Overview & Reviews

The aged Escort receives a few changes this year. On the outside, there are stylistic changes to its front and rear fascias, including standard foglamps. Inside, new cloth spruces up the seats, and the standard model receives a cassette player. Fifteen-inch wheels are standard on all models, and two new colors make their debut. For 2003, Ford has renamed the options packages "deluxe" and "premium." The deluxe package gets you a CD player, a leather-wrapped steering wheel that tilts, cruise control and map lights as standard equipment. Premium models also get power windows, locks and remote keyless entry. Finally, the in-dash six-disc CD changer is no longer available.

• Affordable price, standard 130-horsepower engine.

• Superior Ford Focus ZX3 competes in the same showroom, lack of cabin space, uncomfortable seats.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 56.00

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  Approaching 100k and Near End of Life - 2003 Ford Escort
  By Paul Gyergyek - August 13 - 1:52 pm

  I bought this car in Dec 2011 (w/ only 72.8k miles on it) for my son in college. Almost 4 years and 25.5k miles later, I learned a valuable lesson in used-car buying: a older, low-mileage car is not always a good deal. It cost a ton to maintain this car - I think Ive replaced everything once, some things twice (front brakes, portions of exhaust system). The upstate NY winters (no car washing = lots of rust damage) & rough roads have aged this car tremendously. However, lots of items that shouldnt have failed, did - CD player (it wont play ANY CDs), speedo, odometer, blower motor resistor. My sons hard driving, especially on some bad country roads, and not taking good care of it was a major contributing factor to its rapid decline. However, honestly, I think the previous owner simply sold this car at the right time. Best Features: The gas mileage is fantastic! 32-36 MPG on most of my trips. I own an 07 Mustang GT, and this car, though it doesnt compare, is still fun to drive. Even though the 03 Foci I owned were better-built and performing cars, I prefer the ZX2 stying. Pretty roomy for me, a 250 lb guy. Stereo system sounds OK, for a lower-end vehicle. My son didnt care for A/C (which is good, cause it broke in 2014), but he loved driving with the moonroof wide open. Worst Features: Auto tranny downshifts very hard & violently into 1st gear when you stomp on the gas - but the car does move fairly quickly. In the northern rust belt, this car abhors water (and the damage it does) more than the Wicked Witch of the West. Definitely needs a drivers arm rest. I highly recommend snow tires for winter driving - its snow/ice traction is poor.

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  practical sports car - 2003 Ford Escort
  By crash86 - November 17 - 4:31 pm

  i purchased this car for $6500 with around 23000 miles, 5speed, the whole package. accelerates and turns very well. a lil rough but its a small car so no surprise there.

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  This car should be taken off the lineup - 2003 Ford Escort
  By sweety89 - October 28 - 2:00 am

  Well the main reason why i dog this cra is because atfer driving mine for like 3 months it started breaking down i take it to get looked at and i find out that it has no motor mont then it took 3 months to get one because they claimed it was an international part. The other part i do not like is how things are so low you do not even have a arm rest you have a little hole and the stero is awful and when you put a after market one in they have to put a ugly black stero holder

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  Wont buy another one - 2003 Ford Escort
  By De - August 23 - 2:00 am

  My 1999 ZX2 jerks when going slow such as a slow take off or stop n go on the frwy. Service Mgr told me thats normal. Feels like it wants to stall. Taken it in 7 times. No leg room in back seat and if youte tall your head hits the top of the car. Air conditioner stopped working at 35,000. Good on gas, reliable. Great take off. The jerking has turned me off. Can feel like Im learning to drive a stick and cant balance the gas and clutch. Other than that - its okay.

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  Not a fun car - 2003 Ford Escort
  By jillers - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I hate this car and cant wait to trade it in for something else. I have had it for 3 months now and thought that it would grow on me. It doesnt. I get passed on the freeways all of the time cause it has no power. For some reason the exhaust goes into the car when you turn on the aircon. What is with that? It looks like a sporty little zippy car but it is not. I am going today to trade it in for something else. I hate this car.