The fifth generation of the Escort was a car built for common families and enthusiasts.
While the former usually went for other body styles, the latter fell for the coupe.

By 1990, it was already common to name a coupe any hatchback with three doors, and the market started to be used to that. The Escort was no exception, but at least it tried to have a coupe-style profile and offered the vehicle with sportier engines and improved suspension.

The Escort featured a mixed design, between the boxy-looking vehicles of the ’80s and the flowing lines of the ’90s. While the headlights and the grille with sharp, horizontal slats were still a thing of the past, the rest of the car looked into the future with curved body panels and some horizontal lines across the car from headlights to taillights. A sloped tailgate was ended into a very short deck, inspiring a two and a half body design.

The interior was similar to the one from the five-door version. The tachometer was not fitted as standard on every engine version. Like its siblings, the Escort 3-doors was fitted with a few fuel-efficient engines, built mainly as a commuter car. There was limited room in the back, but enough in the front, even for taller occupants.

Ford installed a wide range of engines in the engine bay, starting with a lazy, but fuel-efficient, 60 hp engine, but gained on the sportiness with the 2.0i version that offered 150 hp.