The Ford Ecosport is a rugged, high-riding small SUV. It is a more 4x4-like alternative to the sleek and sporty Ford Puma as we'll discover in this review.
The Ford Ecosport has competitors including the cheap and cheerful Dacia Duster, the stylish SEAT Arona and the desirable Peugeot 2008.
Ford added the Ecosport Active to the range in 2020 as a more, uhm, off-road version of the existing SUV. This consisted of a slightly increased ride height for improved ground clearance and protective plastic body panels.
The Ford Ecosport sells on its ruggedness. It’s an SUV for those who want a tough-looking stance on the road and the promise of genuine ground-crossing ability, even if the Ford Ecosport is firmly a front-wheel-drive car these days.
Ford took things further with the Ecosport Active model. This has a bold black roof, wider wheelarches, front and rear skid plates and a mesh front grille. With 17-inch wheels and Sensico synthetic leather upholstery, it’s the most adventurous-looking Ford Ecosport.
Owners like the lofty seating position of the Ford Ecosport. It feels safe and confident as you drive. It’s also an easy car to manoeuvre in crowded cities, as it’s that bit shorter and narrower than some rivals. It’s a piece of cake to park and nimble to thread through traffic. Ford gives you reverse parking sensors and a rear-view camera even on entry-level Ford Ecosport.
There are some quirks. The side-hinged tailgate is one, so you’ll have to make sure you leave enough space behind to open it. The hidden handle also catches some out; it’s integrated into the right-hand rear light. Meanwhile, the Ford Puma offers a larger and more practical boot than the shorter Ford Ecosport.
The fundamentals of the Ford Ecosport still stack up, though. It is very well equipped, the Ecoboost engines are excellent and it has that spirited feel that only a Ford delivers at this end of the market. It remains a distinctive choice in the sprawling used small SUV sector.
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Which Ford Ecosport trim you choose dictates which engine you can have. That means picking the right version for you is very important since the entry-level petrol and diesel engines are both really sluggish and underpowered.
That effectively rules out the affordable Ford EcoSport Zetec that was available until late 2020, leaving you with the choice of an EcoSport Titanium or ST-Line. The former is the where we'd put our money. It's available with the 125PS version of the 1.0-litre petrol, so has just enough get-up-and-go to keep up with bigger traffic; it's also smoother and more refined than the diesel. From 2021 onwards, Ford only offered the EcoSport with the 125- and 140PS Ecoboost engines, with the more powerful only as an option for the ST-Line trim.
The Ford EcoSport Titanium has all the equipment you could want. Sat-nav, full smartphone compatibility for Apple and Android phones, parking sensors, reversing camera, auto lights and wipers and keyless start, to name a few.
The EcoSport ST-Line has some nice interior upgrades and comes with the 125PS engine or the punchier 140PS engine, thought it doesn't offer a significant driving benefit over the Titanium. Its sports suspension setup also makes the EcoSport's poor ride even worse.
Most Ford Ecosports use Ford’s very popular 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo engine, which is called Ecoboost. All models come with a six-speed manual transmission. You can buy a Ford Ecosport with an automatic gearbox with the 1.0- or 1.5-litre petrol engines.
The Ford Ecosport comes in several well-equipped trim levels. Titanium has all you may ever need, ST-Line is a sportier take, while Active is a more SUV-inspired alternative. The base Zetec has its appeal but is hampered by its weaker engine limitations.
All Ford Ecosport trim levels could be upgraded with the X-Pack for an affordable £600, bringing a B&O premium audio system, power-fold door mirrors, keyless entry and start, and rear privacy glass. It’s an extra that’s well worth finding – the 10-speaker B&O system is excellent.
The Ford Ecosport’s exterior dimensions are:
The Ford Ecosport’s boot space is:
For Ford Ecosports registered up to 1 April 2017, road tax is worked out baded on the car's emissions, which means a diesel with 115g/km CO2 output will pay £35 per year. The higher emitting petrol engines, with emissions of up to 149/km could be paying as much as £200 per year. Ecosports registered from 1 April 2017 onwards will all pay the same standard £180 per year for road tax.
The Ford Ecosport is middling in terms of car insurance costs, with the range opening with a group 10 rating (out of 50 groups in total). This perhaps reflects the punchy 125PS engine’s eager power delivery, while the 140PS version is in group 13. Earlier, less powerful Ford Ecosports may prove a little cheaper to insure, particularly the diesel models.
Read our full Ford Ecosport review