Ford Escort 0–60 Times
The Ford Escort 0–60 times and quarter-mile times below are from 12 recorded performance tests sourced from reputable automotive resources such as Car and Driver, Motor Trend and Motor Week and more.
The fastest tested Ford Escort is the 1995 Ford Escort RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback, which went from 0 to 60 mph in 4.90 seconds, reaching the ¼ mile in 13.60 seconds at 102.0 mph, according to Motor Trend.
The slowest tested Ford Escort is the 1983 Ford Escort GT 3-door Hatchback, which took 14.00 seconds to reach 60 mph, running the ¼ mile in 19.50 seconds at 72.0 mph, according to Motor Week.
Out of all the Ford Escort tests in our database, the average 0–60 mph time is 8.47 seconds. The average quarter-mile time is 16.30 seconds at 85.43 mph.
Fastest 0–60
4.90sec
1995 RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback · stock
Average 0–60
8.47sec
Across 12 runs
Avg ¼ Mile
16.30sec
@ 85.4 mph trap
Slowest 0–60
14.00sec
1983 GT 3-door
Across 12 verified runs, the Ford Escort ranges from 4.90 to 14.00 seconds 0–60, with a 8.47-second average.
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Ford Escort Performance Overview
Ford Escort performance, across 12 independently verified tests spanning 1983 to 1999, traces a compact gasoline lineup that moved from basic naturally aspirated hatchbacks to turbocharged RS Cosworth variants. In Mk3 form, the 1983 GT 3-door Hatchback set the early baseline at 14.0 seconds to 60 mph from an 80-hp CVH four-cylinder. By 1986, the GT 3-door Hatchback lowered that to 11.7 seconds, showing the first measurable step forward before the major jump arrived in the next era.
During Mk4 and Mk5, Escort performance broadened from 90-hp naturally aspirated models to 204- and then 227-hp turbocharged YBB and YBT-powered cars. The 1987 Sierra RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback (Euro) cut 0-60 to 5.4 seconds, while the 1993 RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback recorded 6.0 seconds, keeping the model in a much quicker bracket through the early 1990s. Quarter-mile capability followed the same pattern as outputs climbed.
In the Mk6 years, the range covered mainstream ZX2 and LX trims alongside the quickest Escort tested, the 1995 RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback, at 4.9 seconds to 60 mph and a 13.6-second quarter-mile at 102 mph. That leaves the Escort's recorded endpoint as a gasoline-only model line with current-generation results ranging from everyday 110-hp sedans and coupes to 227-hp turbocharged performance hatchbacks.
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Ford Escort 0–60 Times by Generation: Mk3 to Mk6
4 generations| Generation | Years | Avg 0–60 | Fastest 0–60 | Tests | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mk6 | 1995–2002 | 7.72s | 4.90s — 1995 RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback | 5 | The Mk6 generation (1995–2002) averaged 7.72 seconds to 60 mph across 5 tests, led by the 1995 RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback at 4.90 seconds. Output ranged from 110 to 227 hp across 2.0L I-4, 2.0L Turbo I-4 configurations. |
| Mk5 | 1990–1995 | 7.98s | 6.00s — 1993 RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback (Euro) | 4 | The Mk5 generation (1990–1995) averaged 7.98 seconds to 60 mph across 4 tests, led by the 1993 RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback (Euro) at 6.00 seconds. Output ranged from 88 to 227 hp across 1.8L I-4, 1.9L I-4, 2.0L Turbo I-4 configurations. |
| Mk4 | 1986–1990 | 8.55s | 5.40s — 1987 Sierra RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback (Euro) | 2 | The Mk4 generation (1986–1990) averaged 8.55 seconds to 60 mph across 2 tests, led by the 1987 Sierra RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback (Euro) at 5.40 seconds. Output ranged from 90 to 204 hp across 1.9L I-4, 2.0L Turbo I-4 configurations. |
| Mk3 | 1981–1986 | 14.00s | 14.00s — 1983 GT 3-door Hatchback | 1 | The Mk3 generation (1981–1986) averaged 14.00 seconds to 60 mph across 1 tests, led by the 1983 GT 3-door Hatchback at 14.00 seconds. Output was 80 hp across 1.6L I-4 configurations. |
Mk6
1995–2002
Avg 0–60
7.72s
Fastest
4.90s
Tests
5
1995 RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback
The Mk6 generation (1995–2002) averaged 7.72 seconds to 60 mph across 5 tests, led by the 1995 RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback at 4.90 seconds. Output ranged from 110 to 227 hp across 2.0L I-4, 2.0L Turbo I-4 configurations.
Mk5
1990–1995
Avg 0–60
7.98s
Fastest
6.00s
Tests
4
1993 RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback (Euro)
The Mk5 generation (1990–1995) averaged 7.98 seconds to 60 mph across 4 tests, led by the 1993 RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback (Euro) at 6.00 seconds. Output ranged from 88 to 227 hp across 1.8L I-4, 1.9L I-4, 2.0L Turbo I-4 configurations.
Mk4
1986–1990
Avg 0–60
8.55s
Fastest
5.40s
Tests
2
1987 Sierra RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback (Euro)
The Mk4 generation (1986–1990) averaged 8.55 seconds to 60 mph across 2 tests, led by the 1987 Sierra RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback (Euro) at 5.40 seconds. Output ranged from 90 to 204 hp across 1.9L I-4, 2.0L Turbo I-4 configurations.
Mk3
1981–1986
Avg 0–60
14.00s
Fastest
14.00s
Tests
1
1983 GT 3-door Hatchback
The Mk3 generation (1981–1986) averaged 14.00 seconds to 60 mph across 1 tests, led by the 1983 GT 3-door Hatchback at 14.00 seconds. Output was 80 hp across 1.6L I-4 configurations.
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Ford Escort 0–60 Times by Year and Trim
12 tests · 10 years
▾
1999 Ford Escort
1 verified run
Avg 0–60
7.60
sec
Avg ¼ Mile
15.80
sec
Recorded Tests
1
#05
1999 Ford Escort ZX2 Coupe
7.60sec 0–60
0.0s · 0mph
0.0s · 0mph
15.80s
¼ mi @ 87.3 mph
▾
- 0–60 mph
- 7.60 sec
- ¼ Mile ET
- 15.80 sec
- Trap Speed
- 87.3 mph
- Engine
- 2.0L I-4
- Drivetrain
- FWD
- Transmission
- 5M
- Horsepower
- 130 hp
- Torque
- 127 lb-ft
- Curb Weight
- 2,495 lbs
- Power-to-Weight
- 19.2 lbs/hp
- MPG EPA
- 22 C / 30 H
- Production Vehicle
- Body Type
- Coupe
- Powertrain
- Gasoline
- Test Source
- Motor Trend
- Overall Rank
- #5 of 12
How we verify Ford Escort performance data
We include only independently published road-test results from automotive publications. Manufacturer-claimed 0–60 times are excluded unless clearly labeled. When multiple publications test the same Ford Escort trim, each run is listed separately — weather, tires, surface, rollout, and instrumentation all affect results.
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Ford Escort 0–60 and quarter-mile distribution
0–60 vs ¼ mile · lower-left is fasterEach dot is a recorded test run
0–60 →
¼ mile →
Fastest
Recorded run
Slowest
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Ford Escort performance FAQs
10 questions
The 1999 Ford Escort ZX2 Coupe runs 0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds. In the same test, it covered the quarter-mile in 15.8 seconds at 87.3 mph. That makes the 130-hp, front-wheel-drive ZX2 one of the quicker Escort variants on record, especially among naturally aspirated U.S.-market models.
The quickest Ford Escort on record is the 1995 RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback, with a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds. It is also the fastest quarter-mile Escort, running 13.6 seconds at 102 mph. Across all 12 verified Escort tests, that remains the benchmark performance result.
The fastest stock Ford Escort is also the overall fastest one on record: the 1995 RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback at 4.9 seconds from 0-60 mph. Its run was recorded in stock form, so there is no separate modified car ahead of it in the Escort results.
The Mk6 Ford Escort, covering 1995 to 2002, averages 7.72 seconds from 0-60 mph across 5 tests. The quickest Mk6 is the 1995 RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback at 4.9 seconds. That makes the sixth generation the fastest Escort generation on record overall.
The Mk5 Ford Escort, built from 1990 to 1995, averages 7.98 seconds from 0-60 mph across 4 tests. Its quickest recorded version is the 1993 RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback (Euro) at 6.0 seconds. Power outputs in this generation range from 88 to 227 hp.
The Mk4 Ford Escort, sold from 1986 to 1990, averages 8.55 seconds from 0-60 mph across 2 tests. The fastest Mk4 on record is the 1987 Sierra RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback (Euro) at 5.4 seconds. Engines in this generation span 90 to 204 hp, with naturally aspirated and turbocharged setups.
The Escort ZX2 is slightly quicker on record. Across 2 tests, the ZX2 Coupe averages 7.5 seconds to 60 mph and has a best run of 7.4 seconds. The ZX2 S/R Coupe is recorded at 7.8 seconds. That gives the standard ZX2 a 0.3-second edge over the S/R in the available runs.
Across all 12 Ford Escort tests, the average 0-60 mph time is 8.47 seconds. That figure includes every verified production run on record, since all 12 tests are stock or production vehicles. Escort performance spans from a quickest 4.9 seconds to a slowest 14.0 seconds.
The slowest Ford Escort on record is the 1983 GT 3-door Hatchback, which takes 14.0 seconds to reach 60 mph. That result also defines the Mk3 generation’s fastest and average figure, since there is 1 recorded Mk3 test. It sits well behind later Escort performance models.
The fastest Ford Escort quarter-mile time on record is 13.6 seconds at 102 mph, set by the 1995 RS Cosworth 3-door Hatchback. Across all 12 Escort tests, the average quarter-mile result is 16.3 seconds at 85.4 mph. That puts the Cosworth well ahead of the model line’s overall average.
Sources
Car and Driver
Motor Trend
Motor Week
0–60 and quarter-mile times vary with driver, weather, tire temperature, and wear. We collect every verified run we can find — so you see the range of what a Ford Escort can do, not a single marketing claim.
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Other Ford 0–60 times
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