Is the revised Ford Ecosport any better?

The car in our picture is the Ford Ecosport which is basically a small SUV based on the Ford Fiesta. This car was originally built for car buyers outside Europe but it’s been on sale in the UK since 2014 and recently received an update in 2018. We think it’s fair to say that we weren’t too impressed with the Ecosport in its original form. So, in this article see if the recent update has done anything to revise our opinion.

First of all there are some notable styling differences. The front end now looks like Ford’s bigger ended SUVs such as the Kuga and the Edge with a bigger grille and headlights than before. It’s an improvement but overall the car’s proportions still look a little bit off. One thing they haven’t improved is the boot and more specifically how you get into it. It will take you quite a while to figure it out first time around mainly because the mechanism to open it isn’t anywhere you’d expect. Instead it’s in the form of a small handle tucked inside the rear lights and this then opens the boot sideways. The door itself is really heavy and takes up so much space. Due to the fact the door opens in this way means that if you’re in a multi-storey carpark or simply just parked on the road with other cars behind you then the boot is actually quite useless as you can’t actually get into it! However, once you do get into it then the space inside isn’t too bad. Ok, it’s not class-leading but it’s got a good square shape to it, there’s no load-lip and it will fit a couple of your average sized suitcases in with ease.

When you sit in the back you’ll find that there’s not that much more legroom than you’d find in a Ford Fiesta so tall passengers with a tall driver in front will find themselves travelling with their knees pushed up in front of them. It’s also the same story across the seats as they’re actually not that wide so getting three adults in here is going to be pretty snug and is best suited to children. One thing that is quite irritating, considering that this is a family car, is the fact that the doors don’t open that wide. Therefore, it makes getting your children in and out of car seats really quite awkward.

The cheapest Ecosport model is the Zetec which is pretty well equipped for an entry-level car. You get alloy wheels, fog lights, electrically powered mirrors and air conditioning as well as digital radio and full smartphone connectivity with Apple or Android phones. If you step up to the Titanium then you get bigger alloys wheels, roof rails a larger touchscreen, sat nav, rear view camera and part leather trim. The sporty choice is the ST and gets you sports suspension a body-kit and a leather steering wheel.

An update to the Ecosport’s interior was desperately needed and to be fair things do look a whole lot better in the cabin now. It’s basically a replica of the Ford Fiesta’s which in our eyes is no bad thing. The large touchscreen infotainment system is only available on the high spec models but even the entry level system still comes with a six inch screen. The storage isn’t too bad as you’ll find good sized door bins, a small but useable shaped glovebox and some cup holders by the handbrake. It’s worth noting that the central console armrest isn’t available on the entry level model.

The Ecosport comes with a choice of a 1.0 litre 123 break horse power (bhp) petrol engine or a 1.5 litre 99 bhp diesel engine. You can have an automatic gearbox with the petrol engine but not the diesel. The ST trim gives you the option of the more powerful 138 bhp petrol engine.

Although the Fiesta, upon which this car is based, is a lot of fun to drive sadly the Ecosport isn’t. Raising the suspension has had a negative impact on the handling and it really does lean into corners. The ST model doesn’t help things as this makes the ride particularly harsh and picks up almost every lump and bump in the road. The steering could also do with being a little more direct. Neither of the gearboxes are fantastic though the manual is the better of the two. The automatic really does seem to struggle to find then right gear and just has a sluggish feel to it.

So, the Ecosport isn’t that great to drive but is it cheap to run? Sadly, the answer is…not really especially if you opt for the petrol engine. It’ll manage a little over 50 miles to the gallon (mpg) regardless of which of the power outputs you go for. The reality is that it won’t actually achieve this figure in the real world. The diesel is certainly more efficient but it does make the Ecosport unbearably sluggish to drive with its 0 - 60mph time of 14 seconds. Out of all of the engines we think that the slightly more powerful 1.0 litre is the one to go for. The less powerful unit just doesn’t seem to have enough punch for this type of car and it doesn’t exactly fill you with confidence when you’re trying to overtake on motorways.

Overall the Ford Ecosport is way off the pace in too many areas when you compare it to its competitors and it cost too much to excuse the shortcomings. If you want a truly cheap SUV then you’re probably better off in a Dacia Duster. However, if you are after something stylish, modern and efficient then cars like the Renault Captur and SEAT Arona are a far better bet. If this hasn’t put you off then we have plenty of used Ford Ecosport cars for sale on DesperateSeller.co.uk.