What is the fuel consumption of a Ford Escort?
Typical fuel economy for a Ford Escort varies by generation and engine, but you can expect roughly 25–31 mpg in most US-market variants, with higher efficiency for European petrol engines and diesel versions. Exact numbers depend on year, market, and drivetrain.
Understanding the numbers
Fuel economy figures depend on the test cycle used (EPA in the United States, WLTP or other regional cycles elsewhere), the engine size and type, transmission, and driving conditions. The Escort name has been attached to several distinct models around the world, so ratings from one era or market may not directly match another.
US-market Escorts (1981–2003)
Below are representative figures for common US-spec Escort configurations. They illustrate how economy varied with powertrain and era.
- Typical combined fuel economy for US-market Escorts with gasoline engines (1981–2003): about 25–31 mpg (roughly 9–11 L/100 km).
- City driving generally yields around 22–28 mpg, while highway cruising can reach roughly 32–38 mpg on more efficient iterations.
- Transmission choice mattered: manual transmissions often delivered slightly better highway economy than automatics in several model years.
In the United States, the Escort family tended to offer mid-20s to low-30s mpg overall, with variations based on engine size, gearing, and year.
European Escorts (1968–present in regional markets)
European Escorts spanned carbureted and fuel-injected petrols as well as diesel variants, leading to a broader efficiency spectrum. The figures below reflect typical European-era ratings for representative engines and bodies.
- Petrol Escorts with 1.0–1.6 L engines: combined around 40–50 mpg UK (roughly 34–43 mpg US). Real-world figures often clustered in the mid-40s UK around modern driving styles.
- Diesel Escorts (1.8D/1.9D and similar): commonly around 60–70 mpg UK (about 50–58 mpg US) in combined driving, depending on gear ratios and year.
- Late-1990s to early-2000s petrol variants with improved transmissions could approach the mid-40s mpg UK in combined cycles (roughly 38–45 mpg US) in favorable configurations.
Across Europe, diesels historically offered the strongest long-range efficiency, while petrols provided solid efficiency with lower purchase costs in many markets.
Modern/regional variants and caveats
In some regions, Ford continued using the Escort badge on models that are not direct continuations of the classic hatchback. Fuel economy for those versions depends heavily on the specific platform, engine, and transmission used. Always check the local official ratings (EPA, WLTP, or regional cycles) for the exact variant you’re considering.
Summary
What you can take away is that the Ford Escort’s fuel consumption varies considerably by generation and market. US-era Escorts typically landed in the mid-20s to low-30s mpg combined, while European petrol versions often posted mid-30s to mid-40s mpg US equivalents, and diesels usually outperformed petrols on efficiency. For any given car, the precise figure comes from the specific year, engine, transmission, and the test cycle used, so consult the exact model’s EPA/WLTP rating or regional fuel economy data to get an accurate number.
