Used Ford Ecosport for sale: everything you need to know
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.
Should you buy a Ford Ecosport?
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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What's the best used Ford Ecosport model to buy?
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.
Used Ford Ecosport fuel economy and performance
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.
- Ford Ecosport 1.0 Ecoboost 100 petrol: The least powerful petrol engine in the Ecosport offers 0-62mph in 11.9 seconds, while economy comes in at a combined 53.3mpg. This engine emits 127g/km of carbon dioxide.
- Ford Ecosport 1.0 Ecoboost 125 petrol: This Ford Ecosport engine has a useful 125PS output. The 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol does 0-62mph in 11.0 seconds and has a handy 200Nm of pulling power thanks to a sporty overboost function. It averages up to 45.6mpg and emits 141g/km of CO2. Also available with the Powershift automatic transmission.
- Ford Ecosport 1.0 Ecoboost 140 petrol: The more powerful 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine puts out an impressive 140PS, which cuts the 0-62mph time to 10.2 seconds. It matches the Ecoboost 125’s 45.6mpg average economy, and emits 142g/km of CO2 with the standard 17-inch alloy wheels. Note that CO2 goes up by 12g/km if you pick the optional 18-inch alloys, though.
- Ford Ecosport 1.5 112 petrol: Offered from 2014 to 2018, the 1.5 petrol is a plodder rather than an entertaining performer. The five-speed manual version offers 0-62mph in a sluggish 13.0 seconds, along with a claimed 44.8mpg average and 149g/km of CO2. The six-speed auto dulls the acceleration to 0-62mph in 13.8 seconds, but has the same economy and emissions.
- Ford Ecosport 1.5 TDCi 90 diesel: This 90PS diesel was available from the Ecosport's launch in 2014 with a five-speed manual gearbox. Not quick, with 0-62mph in 13.7 seconds, it does have the virtue of a claimed 61.4mpg combined economy and 120g/km. It was later improved to 100PS when the Ecosport was updated in early 2018.
- Ford Ecosport 1.5 Ecoblue 125 diesel: Worth looking out for on the used car market if you need all-wheel drive as this engine can come with Ford’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system.
What used Ford Ecosport trim levels are available?
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.
- The Ford EcoSport Zetec has 16-inch alloy wheels, electric front windows, air conditioning, USB connection, and driver's seat lumbar adjustment.
- The Ford Ecosport Titanium includes touchscreen infotainment, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, climate control air-con and a set of chunky 17-inch alloy wheels.
- The Ford Ecosport ST-Line is inspired by the high-performance Ford ST hot hatches. It gets a racy bodykit, sporty seats and, too help with handling, lowered sports suspension.
- The Ford Ecosport Active is a more rugged ‘lifestyle’ alternative. It too is based on Titanium trim, bringing neat design features both outside and in.
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.
Used Ford Ecosport dimensions and boot size
The Ford Ecosport’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4,096mm
- Width: 1,765mm
- Height: 1,653mm (1,713mm including roof rails)
- Ground clearance: 190mm
The Ford Ecosport’s boot space is:
- 356 litres
- 1,238 litres with rear seats folded
Used Ford Ecosport road tax
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.
How much is it to insure a Ford Ecosport?
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
