A fast run through the narrow roads that snake around Arizona's Goldfield Mountains also revealed Escort's careful balance between comfort for older buyers and performance for the Generation Xers Ford also hopes to capture. Both should be pleased. By stiffening the Escort's structure, Ford was able to increase wheel travel for a softer ride. Our silver LX soaked up everything from mild washboard to mini-boulders without the pitch and jounce typical in this class. It also handled hairpin curves without the usual leaning and squealing, thanks to stiffer stabilizer bars, larger 185/65SR-14 tires and revised locating links that balance the car by allowing the rear wheels to steer into turns.
Stiffer front caliper mounts and larger rear drum brakes bring the new Escort to a faster, more controlled halt. Added power assist and firmer on-center feel also make steering both easier and more precise. Unlike nearly all their competitors, even base Escorts and Tracers get power steering. They also get a precise 5-speed transmission and a smoother optional automatic with four speeds instead of the three on Neons and Corollas.
Ford also balanced the new Escort's higher horsepower with another 17-lb.-ft. of torque. The secret is a split intake manifold that includes four small separate ports that route fuel and air into the cylinders faster at lower revs. Crankshaft counterweights help balance out vibration as well.
While enthusiasts may prefer the faster-revving 16-valve engines offered in Escort's competitors, the 8-valve Ford pulls powerfully and smoothly. This, too, is a big improvement over the previous standard engine, which had to work hard to keep up with traffic, especially in automatic editions.
Fuel economy estimates hadn't been finalized at press time, but we expct them to be at least as good as the previous Escort, which was rated at 26 mpg city, 31 highway by the EPA.
Stiffer structure augmented by one-piece body-side stampings and layers of sound deadening also mean you'll hear less engine noise and less of everything else from inside.
Complaints: Despite new grade logic programming for the automatic transmission, it still hunts a bit in hilly country. On some surfaces, a little tire whir also sneaks through to the cabin. But we think the Escort's responsive shifts and friendly road manners are worth it.
Add your own review or comments
