Tank Ledger

Ford Escort ZX2 MPG by year — every rating on record

The Ford Escort ZX2 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 6 model years, from 1998 to 2003. Across those years its best rated version returned 26 mpg (2001) and its thirstiest returned 25 mpg (1998). The EPA record holds 12 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Subcompact Cars.

26best combined mpg (2001)
25worst combined mpg (1998)
25latest year best (2003)
12configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1998225 mpg25 mpg#13 of 42 (71th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
1999225 mpg25 mpg#14 of 40 (67th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
2000225 mpg25 mpg#11 of 39 (74th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
2001226 mpg25 mpg#8 of 37 (81th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
2002226 mpg25 mpg#8 of 34 (79th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars
2003225 mpg25 mpg#4 of 28 (89th pct)Front-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Ford Escort ZX2 placed highest in 2003 at #4 of 28, and lowest in 1999 at #14 of 40. It spent 6 of its 6 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 12 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20032.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular4-VALVE232825460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
20032.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.0L 4-cyl233025460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
20022.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.0L 4-cyl223025460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
20022.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.0L 4-cyl233126442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
20012.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.0L 4-cyl223025460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
20012.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.0L 4-cyl233126442.311.4$2,400341.8076923076923n/a
20002.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.0Z223025460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
20002.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.0Z223025460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19992.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular2.0L 4-cyl223025460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19992.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular2.0L 4-cyl223025460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19982.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular4V223025460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a
19982.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular4V223025460.011.9$2,500355.48n/a

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
2000 → 200125 → 26 mpg+1 mpg442 gal
2002 → 200326 → 25 mpg-1 mpg460 gal

What Escort ZX2 fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2003 Ford Escort ZX2 burns 460 to 460 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.

Pump priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$3.00/gal$1,380$1,380$0
$3.50/gal$1,610$1,610$0
$4.00/gal$1,840$1,840$0

EPA’s own estimate for the 2003 model year is $2,500 to $2,500 a year in fuel, or $1,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Subcompact Cars

Across the 461 nameplates EPA classifies as Subcompact Cars, the median best combined rating is 24 mpg. At 25 mpg the Ford Escort ZX2 is 1 mpg better the median, which is worth about $67 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

Other Ford nameplates

Every Ford model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.