Ford step up a gear
a new 1.5-litre diesel engine.
I have been sampling the Titanium model powered by Ford’s tried and tested 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbo three-cylnder petrol engine which is priced at £19,945.
The EcoSport now feels better to drive and the gear change is slick and the steering is nicely weighted. The suspension changes mean that it is now suited better to our roads but there is still plenty body roll and the ride remains busy.
The engine in this version produces 123bhp but it still takes the EcoSport a leisurely 12.7 seconds to tackle the 0-62mph sprint.
Official figures put the combined mpg at 54.3 but I could not get anywhere near that in normal driving conditions so expect to get between 40-45mpg if you don’t push too hard.
Overall it is the redesigned interior that is the most impressive part of the new Ecosport with decent switchgear plucked from the Fiesta and a similar tablet-style infotainment screen on top of the centre consule.
It is easy to use and coupled with a better instrument panel and some improved plastics the cabin is now much nicer to sit in. The Titanium also offers a generous amount of standard equipment and all the latest safety features.
My car also came with rear privacy glass at £250, front parking sensors at £150, keyless entry and start for an additional £300 and a premium sound system for a further £300. Larger alloys and premium lightning blue paint took the final cost of the EcoSport to a hefty £21,940.
The cabin will take four adults with ease but rear legroom is still quite tight.
The boot offers 355-litres of luggage space but the tailgate is still an annoying side-opening affair and that is still a pain.
The latest EcoSport is still not Ford at its best but it is a much better package than before thanks to the visual and engineering improvements and especially its new cabin. Ford EcoSport 1.0 EcoBoost Titanium manual
Fast facts
Price: £19,945 Mechanical: 123bhp, 999cc, 3cyl turbo petrol engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox Max speed: 111 0-62mph: 12.7 seconds Combined mpg: 54.3 Insurance group: 11 CO2 emissions: 119g/km BIK rating: 27% Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles