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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  Nice Nice Nice car - 1998 Ford Escort
  By Mr - August 17 - 2:00 am

  Second car my car for running around town love the car love the silver color hope to have it another 10 years. Have a grand marquie for other car feel safer with grandkids in bigger car, escott is a nice nice nice car and I love it.

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  My lil red car - 1997 Ford Escort
  By NurseNell - July 30 - 2:00 am

  Fun to Drive. Dependable car. Good in snow. Attracts deer lol! Had a deer riding on my hood and windshield.Windshield never broke- mechanically sound vehicle--gas gage stuck on full at 89000 miles--regular oil changes done and replacement of y pipe a year ago. Thinking of trading to Dodge Stratus but will miss my little escort!

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  Pretty Good After 5 Years - 1999 Ford Escort
  By ZX2 Girl - July 22 - 2:00 am

  The car is in pretty good condition for being 5 years old. Of course, it doesnt run as smoothly as it use to. The air conditioning and tape deck both have gone out twice. My breaks make odd noises when Im stopping (Ive had them checked out). Even when new, the car idles really rough. Besides that, Ive had no major mechanical problems. Its a good car for a first time buyer.

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  Heathers Review - 2000 Ford Escort
  By HeatherD617 - July 19 - 2:00 am

  I love this car - the only thing better would be if it was a manual transmission. But for an automatic, it puts out a decent amount of power and is very fun to drive!

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  Very Good Car - 1994 Ford Escort
  By dspruill4 - July 11 - 2:00 am

  I had bought these car in 2000. I have not had anything go wrong, except for the battery. Very good car

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  Great Car for the Money - 2001 Ford Escort
  By GreggJ - July 10 - 2:00 am

  The ZX2 is definitely one of the best cars on the market (at that time)for the money. It has great fuel economy, is roomy inside (front only), has an appealing look, and has been extremely reliable.

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  Damn Asphalt - 1997 Ford Escort
  By zipzow319 - July 10 - 2:00 am

  My 97 Escort was a fun little car w/just enough character to make me look like I was having fun. The highway miles were impecable, and the city miles werent bad either. I made an average of two trips to Mn. from K.C. a year, and the car got me there and back w/no problems. Last time in Mn. I hit a piece of construction asphalt on the highway and totaled the car. All in all though, the car did me well and I had to shed a tear when the insurance company took it away from me.

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  Awesome - 1994 Ford Escort
  By BuckSatan - June 29 - 2:00 am

  I got this car 5 yrs ago and unfortunatly Im getting rid of it soon. Its been a wonderful, relyable car since the day I bought it. Few minor fixes and maintenance along the way, but nothing thats not expected from a car that was 8-9 yrs old at the time and never had that maintenance. Its got 96k miles on it and I would definatly expect it to last at least another 50 if its taken care of. Outside of oil changes and tire rotations Ive probably had it in the shop for repairs twice. Pretty good in my opinion when I bought the car after it was 5 yrs old. It would be a definate good buy for a first time driver.

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  172k and still kicking - 1993 Ford Escort
  By munchie - June 25 - 2:00 am

  I bought my car 5 years ago with 77k. Repair work has been very reasonable. It wasnt until the car hit around 150k that the engine needed some work. And within the last year I just had to replace the brake pads and the altenator. But when your car has 170+k you cant complain. This car is the best car anyone in my family has had.

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  Buy This Car If You Hate Yourself - 1999 Ford Escort
  By Arun Singh - June 20 - 2:00 am

  I got this car from my parents, mainly because they severely disliked driving it. While I am grateful for having a means of transportation, I would have rather had a good used car than a brand new Escort. They had only used it for 2 years when they gave this car to me, and had taken fairly good care of it. I only recently started having problems (when it was roughly four years old) with the transmission and the engine. It has surges of powers and shifts very hard. The interior and exterior styling is forgettable.