This weeks review is the Ford EcoSport in Titanium trim with an MSRP of $32989. Our car was assembled in India at the Chennai Ford Plant.
Fun Factor: 3
Can it Family: 5
Fuel-Friendly: 5
HWY-warrior: 4
Karaoke Friendly: 5
Baby friendly: 6
City Cruising: 5
This compact SUV from Ford is based on the same platform as the now-defunct Ford Fiesta. The EcoSport we drove was built in India where it is then imported to North America. The AWD option comes only with one engine, a 2.0L naturally aspirated engine and is mated to a 6-speed automatic. In our taste, the engine that ford placed in this SUV needs more refinement as it will try to change gears faster then it should to the highest gear possible. The shift may be so unexpected it will just slow down the car and give you kind of jerky movement similar to an unfortunate change of gear in a manual transmission car, thus making overtaking challenging at times.
The cabin is quite spacious for its size, it isn’t the biggest in its class however very functional. The driving position and the driving experience will be comfortable enough for most people that are small to medium size, as the ergonomics of the car are strangely positioned for taller drivers. We suspect that Ford is aware that no tall person would want to buy this car. The infotainment and heating controls are ergonomically placed to have easy access. Seating comfort is average. As standard options on the titanium trim are heated seats and a heated steering wheel something that isn't found often in this segment. It also comes with Ford SYNC 3 with turn by turn directions, in case you're not Android or iOS user.
As for the back door, it opens like a regular door something you rarely see on cars today, this makes loading and unloading cargo simple. One really quirky item on the EcoSport is how the back door opens, the latch is not placed where you would find it traditionally, it’s placed inside the right-hand flasher lights. As for putting a stroller in the trunk, you will be limited to smaller variations. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself quickly running out of space. Installing car seats for a toddler is pretty simple. However, the Isofix latches are somewhat hidden under the seats, thus it can make challenging in colder weather to remove them and or replace them. As for child seats in the back row, the maximum number of adults would be limited to 2, a place for a 3 person would be minimal at that point, with one car seat one adult and one child seating in the back cab be comfortable.
Can it Family? Now for longer trips, I would suggest different models within this segment, however, if you're looking to drive around the city or if you drive mostly on a country road this car makes perfect sense. Its size and higher stance make it comfortable to drive. As mention above the cargo room is enough for your weekly grocery, however for a road trip you'll find yourself very limited if you're traveling with the whole family as only one medium suitcase fits in the trunk, that would be enough for a weekend getaway, not more.
The fuel consumption of the EcoSport isn't very impressive with an average of 13.7L per 100km on a 500km drive that included 30% HWY and 70% city, pure HWY would be around 9.8 in real life.
Finally, the car is nor Eco nor sporty. Ford should seriously find a better name for North America. We would mainly recommend this car for city use and for smaller families. As it is practical to park in smaller areas and with its AWD system you'll get out of snow or dirt roads any day.
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