Ford introduced the sixth generation of the Escort in 1995, but the car was so similar to the fifth generation that it took a keen eye to see the differences.
There was a new design trend on the market that focused on curved lines and rounded edges. Ford’s designers just took the fifth generation, made some subtle modifications here and there, and the car was done. It looked better, trendier, but not too different than its predecessor. But Ford needed a new vehicle in the fast-growing compact segment, and the three-door version was the one that offered the sporty-look for the younger generation.

For the 1995 Escort, Ford introduced a new front fascia with smaller headlights rounded on the inbound side. The oval grille was kept from its predecessor, but the bumper featured a rounded, slim opening to cool the engine. Depending on the trim-level and the options, the 1995 Escort featured headlights washers, but the base model featured black plastic bumpers. From the sides, the squared-shape of the door handles was changed in favor of rounded ones.

Inside, a newly designed dashboard took the place of the older, squared one. Its instrument cluster was extended over the center stack and the central vents. The radio-cassette was included in the standard version, but the power windows and mirrors didn’t. At least, it featured a driver’s airbag and power-steering. In the back, the folding and tilting bench was standard as well.

Under the hood, Ford kept the 1.4-liter engine for the base model, but its entire lineup was with fuel injection. Three diesel engines were introduced to cover the demand for commuter cars. For those looking for a hot-hatch, Ford offered the 2000RS version with a naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter, fuel-injected engine that provided 150 hp.