- The 1999 Ford Escort SE and LX came with an economical, yet lower-powered 2.0-liter engine. This 2.0-liter engine had a single overhead cam, eight-valve configuration and a 9.4-to-1 compression ratio. This 2.0-liter engine produced 110 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 125 foot-pounds of torque at 3,750 rpm. Where this engine excelled was its fuel economy, the EPA rated it at 28 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.
- The 1999 Ford Escort ZX2s were not only sportier looking, but they also performed at a higher level than the SE and LX trim levels. The 2.0-liter engine in this version of the 1999 Escort, produced 130 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 135 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm. This higher output was due in part to this engine having a dual overhead cam of 16-valve configuration. The added horsepower and torque came at the expense of fuel economy, as the EPA rated it at 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.