Ford Escort ZX2 is a hot-looking compact coupe with a rakish design. Yet its handsome interior reveals a roomy back seat and surprisingly large trunk. ZX2 provides responsive handling and good road manners and its engine delivers decent power. At the same time, the ZX2 is a practical car, with plenty of room in the back seats for friends. It's also affordable and economical. That's a good combination.
One model is available that retails for $11,855, but you'll probably want to add a few options. Air conditioning, for example, is not standard and adds $795. ABS is a $400 option. AM/FM/cassette is standard.
Ford's 2.0-liter twin-cam 16-valve Duratec four-cylinder engine drives the front wheels. This engine produces 130 horsepower. A five-speed gearbox is standard. A four-speed automatic is an $815 option.
To add sports appeal, order the S/R Package ($1,495); though expensive, it adds high-performance tires and wheels, a performance clutch, rear disc brakes, sports exhaust, sports suspension, upgraded seats, special floor mats, and sporty shifter trim.
(The Escort sedan is still being sold to rental agencies and other fleets, but has been pretty much replaced by the Ford Focus.)
Boasting stylish, flowing lines, the Escort ZX2 does not share any body panels with the Ford Escort sedan. It was designed as a true coupe, not a sedan with two doors. But the ZX2 does share its basic structure and dimensions with the Escort sedans. The chassis is based on a previous-generation Mazda Protege, a solid, successful design. Not having to start from scratch helped keep the price down. Ford reinforced it for improved safety, better handling and a smoother ride.
ZX2 comes with the standard safety features, such as dual airbags and side impact protection. Though they shouldn't be confused as a safety feature, the ZX2 comes with 5-mph bumpers, which can reduce the chance of incurring repair bills from minor bumps.
A roomy, attractive cabin makes the ZX2 a comfortable place for long trips. A sporty instrument panel peeks beneath a wedge that sweeps attractively into the door panels. Interior fabrics and materials are of higher quality than some of the other cars in this class. The inside door handle is on the dainty side. Our ZX2 came with the S/R package's handsome seats, which are firm and supportive. They are a bit lumpy, however, and the small headrest doesn't raise high enough. The driver's seat is height adjustable, a nice extra for shorter drivers. The optional tilt steering column is useful if you're not an average-size driver.
The rear seats are surprisingly comfortable-something you'd never guess by looking at the ZX2's swooping roofline. There's enough headroom and legroom for a 5-foot, 10-inch adult. But the shortest person will need to sit behind the driver if the driver is tall. Heater ducts for the rear seat area add comfort in the winter. Getting in and getting out is a squeeze.
The 11.8-cubic foot trunk is a bit shallow, but it's sizable by compact standards and the rear seats can be folded forward to make room for longer items.
The ZX2 is nicely trimmed. Three cupholders with liners and a center console add convenience. Hooks on the floor hold the floor mats in place. Yet it is a compact car. Not every bolt is covered with a piece of trim as it would be in a luxury car.
It pays to read the owner's manual to fully understand Ford's optional air conditioning system. It senses when the outside temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and switches on automatically in all but two modes. The system shuts off under hard acceleration to improve performance. At other times, it cycles on and off constantly, which can be a little annoying because it can be felt as a subtle bump through the throttle. It can be turned off by selecting the vent or floor mode.
