Ford

EcoSport

The Ford EcoSport is a compact SUV with plenty of style and on-board technology. Originally the car came with a chunky spare wheel fitted to the tailgate, but that has now been ditched and the EcoSport now looks far more attractive and practical.

The good

Stylish, fun, funky and practical

The bad

Silly name - gets called echo or eco

Tech Specs

Price from

£14,245

Combined Fuel up to

64.2mpg

0-62 from

12.7 seconds

max speed up to

112mph

co2 from

115g/km

Test Drive

Ford EcoSport 1.0 EcoBoost Titanium S manual

I’m not entirely sure which clever marketing department came up with the idea of labelling car engines with fancy titles, but the venture has certainly paid off.

We have the likes of MultiJet, Ingenium, BoosterJet and possibly the most innovative of them all, Ford’s multi award-winning EcoBoost powertrain.

The reason this particular engine is so advanced and has earned so many plaudits is all in the performance and economy. Downsizing an engine’s capacity would usually mean compromising on power, but Ford has added turbochargers to its EcoBoost engines. And that means, in theory, the three-cylinder, 1.0-litre EcoBoost powertrain can deliver an impressive 140PS – which is very similar to an older and much heavier 1.6-litre petrol engine.

And all that power translates into very impressive performance capabilities in a number of Ford’s models, including the stylish and very practical EcoSport compact SUV.

Admittedly, at launch the four-door model was met with fairly negative feedback in the UK where it was heavily criticised for its looks and handling. But that was then and this is now.

Long gone is that somewhat ugly rear mounted spare wheel which really dated the EcoSport and the interior has certainly made progressive steps upmarket too. The ride height has been lowered slightly which improves the car’s ride and there have also been upgrades to the vehicle’s electronic stability control and powered steering to improve the all-round driving dynamics.

The test car in range-topping Titanium S trim, was priced at £17,595 (£19,310 with several options fitted) and could sprint to 62mph from a standing start in 11.8 seconds and redlined at 115mph. According to official figures, the EcoSport can deliver fuel economy of 52.3mpg with carbon emissions of 125g/km.

The EcoSport looks great from any angle thanks to its bold, athletic stance, complimented by 17-inch black alloys, rear privacy glass, LED signature lights, silver scuff plates, a painted black contrast roof and mirror housings, silver roof rails, a chrome finished grille and front fog lights.

Move inside and the light, spacious cabin can easily accommodate four adults (five at a push) with ample leg, head and shoulder room. Techno treats are plentiful and include a Sony navigation with DAB digital radio system (£400 extra), a rear view camera (£250), air con, automatic lights and wipers, rear parking sensors (£210), Ford SYNC which enables you to connect to all modern multi-media devices on the move and plenty more besides.

The test car also featured a Winter Pack costing an additional £230 which introduced heated front seats, a quick-clear heated windscreen and heated exterior mirrors.

Despite ditching the spare from the back of the car, the latest EcoSport still has its original side-hinged rear door which opens really wide and is very handy when loading bulky items. That said; it can be an issue when reversed back against a wall or tight to another parked car as it needs extra space to open fully.

The EcoSport shares many of its platforms with the highly successful Fiesta (the UK’s best-selling model) and that is very apparent when it comes to handling and performance. The power from the tiny engine is really punchy and the car makes very light work of maintaining motorway speeds, overtaking at short notice or climbing long steep inclines.

In busy town centres and congested traffic the high-seated driving position is very practical with a good view of all the cars, cyclists and pedestrians that dart out from all angles. And the comfort levels for all occupants are generally high, although you will feel the odd bump now and again.

I also liked the small infotainment screen which is about the same size as a modern smartphone, yet delivers all the information that is needed. On the downside, the awkwardly angled and shiny Sony console produced some irritating glare issues at times.

But that minor gripe aside, the Ford EcoSport is a fun car with a multitude of plus-points. It may have got off on the wrong foot at launch but it’s certainly picking up the pace now and winning quite a fanbase along the way.