Ford EcoSport (2014 – 2023) Review

The Ford EcoSport might be an on-trend small SUV, but it certainly isn't the brand's finest hour. A well-priced post-2017 used model is an okay buy, but as a new car it's a very difficult sell next to the Ford Puma, which is a far better all-rounder and barely any more expensive. Check out our Ford EcoSport review to find out why. 

The Ford EcoSport arrived in 2014, just as the small SUV craze was starting to gather pace. The hugely popular Nissan Juke saw other makers scrambling for a piece of the pie, and Ford's solution was a simple one. 

The Ford Fiesta-based EcoSport first launched in Brazil back in 2012, and as Blue Oval bosses pushed a global car agenda it was deemed good enough - with some tweaks - to be sold in Europe. The 2014-2017 versions were built in India and imported, but were criticised for their poor quality, ride and refinement. 

Ford of Europe decided it needed to up its game, making changes to the suspension and claiming quality improvements in 2015. But further efforts were needed, and from late 2017 the Ford EcoSports that sold in Europe and the UK were instead built in Romania in an effort to further raise quality.

By this point the EcoSport was facelifted and more competitive, and was available with the very well-received 1.0-litre Ecoboost three-cylinder turbo engine. But the writing was already on the wall, and more accomplished models such as the Peugeot 2008, Mazda CX-3, Hyundai Kona and Kia Stonic were on the scene. 

We'd have thought Ford would've dropped the EcoSport by now, but as of 2022 it's still available to order. Newer rivals are setting much higher standards, not least the Ford Puma which is much nicer to drive, roomier, better built and basically the same price, particularly when it comes to leasing. 

The Ford EcoSport does have some positives, namely that strong Ecoboost engine, a good standard equipment list and a commanding driving position. But it's now off the pace in terms of its ride and handling, its refinement, plus its interior space and design. There's also that dated, awkward side-hinged tailgate to really show its age. 

While the Ford EcoSport is a bit more practical than a Fiesta and was decently roomy by small SUV standard in 2014, it's not all that spacious by today's standards.

There's a decent amount of legroom up front and headroom is pretty generous, while the surprisingly high driving position will appeal to many. It gives you a good view forwards despite thick pillars. Early versions of the EcoSport didn't have reach adjustment on the steering wheel, but that was added a few years into its life. 

The cabin is quite narrow, however. This means elbow room isn't the best, and you'd struggle to get even a child in the middle rear seat in any comfort. Headroom is still very good back there, as is space for your feet, but even a moderately tall driver or front passenger highlights the lack of rear legroom. The EcoSport could really do with a sliding rear bench to let you juggle passenger and boot room, like a number of rivals including the Renault Captur. 

The Ford EcoSport's maximum boot capacity is 356 litres, and that's with the boot floor as low as it can go. Again, it's more than a Fiesta, but lags behind a number of key rivals, with the Puma offering up to 456 litres. 

That's not the worst thing about the boot, however; the EcoSport has a side-hinged tailgate, making getting access to the boot in a tight car park or a parallel bay a real pain. It's heavy, too, even more so if you go for an earlier model with the spare wheel mounted on the back (the only place it'll fit). What's more, folding the rear seats leaves a big load lip. 

In terms of exterior dimensions the Ford EcoSport is 4,096mm long, 1,765mm wide and 1,653mm tall. That makes it pretty compact for the class, and therefore easier to park.

It was clear that early Ford EcoSports were built with emerging markets in mind, as the interior fit-and-finish was pretty poor and the quality of the materials used was lacklustre. 

From 2015 onwards Ford made a series of improvements, and by the time it was facelifted in late 2017 quality was near the standard set by most rivals. No changes have been made since, though, and with the Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur and even the latest Nissan Juke stepping quality up a notch it's outclassed now. 

Early versions of the Ford EcoSport had pretty basic and awkward-to-use infotainment, but after late 2017 it gained the same 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system as the latest Fiesta. That means an eyeline-mounted screen with some physical shortcut buttons underneath, while navigation is standard even on the base model. 

You also get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus voice contral and an integrated sim card for a Wi-Fi hotspot, while the screen responds well enough to the touch. It's a bit dated in the face of new competitors, but it does the job. 

As of 2022 the Ford EcoSport's engine and trim range is reduced compared with previous years. This means you get three high-spec trim levels and one engine option. That means it doesn't get expensive, but it does mean the starting price isn't all that keen.

The cheapest Ford EcoSport is Titanium trim, which is £23,435. Upgrading to ST-Line mainly focuses on sporty styling additions, bringing the price to £24,235. The rugged Active model goes the other way with 4x4-like add-ons, priced at £24,510. 

The EcoSport's biggest thorn in the side is the Ford Puma, which is not a better car in basically every way, it's also only a few hundred quid more on paper to buy. Leasing deals are similar, too - the only reason for getting the EcoSport is if you're offered a simply huge discount.  

Still, the EcoSport is quite affordable to buy used. Prices start from as little as £7,500 for a 2015 1.0-litre Ecoboost model in Zetec form, with the improved facelifted models starting at under £11,000 for a 2018 version. 

Early versions of the Ford EcoSport were available with a 1.5-litre diesel engine, which was easily the most efficient with a claimed 64.2mpg. There was also a 1.5-litre non-turbo petrol engine which managed 44.8mpg.

By 2016, though, Ford had added the 1.0-litre Ecoboost turbo petrol engine, which when tested in the more stringent WLTP regime promised 47.1mpg in 125PS or 140PS form. There was a lower-powered 100PS version, too, but as it needed working hard it'll be no more efficient in practice. 

Still, that 100PS version is the cheapest to insure sitting in group 10. Upping it to the 125PS model only brings it to group 12, however. All versions have a flat £165 a year charge for VED (road tax), with the higher first-year rate included in your final price when buying or leasing new. 

The EcoSport is largely based on the Ford Fiesta underneath, so you might think it would be a sharp yet comfortable to drive. Unfortunately that's not really the case. Even with changes over the years it never really kept pace - early cars are particularly poor. 

Because it's so tall and narrow Ford has firmed up the suspension to keep it from rolling around too much. That results in a choppy and unsettled ride regardless of which version you go for. It's not rock solid, but it crashes and thumps over even medium-sized ruts and potholes and fidgets everywhere else. 

Yet pick up the base and it lacks stability, with a fair bit of body lean and steering that doesn't inspire confidence. Things are even worse with the sports suspension in ST-Line trim, which has little impact on handling but makes the ride even bumpier. 

Refinement also marks out the EcoSport as an older model. Road noise isn't too bad, but there's lots of wind noise once you get up to speed, and the engines are noisier than they are in the Fiesta. 

The only positive thing we can say is that it's easy to drive around town, with good visibility, light steering and that narrow body making it simple to thread through traffic. 

There's been a variety of engines offered in the Ford EcoSport over the years. The early 1.5-litre non-turbo petrol engine was pretty weak and unrefined, and best avoided. We'd also steer clear of the similarly gruff and gutless 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine unless fuel economy was an absolute priority. 

Most buyers are best served with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, offered in the last few years in 100PS, 125PS and 140PS guise. There was an automatic gearbox available on the higher powered versions, as was four-wheel drive, but in the last couple of years your only choice has been a six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive. 

We reckon the 125PS Ford EcoSport is the pick of the range, balancing cost with sufficiently perky performance. The 100PS unit feels a bit lacking in a car that weighs a good chunk more than a Fiesta, but the rest are pretty gutsy, with a torquey feel and an encouraging rorty engine note. There's a bit of vibration at lower revs, but that's fairly typical of a three-cylinder engine. 

Euro NCAP only tested the Ford EcoSport once early on in its life in 2013, when it recorded a four-star crash safety rating. That wasn't exactly best-in-class back then, and the category scores of the Ford Puma are much better despite it being tested in the more stringent way in 2019. 

You do get standard autonomous emergency braking and traffic sign recognition on entry-level Titanium in 2022, but you'll need a £650 Driver Assistance Pack to get things such as a driver attention alert, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and front parking sensors. 

The Ford EcoSport is not an especially good SUV for towing anything more than light trailers or small caravans, with a maximum unbraked towing limit of 1100kg. 

As of 2022 there are three trim levels to choose from on the Ford EcoSport. They are as follows:

The entry-level Ford EcoSport Titanium comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps for the dipped beam, a heated windscreen, climate control, cruise control, a rear-view camera and rear parking sensors, auto lights and wipers, part faux leather trim, Ford Sync touchscreen with Navigation and automatic emergency braking. 

Upgrading to the Ford EcoSport ST-Line brings 17-inch alloy wheels in a dark machined finish, black headlamp bezels, black exterior detailing including altered front and rear bumpers, body coloured side cladding, sports suspension, red interior stitching, suede upholstery, ST-Line floor mats and a rear spoiler. 

The top-of-the-range Ford EcoSport Active comes with two-tone 17-inch alloy wheels, a black painted roof, part leather trim with blue stitching, privacy glass, upgraded front mats and rugged wheelarch mouldings.