Most of the changes for 1995 on the Escort are on the inside. The instrument panel has been redesigned in a clean, modern wraparound style.
Unfortunately, the irritating motorized seat belts - the biggest drawback in this car - have been retained, undoubtedly to keep redesign costs down. (With a new Escort just a year away, we guess Ford didn't want to invest any more than necessary in the current car.)
An interim solution to passive restraints, motorized seat belts are annoying and inconvenient, and most automakers have dropped them as soon as possible. In addition to catching your neck every time you duck out of the car with the engine running, they make it impossible to put a front-facing child seat in front.
Other than this feature, the interior of the Escort is clean, functional and pleasant. The new instrument panel is straightforward, with all the gauges in clear view. A center console holds a cupholder and a change bin, and cruise control buttons are conveniently located on the steering wheel.
Also, the ignition switch has been illuminated this year, making it easier for drivers to insert the key at night.
There is one weak point, though: The radio is one of ford's old designs with numerous tiny buttons that demand you take your eyes off the road to make changes.
The wagon has an astounding 66.9 cu. ft. of cargo space when the second seat is down, which makes it a very handy multipurpose vehicle - light and fun to drive but quite handy for your occasional hauling jobs.
The sedan is roomy, with a backseat that has the same legroom as - and more headroom than - Ford's new midsize car, the Contour.
One drawback to small cars is noise, and the Escort is no exception, although it's better than in previous years. The sound-deadening package has been improved for +95, and engine vibration has also been lessened, making the interior a civilized place.
Midway through the model year, an optional integrated child seat will become available on the Escort for those toting around the little ones.
It is here that the split personality between the base and LS Escorts and the GT version becomes more noticeable. The first two models are powered by an 88-hp, 1.9-liter 4-cylinder engine. Obviously, a car with 88 horses isn't overpowering, particularly when compared with its chief competitor, the 132-hp Plymouth Neon.
We had an opportunity to drive a 5-door Escort hatchback and were really surprised by how acceptable the power level was.
During a trip with luggage and passengers, the car never felt weak and performed well passing on 2-lane country roads. It was quick to accelerate and was zippy with either the standard 5-speed manual transmission or the optional 4-speed automatic.
About the only real drawback to the engine was its relatively high noise and vibration when we made extra demands, such as hard acceleration.
The ride was light and maneuverable, with a direct steering feel. A well-designed chassis really showed to be an advantage here.
Although the Escort hatchback was a capable performer, the GT was a classic pocket rocket; if performance is important to you, this one's got it.
We went from 0 to 60 mpg in less than 8 seconds, and the stiffly tuned suspension on our test car gave us a firm - not hard - ride that would probably be best suited to the young of body as well as heart. The GT's responsive, sporty handling compares favorably with the best cars in this class - the new Neon coupe, the new Nissan 200SX and the Honda Civic coupe, for example.
As a general impression, our GT test car was an absolute blast to drive, and is so far removed from the feel of the other Escorts that you may find it hard to believe it's in the same family.