Do not let Ford’s heavy use of the meaningless “first-ever” advertising and marketing time period idiot you; the 2018 EcoSport is hardly a brand new automobile. Based mostly on the 2011 Fiesta, the present EcoSport has been bought overseas since 2012, and its predecessor, initially designed for the rising Indian and South American markets, has been in existence since 2003.

So why is it simply now arriving in America? The easy reply is, you guys actually like small SUVs. These autos signify the fastest-growing phase within the automotive house proper now, and for a mainstream automaker like Ford, it would be an enormous mistake to not supply one thing on this class.

The EcoSport will get a variety of 2018 mannequin yr enhancements as a part of a world mid-cycle refresh. Are they sufficient to make Ford’s mini-SUV stand out in a quickly rising phase, or is that this all simply too little, too late?

What’s outdated is new once more

Due to its rising market roots, the place ultra-compact autos reign supreme, the EcoSport is small. Like, actually small. It has the shortest wheelbase of any automobile within the subcompact SUV class, and nearly all of its rivals are six or extra inches longer general. That is nice for tight parking conditions or maneuvering by way of congested cities, but it surely comes on the expense of passenger and cargo house.

With a six-foot-tall driver or entrance passenger, somebody of the identical measurement will simply barely be capable of comfortably sit within the again seat. The EcoSport has an SAE-rated 91.1 cubic toes of passenger house, making it smaller inside than every part in is class, excluding the super-duper cramped Mazda CX-3. Particular person rear head- and legroom numbers are about par for the course, however there is no denying the truth that the EcoSport genuinely feels cramped inside. Chunky pillars and large swaths of low-cost black plastic do not assist the claustrophobia issue, both.

You actually discover the EcoSport’s age all through a lot of the inside. Arduous plastics line nearly each floor, with some questionable lower strains and panel gaps on the dashboard and doorways. The seats are slim and never very supportive, lined in some chincy fake leather-based. Many of the buttons feel and look outdated, as does the design of the instrument cluster.

There are a variety of intelligent storage options contained in the EcoSport, with small cubbies on your telephone or pockets within the doorways and passenger-side sprint. There’s even a small slot the place you possibly can relaxation a telephone horizontally, simply forward of the gear selector and, conveniently, proper subsequent to the EcoSport’s two USB retailers.

The EcoSport’s cargo measurements are merely common: 20.9 cubic toes of house with the rear seats raised, or 50 cubic toes with the again bench folded flat. However as a result of the EcoSport was initially designed to have a spare tire mounted to its rear, the again door swings open to the aspect, moderately than utilizing a conventional roof-mounted hatchback design. The latch is hidden within the passenger-side taillight (thanks for laughing at me after I could not discover it, LAX parking attendants), and the door itself is heavy to open and shut. The swing-out design means you will not be capable of open the door all the way in which in parallel-park or backed-in conditions, both. Oh, and whereas you will get the spare tire provider on the US-spec EcoSport, however solely on the bottom S mannequin, and a $185 possibility.

Little automotive, little energy

The EcoSport (pronounced “echo-sport”) comes with a selection of two EcoBoost (pronounced “eek-o-boost”) engines. Entrance-wheel-drive fashions include Ford’s 1.Zero-liter inline-three, with 123 horsepower, 125 pound-feet of torque and a 6-speed computerized transmission. All-wheel drive is just obtainable with an upgraded 2.Zero-liter inline-four, with a extra sturdy 166 horsepower and 149 pound-feet of torque, additionally with a 6-speed computerized. If you need the two.0L/AWD improve, be ready to pay an additional $1,450 for the privilege.

The 1.Zero-liter setup is usually fantastic, more often than not. This engine struggles a bit on uphill climbs, the place the transmission revs excessive, complemented by a cacophony of buzzing and coarse unpleasantness. However on flat surfaces, the EcoSport has sufficient energy to stand up and out of its personal means, and you will not be flooring it to go different drivers on the freeway.

What I am unable to forgive, nonetheless, is the gas financial system. At its finest, the 1.Zero-liter, front-wheel-drive EcoSport cannot crack 30 mpg — the EPA charges it at 27 mpg metropolis and 29 mpg freeway. Not solely is that 29-mpg ranking worse than each single one of many EcoSport’s four-cylinder rivals, it is decrease than the 30-mpg estimate for the bigger, extra highly effective Ford Escape. Throughout every week of blended metropolis and freeway driving in Los Angeles, I solely see about 26 mpg on common, which is fairly pitiful.

That stated, the EcoSport’s on-road manners are a pleasing shock. Even with my Titanium tester’s upgraded 17-inch wheels, the tiny Ford delivers a easy, compliant experience. Small pavement imperfections are simply soaked up by the properly tuned chassis, and the EcoSport’s pothole suppression might be the perfect in its class. Steering response is about common, and general ranges of suggestions are fairly low, however none of that’s surprising on this measurement and worth class. The dynamic doll of the group continues to be the Mazda CX-Three, and you will find extra general powertrain refinement within the Honda HR-V and Hyundai Kona, however I would undoubtedly moderately drive an EcoSport over a Chevrolet Trax or Toyota C-HR.

Sturdy options and tech

Regardless of having a typically dumpy inside, I need to say, the EcoSport’s function set is kind of wealthy. This loaded Titanium mannequin has computerized local weather management, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, sunroof, Bluetooth, upgraded B&O Play audio and Ford’s newest Sync 3 infotainment suite inside an Eight-inch touchscreen.

Sync Three works as properly right here because it does in another Ford mannequin, with a comparatively easy menu construction and fast response to inputs. The voice controls work properly, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are normal, and higher trim ranges have an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. I even just like the display screen’s housing in an upright flat display screen on the highest of the middle stack. My solely gripe is that Sync Three might stand to have extra visible attraction. With large, daring sans-serif fonts and restricted colours, this factor kind of reads like a large-print greeting card.

Whereas the EcoSport begins at $19,995, the one you will really need prices a good bit extra. With all of the aforementioned gear, plus bigger wheels and the $340 chilly climate bundle, the front-wheel-drive EcoSport Titanium you see right here stickers for $27,075, together with $995 for vacation spot. A totally loaded, front-drive Honda HR-V, in the meantime, prices $26,115 all-in. Should you’re considering the EcoSport may be a worth play, assume once more.

How I would spec it

I actually just like the look of the EcoSport SES, with its blacked-out exterior trim and dark-finish wheels. The SES additionally comes normal with the two.Zero-liter turbo engine and all-wheel drive, and the one optionally available add-on I would need is the $500 chilly climate bundle (sure, it is extra on the SES than the Titanium). Then once more, this construct mixture leads to a $28,375 EcoSport, which is loopy.

Too little, too late?

The EcoSport is not a foul automotive, but it surely’s not the one I would suggest. The Honda HR-V provides higher high quality, gas financial system and worth. The Mazda CX-Three is quite a bit smaller inside, however its inside supplies are excellent, and it is means nicer to drive.

In the long run, Ford’s EcoSport delivers an expertise that places it on the center of the subcompact pack, at finest. Would I’ve it over a Chevy Trax, Jeep Renegade or Toyota C-HR? Yeah, however that is not precisely saying a lot. Options from Honda, Hyundai and Mazda, to not point out oddball choices like a Kia Soul or Subaru Crosstrek, supply higher effectivity and nicer driving dynamics in a much more well-rounded bundle. With no actual worth profit to talk of, to not point out apparent indicators of age, the EcoSport is hard to suggest on this fiercely aggressive class.