats and a six-disc in-dash CD changer. The C2, starting at $19,715, is a similar, but more subtle, package.

In terms of driving feel, the Cougar is much like a coupe version of the recently discontinued Contour. The Zn’s 17-inch wheels complement a suspension retuned for flatter cornering and a tighter ride. At first I thought the suspension was too firm, but after a four-hour trip I discovered it was just right. On twisty, narrow two-lane roads it was as willing to please as a puppy just out of obedience school.

Cupholders? On road trips, my wife and I often slake our thirst with a soft drink, which is why we got so many comments from fast-food folks. Poorly designed cupholders stand out. The Cougar has two cupholders, but only one is easily accessible. The second is under the lid of the storage bin between the seats, and it is so far back that drinks are imperiled by the driver’s elbow.

The Cougar’s styling has been revised this year, and the look is a significant improvement. Gone is the smiley-face grille in the bottom of the front fascia, replaced by an understated opening flanked by fog lamps. The Zn gets a large, nonfunctional hood scoop and an oversized decklid spoiler.

Inside, the gauges have silver faces, while the graphics for heating/cooling have been updated and aluminum pedals, with rubber nubs, add a sports-car look. The steering wheel hub and upper center section of the dash are covered with a finely crosshatched pattern of soft rubber, like the grip of a high-tech appliance.

Heavily contoured, firmly padded seats are one of the best additions to the interior, and the optional leather, like that on the test car, was soft to touch and adds a touch of luxury. The back seat is small and the bottom cushion is angled so sharply that our dog had trouble riding there. The lack of legroom (our dog never noticed) points out that this is not a car whose back seat will get much use by adults anyway. Fortunately, the split-folding back can be tumbled forward to accommodate long items.

The trunk is surprisingly spacious, considering the overall size of the vehicle, and it gets even bigger with the seat down.

A sports coupe needs decent power to fulfill its job description and the Zn’s 2.5-liter V-6 brings 170 horsepower to the table. This engine is smooth and tractable, with power spread out across a wide rpm range, and while it won’t pin your ears back, it scoots along with more than enough zing to be enjoyable.

The base Cougar ($17,200) is nicely equipped. Standard equipment includes power windows, power locks, keyless remote entry, rear-window defogger, air conditioning and AM/FM stereo. The Zn package adds $1,395..

Four-wheel anti-lock brakes and traction control are options, and both are recommended.

The Cougar Zn is targeted at young drivers, to be sure, but middle-agers who appreciate a sharp-looking coupe will find the Cougar is responsive enough to carve through turns on back roads, small enough to slip through traffic easily and yet is big enou to carry two people and their luggage. Think of it as a personal-sized transportation device without the restrictions of a sports car.

Price The base price of a Cougar is $17,200. The Zn model starts at $20,595. Options on the test car included anti-lock brakes, traction control, power driver’s seat, stereo with in-dash six-disc CD changer, side airbags and leather seats.

The sticker price was $23,665.

Warranty Three years or 36,000 miles.

To get in touch with Tom Strongman, send e-mail to tstrongman@kc.rr.com.

{Point:} The Cougar gets a drink from the fountain of youth with revised styling and special equipment packages like the Zn. It has room for two (plus luggage), digs into corners with 17-inch wheels and is nicely appointed with the optional leather seat package.

{Counterpoint:} Don’t pick the bright yellow paint if you are at all shy because it screams for attention. The back seat is too tiny to be of much practical use for seating adults.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine: 2.5-liter V-6 170 horsepower
Transmission: automatic Front-wheel drive
Wheelbase: 106.4 inches
Curb weight: 3,200 lbs.
Base price: $17,200
As driven: $23,665
Mpg rating: 20 city, 29 hwy.
> >