AGING ECOSPORT STAYS COMPETITIVE
Ford’s tall hatchback ‘comes from away’ with new technology, upgraded features
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. With Ford of North America recently announcing its intention to sell pretty much nothing but trucks, SUVs and crossovers in the future, the 2018 EcoSport is another nail, albeit a small one, in the coffin of the traditional family car.
This tall hatchback with the tiny footprint is hardly new, but in Newfoundland vernacular, it certainly “comes from away,” having been initially developed for the Indian and South American markets as a 2012 model.
Arriving in Canadian dealerships now, our EcoSport (pronounced “echo-sport”) is built in India, and comes in four trim levels — S, SE, SES and Titanium.
Base engine for the S, SE and Titanium is a 1.0-L EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder making 123 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque.
For $2,500 you can upgrade to all-wheel-drive paired with a 2.0-L naturally aspirated four pushing out 166 hp and 149 lb-ft.
Both engines have auto startstop and are hooked up to a traditional six-speed automatic transmission. The sporty SES gets the AWD/2.0-L combo as standard kit.
Published fuel economy for the EcoSport is not outstanding. The front-drive 1.0-L is pegged at (L/100) 8.8 city/8.1 hwy/8.4 combined, while the all-wheel-drive 2.0-L gets a rating of 10.2 city/8.0 hwy/9.3 combined.
The base EcoSport S with the 1.0-L starts at $22,099 and includes 16-inch alloys, rear-view camera, auto headlamps, cruise control, hill-start assist, two smart-charging USB ports and Sync interface with a 4.2-inch screen. The volume trim will be the $25,099 SE that adds moonroof, heated front seats (six-way power driver’s), proximity key with push-button start, auto climate control, reverse sensing, roof rails and the excellent Sync 3 with 6.5 touchscreen — the latter bestowing upon the car Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, AppLink, valet mode, HD radio and (coming later) Waze integration. Also available is FordPass Connect and a Wi-Fi hot spot for up to 10 devices.
The SES at $29,399 ups the swagger with unique exterior trim and 17-inch alloys, orange interior highlights, partial leather seats, eight-inch touchscreen with navigation, blind spot detection, seven-speaker audio, sport-tuned suspension andmore.
If you desire near-luxury in a small package, the Titanium ($28,599 start) does its best to check those boxes. Highlights include leather, 17-inch alloys, a pretty decent 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, eightinch touchscreen with navigation, 110-volt inverter, BLIS, rain-sensing wipers, ambient lighting and Cold Weather Package (heated mirrors, heated steering wheel, wiper de-icer). The Cold Weather package is available on the SE and SES for $350.
The subcompact crossover segment is growing in rabbit-like leaps and bounds, and the Ford EcoSport certainly qualifies. It casts a smaller shadow than all of its competitors, like the Mazda CX-3, Chevrolet Trax, Buick Encore, Hyundai Kona, Honda HR-V and Jeep Renegade. This makes for darn good manoeuvrability as I discovered while exploring the exceedingly narrow lanes that thread their way through The Battery, a colourful collection of tiny homes clinging to the rocky face of the entrance to St. John’s harbour.
For having such a short wheelbase, the EcoSport has a commendably smooth ride, although it will get a bit pitchy over some surfaces. Handling is fine, the steering nicely accurate, there is a sense of quiet solidity to this ute that belies its size.
There’s quite a bit of utility baked into this tidy muffin. The unique side-hinged “swing gate” with two stop points opens to reveal 592 litres of cargo space behind the second row.
In the world of tiny crossovers, the Ford EcoSport maybe a somewhat aged prospect, but it offers plenty of current tech and is certainly an equal-opportunity offering.