1997 Ford Escort ZX2 review from North America
"A great performing economy car"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Nothing but regular maintenance.
General comments?
This car is great.
0-60 in 8 seconds (manual transmission) is enough to beat most cars in its class in a drag race, if you're into that sort of thing. Very confident handling and excellent brake feel. The shifter is a little notchy, but it's never hard to find and hit the gears. Very sporty design. Variable camshaft timing allows the engine to produce most of its torque at low rpm, so it pulls great throughout its entire range.
Tall drivers (6'0 or taller) might feel a little uncomfortable driving this car, though.
Excellent cargo space due to split-folding rear seats.
Good gas mileage (26/33 EPA). I've gone up to 310 miles with one gallon left in the tank once (12.8 gallon tank).
Stay away from the automatic, though. Fords are known for having problematic automatic transmissions.
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| 1996 - Escort LX 1.9 Liter 4 cylinder A good choice in an economy car |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2000 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0L Zetec VCT Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 36000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 40500 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Thunderbird STD |
| Date of Entry | 25th July, 2000 |