Orlando Sentinel's view

When Ford rolled out its redesigned line of Escorts last year, one model was missing: the Escort GT, a staple of the Escort range for more than a decade.

The Escort GT always was a good-looking, affordable, sporty subcompact, a snappy car aimed at first-time buyers and those on a tight budget. Except for a slightly more powerful engine, Escort GT shared most of the mechanicals of the standard two-door Escort.

With the recently introduced ZX2, Ford has broken with tradition.

For all practical purposes, the ZX2 is the new Escort GT – with one important difference. This time around, the car is wearing a handsome new body – one that gives the car a classy identity all its own. From the front, the ZX2 looks like a baby Lexus SC sports coupe. Thanks to its good looks, the ZX2 gives the Escort line something it never had: a bit of prestige.

PERFORMANCE, HANDLING

Ford engineers stuffed a 2.0-liter ”Zetech” 16-valve four-cylinder engine under the ZX2’s sloping hood. This is the same engine used in the bigger Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique sedans. The Zetech engine is rated at 130-horsepower – that’s 20 more ponies than the standard Escort engine.

Our dark red ZX2 test car – equipped with a five-speed manual transmission – delivered spunky performance. For a $15,000 car, it was downright quick from 0-to-60 mph, and it had plenty of power for passing slower traffic.

The engine generally is quiet except when it is revved to the 6,700 rpm limit.

Because the clutch and shifter don’t work as smoothly as those in a Honda Civic or a Nissan 200SX, the ZX2 doesn’t feel quite as refined. The shifter felt somewhat bulky and heavy, and the pressure of the clutch pedal felt inconsistent as I pressed down on it.

Still, the ZX2 was easy to drive in the city, where frequent shifting is necessary.

The power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering gives the ZX2 a very maneuverable feeling. It takes just three complete turns of the steering wheel to change the direction of the tires completely from one direction to the other.

The car is outfitted with power-assisted front disc/rear drum brakes. Our test car did not have anti-lock brakes – and this is a major shortcoming. Two very formidable competitors – General Motors’ Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 and Pontiac Sunfire GT – cost about the same as the ZX2 and come standard with ABS brakes.

FIT AND FINISH

Of all the subcompacts I have tested this model year, few have been as impressive – outside and in – as the ZX2.

First, I was surprised at the looks this little car attracted. Ford’s designers hit a bull’s eye with the styling. The Lexus-like front and the sloping roof blend together cleanly into a cohesive and attractive shape.

And second, I discovered that the ZX2 has a terrific interior, with plenty of smart ideas and a good amount of room.

The split rear folding seats enable the ZX2 to carry a lot of cargo for a sma ll car. With the hatchback body style all but dead, theZX2 coupe is the next best thing. Long items, such as skis and golf clubs, can easily fit inside the car. I was surprised at the size of the trunk, which must be among the biggest in this class.

With the ZX2, Ford’s interior designers have created a very handsome cabin. The center of the dash has a futuristic look with the Integrated Control Panel, a section of the dash that houses the controls for the air conditioner and radio. All the buttons are laid out in an oval area and are easy to find and use.

I found the cloth-covered bucket seats to be sem-isoft but supportive enough to be comfortable. There was plenty of foot, head and leg room for front passengers. Two average-sized adults will have no problem getting comfortable in the rear.

Sitting in the rear seat reminded me of the 1966 Mustang 2+2 fastback I once owned. The rear window extends just over the rear seat, so passengers in the rear can look up a d out.

Ford chintzed on one item: The remote-controlled electric door lock only works on the driver’s door. On a date, it’s nice to be able to unlock both doors with the press of a button. However, the advantage here is that the current system makes you look like a gentleman, because you have to go to the passenger side and unlock the door for your guest.

All in all, the ZX2 is an excellent small car. It’s one that I would buy if I wanted a classy economy car for a good price.

Specifications:

1998 Ford Escort ZX2 Base price: $13,145. Safety: Dual air bags, front and rear crumple zones and side-impact protection. Price as tested: $15,225. EPA rating: 26 mpg city/33 mpg highway. Incentives: None.

Truett’s tip: The ZX2 is a nicely styled sporty coupe with plenty of verve. It’s fun to drive, roomy and well-made.