Ford Ecosport II (facelift 2017) 1.0 EcoBoost (125 HP) Automatic

The EcoSport has us wondering whether Ford ever expected the compact crossover boom to reach the US. It first debuted in 2012, and while built on a global platform, it was originally only sold in India, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, certain parts of Europe, and South Africa. It was a smashing success in those markets, which is probably why Ford revisited the idea of launching it in the USA in 2016. The crossover mania did, in fact, reach the USA, peaking around 2018, just as the EcoSport was launched locally. While the EcoSport was a revolutionary car back in 2012, it faced a tougher challenge in 2018. The segment had grown significantly and included newer, more modern rivals like the Hyundai Kona, Kia Soul, and Honda HR-V.
The gold standard in this segment is a small-capacity turbocharged four-pot, but the Ford EcoSport is equipped with a turbocharged three-cylinder producing 123 hp. Its engine block is so small, it can actually fit on a piece of A4 paper. If you prefer an old-school engine, a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-pot producing 166 hp is available, and standard on the SES trim. The diminutive base engine is a unique selling point, but the Ford has a few things that count against it, like the sub-standard build quality, lackluster performance, and a suspension setup that doesn't quite work for the subcompact crossover duties it was built for. It's not all bad, though, but is a good infotainment setup, practical size, and available all-wheel-drive enough to redeem it?
The 2021 Ford EcoSport soldiers on with the same mechanics and lineup as last year, but with two new 17-inch wheel options and an Overlander Decal for the SE and Titanium trim. A laminate windshield replaces the acoustic unit, and two new paint colors have been added to the exterior palette, namely Blue Metallic and Luxe Yellow, which replaces 2020's Blue Candy Metallic Tinted Clearcoat and Canyon Ridge.
There is also a new appearance package available to the SE trim, costing an additional $495. Previously, SES models could opt on a Black Appearance package, but this has now been made standard on this trim, as has six-way power adjustment on the driver's seat. Titanium trims now have access to faux leather upholstery. Finally, a cargo cover and package tray are now standard specifications on the SE trim and above.
The design may be a few years old now, but it still manages to be funky and fresh - kudos to Ford for designing a car that holds up so well in a segment where style often counts for much more than function. Each model in the line-up was designed to serve a specific purpose, and their various exteriors reflect that. The S is a no-nonsense entry-level model, equipped with a black beltline molding, black door handles, halogen headlights, and 16-inch alloy wheels.
The SE model has a silver-painted grille, black roof rails, and fog lights, while the Titanium gets larger 17-inch wheels, a chrome grille and beltline molding, as well as silver roof rails. On SE, Titanium, and SES models, the halogen headlights also feature LED daytime running lights and a power moonroof is made standard. The SES gets a blacked-out grille and bespoke black-painted aluminum wheels.
Unfortunately, both available engines offer underwhelming performance; you can choose either motor on the first three trims, but the SES can only be had with the bigger motor. The 1.0-liter turbocharged three-pot EcoSport in front-wheel-drive models takes around 11 seconds to sprint to 60 mph with the 123 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque it yields. The upgraded 2.0-liter four-pot ups this to 166 hp and 149 lb-ft and can manage the benchmark sprint in under ten seconds, which isn't particularly impressive either. Back in 2012, this may have been acceptable, but we now live in a world where a similarly-priced Hyundai Kona can sprint to 60 mph in around seven seconds.
Where it does impress is in towing capacity. In a segment where most vehicles don't even have tow ratings, the EcoSport can tow 1,400 lbs in FWD and 2,000 lbs in AWD guise.
The EcoSport does have some good handling characteristics, as it's based on the Fiesta. The steering is lifeless and it has no heft to it, but the EcoSport is keen to turn in at low speeds. In and around the city, you might even call it fun. At higher speeds, and on broken surfaces, the EcoSport is less fun. It softly sprung, which sounds ideal for an SUV, but it's a bit too soft. Over rougher surfaces, it never feels 100% settled. The softer setup also means the body leans more through corners. The soft setup has no problems coping with larger bumps, however. Given how it will mostly be used, we would have preferred a more balanced setup.
Another big annoyance at high speed is the noise. Neither engine is particularly refined, leading to a lot of engine noise intruding into the cabin. The other decent carry-over from the Fiesta is the braking system. It does a good job, but nothing more than what we've come to expect from this segment. When it comes to ride and handling, the EcoSport can't hide its age. All of its newer rivals offer a better driving experience.
Fortunately for Ford, it has kept the interior of the EcoSport up to date, even though it doesn't evoke any sort of emotional response. The layout is logical, rather than funky or fresh, and there are no stand-out features you can point to that makes it stand out amongst its competitors. Quality isn't on par with what's currently being done in this segment either. It's perfectly acceptable on the base car, which costs less than $20,000, but once you go above that it just doesn't cut it.
We'll concede that it does feel solid, and that certainly plays a big role. Inspect it closer and you'll note the dated-looking infotainment system and air conditioning, as well as the hard, rough plastics used throughout the interior. The EcoSport scores some points back by being quite spacious. There's loads of room for the driver and four passengers, and the seats offer adequate support.
Medium Light Stone cloth is the only available upholstery option on the entry-level S. Its steering wheel is made of urethane, but it is equipped with audio controls for the dated infotainment system. The rest of the models in the range have leather-clad steering wheels, and the SES adds chrome inserts and unique stitching as well. A leather-wrapped shift knob is standard on every model but the S.
The SE adds an Ebony Black cloth option, as well as an Ebony Black cloth with Orange Copper accents as part of the SE Appearance Package. This $495 option is worth it, if only because it adds some funk to an otherwise dull interior. A choice between Medium Light Stone and Ebony Black perforated leather is all that's available to the Titanium trim, while the SES offers the ActiveX seats in Ebony Black. Ford says this new synthetic leather is more durable and stain-resistant than normal leather.

Price Range (MSRP): $20,395 - $28,345.