Ford Ecosport

The Ecosport is Ford’s first foray into the Mini-SUV sector and despite sluggish initial sales and rotten reviews Ford have persevered with the Brazilian designed, Romanian built small high rider. As the market and the Ecosport has developed (no more boot mounted spare wheel) sales have increased and the new for 2018 Ecosport, while still not a lot of fun to drive, finally has the look and the equipment to compete in the hottest sector in the industry.

 

 

A facelift can’t work miracles and the same space and practicality gripes that tripped-up the old EcoSport remain. Space up front is par for the course, but rear legroom is particularly tight. The 355-litre boot doesn’t place the EcoSport near the front of the pack on practicality either. Despite the sweeping changes, the boot is still a side-opening affair rather than a hatch and this can prove awkward at times. The new Interior is excellent, the SYNC 3 eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system is fitted at the centre of the dash, complete with sat nav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a rear view-parking camera. Zetec models get a slightly smaller 6.5 display.

 

Even the entry-level Zetec spec comes with a long list of standard equipment, including a DAB radio, two USB sockets, 16 inch alloy wheels, air-con, electric front and rear windows and a leather steering wheel and gear lever. Titanium models get 17 inch alloys, built-in sat-nav, a rear-view camera, partial leather seats, keyless start, climate and cruise control, as well as automatic headlights and wipers. The range-topping ST-Line with its skirts, spoilers, dark alloy wheels and contrasting roof colour is the best looking car in our opinion and the sports suspension does help a little with the ride quality too.

 

 

Two engines are available, an upgraded (manual gearbox only) 1.5 litre diesel with 99 or 123 bhp, the larger offers an excellent 300nm of torque and is avaialble as 2 or 4 wheel drive, economy on the new WLTP cycle is up to 56.5 mpg and the 0-62 time of the larger output in all wheel drive is an impressive 10.9 seconds. The lightweight 1.0 litre three cylinder petrol engine avaialble in 123 or 138 bhp variants, The larger only being a manual gearbox while the 123bhp unit is a six speed manual or six speed automatic. The manual cars can return 44.1 mpg and the auto 38.7, the 123bhp unit reaches 62 mph in 12.6 seconds compared to 11.8 for the 138bhp. No Automatic cars this quarter.

 Autumn Best Buy – Ford Ecosport ‘ST Line’  1.0 123bhp or 140 bhp petrol manual  –  £45 Advance Payment (£71.14 wpms)

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