The Morning Call and Mcall.com's view

Some cars are known for their fine looks, others for their exceptional road manners. But the Ford Escort? Not exactly a lustmobile, this one’s bought for its price. If you think its easy designing a good small car, think again.

The competition makes this class a hard one for automakers to compete in, with cars that sell for their refinement (Toyota’s Corolla) or personality (Chrysler’s Neon). Add in razor-thin profit margins and you have a tough class indeed.

But Ford needed a new Escort — it’s older version had not aged well. For 1997, Ford has fielded an almost totally new automobile.

This newest of Escorts uses last year’s wheelbase, but overall length is about four inches longer. Available as a four-door sedan and five-door wagon, Ford has dropped the hatchback version. The look is soft and sophisticated, looking much like a more conservative Contour. The boxy look has been banished, lending it a modern, if generic, small-car look.

If the exterior pleases you, the driving experience will too. The new Escort delivers a fun driving experience, fun being a word not usually used to describe an Escort. The engine has grown from 1.9 to 2.0-litres and horsepower has jumped 25 percent to 110. Torque is 125 foot-pounds at 3,750 rpm. Compression ration is up from 9.0 to 9.2. Add in other engine refinements and you’ll find this single overhead-cam engine delivers a lot of punch with sufficient power down low. A five-speed manual is standard, an electronically controlled automatic is optional. The test car had the automatic, a choice of 75 percent of Escort buyers. Transmission shift feel is much smoother and matches the engine’s performance characteristics. Either transmission features control logic, which detects whether you’re climbing a hill, to prevent hunting in and out of gear. It will even compensate for a driver’s driving style.

All this newfound finesse up front is matched by this car’s improved handling. The suspension is firmer than before, yet ride harshness is more suppressed. The whole feel is refined. The controls have an immediate feel, the nicely weighted, quick steering proves to be linear, the front-disc rear-drum brakes progressive (Four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock are optional). The result is a machine that even an enthusiast on a budget can enjoy driving. Most jounce has been eliminated; the controls and suspension now rewards smooth inputs. Go ahead, throw it through a corner — this car will handle it with a poise not usually associated with Escorts.

Inside, the refinement continues.

Despite all the power, it’s relatively quiet in the passenger compartment. Things get raucous in the upper rev range, but less so than in most competitors. The somewhat flat bucket seats prove comfortable over the long haul. The dash is a variation of Ford’s latest designs.

The focal point of the dash is what Ford calls the “Integrated Control Panel.” You’ll call it the round thingy with all the buttons on it. That includes all ventilation controls as well as those for the very good audio system. Once you learn where each button is, it’s easy to operate. The plastics on the dash look upscale of what one usually finds in this class, featuring a nice texture.

That dash now houses dual air-bags. Another safety feature aside from the anti-lock brakes is the integrated child seat option. This handy feature is a must for any young family. Folding out of the rear seat, it helps eliminate the need for bulky booster seats. In addition, Escorts come with 5 mph bumpers and a battery saver that turns off a car’s lights 10 minutes after the car has been turned off.

The only real problem with the interior is the lack of a coin holder and console storage bin. But these are small problems in a car that up until now garnered no respect.

And what of the one thing Escort buyers value most? Well, the price is easy to take too. The basep ice of the base model has fallen $500 below last year. The GS sedan starts at $11,430. Jump up to our test car’s LX trim level and the price is still a reasonable $11,930.

The folks at Ford have substantially improved the humble Escort, a car that deserves a look for anyone shopping the economy-car class.

FORD ESCORT LX Standard: 2.0-litre OHC I-4, power assisted front disc/rear drum brakes, power assisted steering, five-speed manual transmission, dual airbags, 185/65R14 tires, split folding rear seat. Optional: Preferred Equipment Package 318A Group 2 (air-conditioning, rear window defogger, dual power mirrors, power locks, anti-theft system, power windows), automatic transmission, floor mats, integrated child safety seat, AM/FM stereo cassette radio, Aluminum wheels. Base price: $11,930. As tested: $15,160.