Ford Eecosport: Ford EcoSport: A city dweller Preikestolen is a 3×3 km large (almost) flat mountain plateau, hanging 604 meters above Lysefjorden.
One of the originators in its class, the Ford EcoSport established a place all of its own in the highly-contested crossover landscape, fusing city-friendly dimensions with elements of SUV styling to deliver a practical vehicle that could appeal to urban drivers in search of an added splash of adventure.
Design and Styling
Despite its small size, the EcoSport is a confident looking thing. With the tall headlights, six-point BFH grille, and bulging fenders, this is a little Jeep that looks like it could squash a Prowler based on sheer attitude.
Measuring just over 4 metres long, being fairly tall and set up off the road (at about 200mm) there is real beef to its SUV shape yet it’s not intimidatingly large when navigating a city.
While added functionality and a rugged appearance, with its rear spare tire, serve as a styling extender that reminds everybody this was an outdoor plaything, the next wave had none of it, sporting a cleaner tailgate look and borrowing no traditional SUV cues.
Cabin Environment
Enter the EcoSport and you’re greeted with the kind of interior designed for space efficiency inside a small footprint.
A high seating position means that coveted feeling of command is still met in a way many buyers look for in a crossover, and the big windows make for an airy feel and help urban visibility.
The dashboard design is functional rather than stylish, with simple controls and hard-wearing materials selected for durability rather than opulence.
Top trims get a touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone integration, though it can be slow to respond at times. All through the cabin there is an abundance of storage solutions and handy compartments capturing life’s essentials.
Driving Dynamics
Out on the street, the EcoSport provides a city-friendly ride, with controls that exhibit urban-friendly composure. The high riding position and narrow turning cycle make it easy to navigate crowded roads and into compact parking spots.
The suspension leans more towards comfort than sporting, and is pretty good at soaking up potholes out on the mean streets of a city – although it does tend to lean over when you’re feeling frisky and pressing on through twisty bits of road.
Engine choices tend to range between a frugal 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol EcoBoost engine which feels surprisingly lively, and a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre engine which delivers its power in a more traditional manner. Efficient more than fast diesel models were also available in a few markets.
Practicality Considerations
The EcoSport is a neat solution for people who want somewhere to store their stuff in a city-sized car. Approximately 350-litres is available in the rear cargo area with the seats up, expanding all the way back with the seats set down.
The rear door is a point of contention – large and side-hinged means you have great access when open, but can become problematic in tight car parks.
The rear passenger space will seat adults for shorter jaunts with taller people perhaps less likely to compromise for longer trips.
There’s enough ground clearance for real ability on mean city streets and light off-road, although it doesn’t have the high-tech four-wheel-drive systems in more serious off-road vehicles.
Pros:
Great for small and urban spaces
good all around view in higher seating position
Plenty of ground clearance for bumpy streets
EcoBoost engine provides good performance.
Useful cabin space for storage
Notable design with authentic SUV definition
Lower barrier to entry for smaller crossovers
Cons:
stiff on bad roads
Interior is durable rather than luxurious
Rear door which opens into the side inconvenient at times.
Tall adults won’t have a lot of room to stretch out in the back seats
Technology offerings are not as advanced as newer competitors
Body roll is apparent if you drive it with enthusiasm.
Highway speeds reveal wind and road noise
Ford Eecosport: Verdict
The Ford EcoSport is a competent non-SUV looking for adventure among the urban jungle and does well for urban dwellers in need of SUV style and substance without the large footprint and price tag of a more traditional crossover.
It may not be everyone’s cup of tea1, but its mix of high driving position, urban-friendly size and not-unreasonable load space makes for quite an attractive deal for those needing to deal with mostly city-based life as a small family or an active single.
It’s far from perfect, with compromises in refinement and rear passenger space, but the EcoSport’s funky personality and handy practicality helped to pave the way for the blooming compact crossover segment it inhabits now.
For those whose priorities outsize their available pocketbooks, this small utility vehicle hits a practical stride, offering reasonable capability with a dollop of feature-you-want wrinkle to a SUV style image without breaking a thrifty bank.
Its success has spawned a whole host of competitors, proving Ford’s foresight to read the demand in the market moving more toward smaller crossovers.