Overview & Reviews

With small Japanese cars dominating the economy car segment by the late '70s, Ford decided to bring something to the table that was more competitive than the antiquated, outgoing Pinto. The result was the subcompact Ford Escort. The vehicle debuted in 1981 as a two-door hatchback or four-door wagon and featured front-wheel drive, an overhead cam four-cylinder engine, a fully independent suspension and rack and pinion steering. On paper, it looked like Ford had a winner. But in reality there were early problems that made a rash of recalls necessary, and the vehicle's longevity was questionable.

But despite the teething problems, the Ford Escort went on to become the top-selling car in America for many consecutive years. Broader appeal for Ford's small import fighter appeared in the mid-'80s via the introduction of a four-door hatchback and the sporty GT.

By the late '80s, the Ford Escort had become a solid little economy car, with build quality and reliability approaching respectable, if not Japanese manufacturer's, levels. By 1991, Ford's partnership with Mazda started to bear fruit in the form of the Escort GT, which was powered by a spirited dual-overhead-cam, four-cylinder engine borrowed from Mazda. A formal sedan debuted around this time, as did a four-speed automatic (which replaced the old three-speed unit). By the time the year 2000 came around, the Escort was being phased out by Ford's new Focus. With a decidedly edgy, European-flavored personality, the Focus offered much more in terms of personality and driving fun.

Most shoppers interested in a used Ford Escort will find themselves looking at the fourth and last generation. This one debuted in 1997 with a more rounded body style and a more refined 110-horsepower 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine. Transmission choices were once again a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic. The next year brought the sporty ZX2 two-door coupe, which was essentially the Escort GT's overdue replacement. With 130 hp, the ZX2 was relatively quick, running zero to 60 mph in around 8 seconds.

When Ford phased in the Escort's replacement, the Focus, for 2000, the Escort family was thinned out by dropping the wagon, leaving just the sedan and ZX2 sport coupe. By 2002, only the ZX2 remained, and would soldier on for one more year.

Consumer commentary posted on Edmunds.com about the Ford Escort is generally upbeat, with strong points being listed as ride comfort, fuel economy and outward visibility. Proper maintenance is key, as most owners report trouble-free driving well into the 100,000-mile range, while some others have indicated troubles with the automatic transmission. Though a well-maintained Escort with lower mileage will sell for quite a bit less than an equivalent Civic or Corolla, the latter pair still has the edge in predicted reliability.

Although it debuted 10 years earlier, the Ford Escort really came into its own with the introduction of the revamped 1991 model. A lower beltline and increased glass area afforded a more airy cabin and the 1.9-liter inline four was refined for smoother operation. Higher overall build quality was evident in the car's quieter, more refined demeanor and more substantial feel throughout. The all-new Escort GT was one of the better affordable sport hatchbacks of its day thanks to its free-revving, Mazda-sourced, DOHC 127-hp engine, four-wheel disc brakes and firm sport suspension. With the exception of the adoption of safety items such as dual airbags and (on some trim levels) antilock brakes, the Escort stood pat until its 1997 redesign.

User Reviews:

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  Great little car... - 2001 Ford Escort
  By frmnc - May 20 - 11:27 am

  I have had this Escort (my second) since Feb. 2002 and currently have almost 81,000 miles on it. Other than new tires, new brake pads one time, one light bulb and the normal oil/filter changes, I have never had a bit of problem with this car. Since it was $1,000s less than an import of the same size, I am very happy with it!

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  Its fast and a joy to ride - 1995 Ford Escort
  By Anton - May 19 - 10:12 am

  This is my second Escort GT (manual transmission). Love the suspension which is pretty stiff. Also, when purchasing an old GT, look out for engine mounts, transmission mounts, and front and back shock mounts. They tend to go bad and for a better ride you might need to change them. Engine is perfect, Just so you know this is a Mazda engine and 92-97 Mazda Miata has the same engine. It is noisy, but if you open the window at slow speeds you could hear the stock exhaust. Good bang for a buck. The ONLY used Escort worth considering buying is the GT with a manual tranny.

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  Best Buy for the Money! - 1997 Ford Escort
  By EscortLover4-Ever - May 16 - 3:40 pm

  I bought this car brand new, after giving up my 88 Escort with 216,000 miles on it. This car currently has over 220,000 miles on it and Im going for at least another 30,000! The car has been very dependable. Have spent maybe $2,000 on total repairs (other than maintanance) in 8 years. Still get great mileage on the highway (checked last week and got 36 mpg). Theyll have to peel me out of this one before I give it up. Im just sad that Ford did away with the Escort - cant beat the value and the performance!

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  First Car in College - 1999 Ford Escort
  By ibnice - May 13 - 10:00 am

  I got my ZX2 3 years ago and have been so thankful for it. No, its not a road demon, but it definately has treated me well in the years that Ive driven it. It picks up well, and handles relatively well considering that it is an entry level car. Ive had no mechanical problems with it in the three years that Ive owned it. Be ware that it doesnt handle the rain very well, it slips and slides all around the road in water. High speeds are also a bit scary. Dispit the fact that the car has the engine capability to get up and go, the cars design limits its stability on the highway to about 85 mph.

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  Im hard on vehicles, but... - 1998 Ford Escort
  By andreaguinn - April 26 - 8:34 pm

  I adore my Ford Escort! I drive constantly because of school, work, and club outings. Not once has it died or not started up on the first try, and I got it at 110,031 miles. I would highly recommend this car to anyone at all. Its wonderful. Perfect for a busy teen like me.

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  Power Train - 2000 Ford Escort
  By Mike - April 25 - 12:04 pm

  So I have only had this car for 6 months. Bought it as part of a voluntary repo from my credit union. It had 30,400 miles on it, and had 35,234 when the car became locked in second somehow and the gears fused together. To repair from the original dealer is $1,600 to replace is $3,200 plus labor. Seems rather costly since it is a manual. I have owned a Ford Taurus, Acura Legend, Honda Accord, and then this ZX2. My Honda cars were reliable and fun to drive. These Fords have been costly.

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  Loving it - 2002 Ford Escort
  By Ericalacoe - April 25 - 1:05 am

  I love it! It drives really good. Fuel in this car will last a very long time and with the way gas prices are right now I still can fill my tank for a little under $20. I cant beat that and I know that. I get about 300 miles in the city per tank! So it is awesome. Fun lil car to drive and it is a pretty smooth ride.

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  Great First Car - 1997 Ford Escort
  By futuremarine16a2 - April 19 - 12:45 am

  Good little car. I was more interested in something with a big engine v6 or v8 but my parents made me test drive this one and as soon as I pulled back into the dealership I looked right at my mom and told her to sign for it. Good gas mileage.

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  Noisiest car Ive ever owned - 1999 Ford Escort
  By Larry Cole - April 9 - 2:15 pm

  The reason I was drawn to this car was that it had an excellent sound system (six-CD changer/tape player). But as time wore on, the road and engine noise became so annoying that even high volume on the stereo was not enough to drown out the incessant noise.

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  125,000 trouble-free miles.. - 2003 Ford Escort
  By crashnburn - April 3 - 1:50 am

  I owned a 2001 ZX2 and put 125,000 miles on it. It was absolutely unbreakable - that is until a minivan hit it recently and now its toast. Heres the repair history: New tires at 90,000 miles (thats right, the stock tires made it 90k!), brake pads at 100,000 miles, and the only mechanical problem was an alternator at 110,000. I used synthetic oil at every oil change and the motor still ran like brand new. The only complaints I can say about this car is that its loud at highway speeds (a lot of wind and engine noise) and a pretty cheesy interior design, but Ill gladly accept those problems for a car thatll run forever. Im gonna miss it.