Moderate overlap front: original test
Rating applies to 1997-99 models
Tested vehicle: 1997 Ford Escort LX 4-door
The Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer were redesigned for the 1997 model year. Note: 2001-02 model Escort sedans were sold when new only to fleets, and the Tracer was discontinued after the 1999 model year.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | |
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Chest | |
| Leg/foot, left | |
| Leg/foot, right | |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | |
Action shot taken during the frontal offset crash test.
The door sill crushed, but the driver's upper interior survival space was maintained reasonably well. There was virtually no movement of the steering wheel.
Even in the highest position, the head restraint isn't high enough to effectively protect an average-size male.
High forces indicating the likelihood of injury were recorded on the dummy's right leg during the offset test.
Technical measurements for this test