Over its decades in existence, MotorWeek has churned out a ton of car reviews, and it continues to do so to this very day. Now, however, we can take a trip back in time on a regular basis via MotorWeek‘s Retro Reviews series, which have centered around a large number of Blue Oval models as of late. That now includes the Ford Escort, which is enjoying a bit of a revival in the collector car market these days, even though it originally existed as a high-volume seller and commodity product.
The 1991 Ford Escort is the latest Blue Oval product to get the Retro Review treatment, joining the ranks of the entire 1990 Ford lineup, the 1994 Ford Aspire, and the 1991 Mercury Tracer, to name just a few. For some time, the Ford Escort was the best-selling new vehicle in the entire world, even amid increasing competition, but the 1991 model year ushered in a brand new version of that popular model for the masses.
Luckily for FoMoCo, MotorWeek called the new 1991 Ford Escort “the most impressive small car we’ve driven since the Mazda Protege,” which won its award for being tops in that segment in 1990. Both of those models also shared a platform, which in this case is hidden by the Escort’s “mini Taurus” like styling and well-equipped cabin. On top of that, it launched packing an improved version of the old model’s four-cylinder engine, which MotorWeek called “quieter, livelier, and much smoother” than its predecessor.
Other than a misfitted front bumper and a slightly mushy brake pedal feel, MotorWeek didn’t have too many complaints about the 1991 Ford Escort, in fact. They noted that it was fun to drive and also had great ride quality, got great fuel economy, and was quite cheap to purchase as well – a combination of characteristics that isn’t terribly common in today’s automotive world.
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Comments
I wish cars were still this simple and inexpensive. I would trade all the rounded electronic shoeboxes today. Thanks for the story.
Which is why I’ve sold everything I had built after 1995, and haven’t regretted it yet. I’m buying older cars and keeping them going. So far it’s working out great and I’m enjoying driving the cars I did 20 years ago.
I have the credit and income to buy new, I refuse to do so in protest of the prices, the fact that they’re all connected (you can’t even get a basic Maverick without a screen and OTA updates).
I understand that cars like this lost Ford money, but we have the UAW to thank for that. Labor kills them. It cost Ford thousands more to build equivalent cars than transplants like Honda.
Man, I miss my red 1991 Ford Escort GT hatchback!! That was the first new car I purchased when I was in my early twentie’s Manual everything in that car, bit I did not care, simce it was so fun to drive & toss around! Hated those stupid automatic seatbelts, though.
I ordered a loaded, minus the automatic, GT in October 1990. I still drive it. Have squirreled away all the exterior trim, lights and center hubs over the years. Will have a repaint done soon. Fun car. Never let me down.
My first car was a red 93 Ford Escort. Had it for 15 years and parked it outside. Never let me down.
By the way….I don’t like it when people (including Farley) use the term “commodity product” when discussing cars. It comes off as an insult, but isn’t it a commodity product only because those are the cars that most people want and need?
It might sound insulting, but there are lots of commodity products we use everyday, including gasoline, electricity and the like.
It’s definitely not a luxury product. I have (among several cars) a 1994 Ford Tempo, and I enjoy it for what it is: simple, basic transportation that’s cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, and cheap to fix. The fact that if happens to ride nicer than your average economy compact is a bonus for someone with a bad back.
I bought a 1998 Escort, STD tranny new form the dealer, no frills. Put just shy of 400k miles on it in the 10 years I owned it. 4 timing belts, (changed water pump at the same time). Around 10 tire changes, only needed 3 brake replacements. And original clutch. Great on gas, mostly 35mpg, but was able to get 40 on occasion.