Ford EcoSport 2016, presentation and road test in Madrid

Ford has launched a facelift of one of the least known models in its current European range. We are talking about the EcoSport, a small SUV-B with a different style.

With barely a year on the market, the guys at Ford have already presented us with an update that we have already been able to test on the roads of the Spanish capital.

Exterior design

The exterior design of the EcoSport is very eye-catching. From the outset, the guys at Ford have tried to give the EcoSport a strong personality, which is a double-edged sword as it can fall into an extremism that not everyone finds pleasing. This has been a problem for Ford with this model since its launch in 2014.

The front is, without a doubt, one of the most “controversial” parts of the EcoSport’s set of lines. A large grille with a practically oval shape and elongated headlights, combined with round front fog lights and generous ground clearance, make the image of the EcoSport very… its own. In the MY2016 version, some chrome details have been added and the interior design of the headlights has been improved.

The side view of the EcoSport is what we could call a monovolume based on the Fiesta, and that is indeed how Ford sells it to us. In fact, the EcoSport is built on the same platform as the Fiesta, a model with which it shares numerous components. The textured black plastic protections on both the underbody and the wheel arches give it a very appealing rugged look.

At the rear, until now, there was a spare wheel mounted on the tailgate, in the style of the more traditional TTs. However, this solution was not appealing to all customers, so Ford has opted to remove it as standard and instead offer it as an option for an extra €200. The tailgate still opens sideways.

Aesthetically, the highlight is the introduction of a new top-of-the-range version, called Titanium S, which adds to the others (Trend and Titanium) 17″ alloy wheels with a specific design, a new yellow body colour and darkened rear windows. In addition, both the roof and the mirror caps are painted in gloss black.

Interior design and equipment

Inside, we essentially find a raised four-door Fiesta. Anyone who has sat in a current-generation Fiesta will feel perfectly at home in the EcoSport’s cabin within minutes. According to Ford, both the materials used and the interior soundproofing have been improved. In practice, the soundproofing has indeed improved, but the construction materials are not especially impressive.

It is true that we enjoy a leather-wrapped steering wheel with a very pleasant, soft feel, as well as soft material on the door armrests, which help improve interior comfort. However, absolutely all the plastics are hard and have a rough texture, and some joints between parts are, at best, improvable in terms of fit. The feel of the levers and buttons is not as refined as in, for example, a Fiesta, something we can notice with something as simple as operating the indicator.

The EcoSport stands out for other virtues, such as complete equipment with the option of fitting elements such as heated sports seats in mixed leather and fabric upholstery, the high-performance sound system signed by Sony, the Sync On App Link system for controlling smartphone apps from the phone, or the keyless entry and start system, among others.

Furthermore, the interior space dimensions are more than good in both the front and the rear rows, comfortably accommodating four occupants. Five people will be a little more cramped, but it will always be bearable. The boot, however, is noticeably smaller than that of its rivals, placing it at a clear disadvantage with its 310 litres.

Behind the wheel

Time to start up. The MY2016 EcoSport is initially available with three engines, two petrol and one diesel. The diesel engine is a 1.5 TDCi of 95 CV, that is, 5 CV more than its predecessor. It also improves fuel consumption figures, dropping from 4.6 litres to 4.4 litres on the combined cycle.

In petrol, the entry-level alternative is a 1.5 Ti-VCT of 115 CV, naturally aspirated. It is the cheapest engine, and the only one that can be paired with an automatic gearbox, in this case a six-speed. The others are exclusively matched to a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Above it sits the 1.0 Ecoboost of 125 CV, a brand classic that retains its qualities. It remains more than sufficient for everyday driving, has a restrained sound, hardly vibrates and has modest consumption if you know how to manage your right foot. In a few months a 140 CV variant of the 1.0 will join, becoming the top of the range.

On the road, the EcoSport behaves as one would expect within the segment it belongs to. The Titanium S version adds, besides cosmetic touches, some mechanical adjustments, such as a specific calibration for the ESP, stiffer and thicker anti-roll bars and a less flexible suspension. In practice, the handling is indeed a little more refined, but the standard versions are practically just as stable and, yet, more comfortable.

Photography | Daniel Valdivielso