Ford EcoSport Overview

Ford EcoSport Launch

The Ford EcoSport was launched in the Philippines back in January 2014 – aimed for budget-conscious car buyers who want a flexible vehicle in a small package. Since then, it has started the subcompact crossover revolution in which other brands followed suit in the years to come.

In August 2018, Ford Philippines launched the refreshed version of the EcoSport. Carrying a new face and a set of powertrain/transmission setup, the new EcoSport aims to maintain its position as a top-selling vehicle in the Philippine market.

Ford EcoSport Chassis, Platform & Powertrain

The Ford EcoSport sits on Ford’s B2E platform and has a front-engine, front-wheel-drive powertrain layout, with two gasoline engine options to choose from. First is the 121-hp 1.5-liter Ti-VCT while the second one is the 123-hp turbocharged 1.0-liter EcoBoost GTDi that came with the facelifted model. Transmission options are a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed conventional torque converter automatic. Only the front wheels are equipped with disc brakes.

Ford EcoSport Driving Performance

Without the early kick from the turbo, the EcoSport’s 121-hp 1.5L engine lacked grunt at low RPMs, which meant that at slow paces and in-city traffic, you would need to press deeper on the accelerator in order to get a satisfying pull. The 1.0L EcoBoost mill, on the other hand, provides the needed pull every time, with the turbo kicking in at around 1,500 RPM. With this, even hill climbs and tough parking ramps were a cinch.

As for handling, the EcoSport is easily maneuverable in tight spaces but there’s a bit of understeer when tackling curves at speeds. The steering wheel is weighted nicely but a little tweaking electronically power-assisted steering is needed.

Ford EcoSport Technology Features

As the range-topper, the EcoSport Titanium boasts several driving conveniences. They’re more than a handful, so I’ll just drop them all here: speed-sensing door locks, auto-dimming rearview mirror, keyless entry with push-button start/stop, hill-start and hill-descent controls, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, and auto start/stop – all of these work flawlessly. The lower variants lose some of these features but ultimately, the EcoSport is one of the most loaded crossovers in its class.

Ford EcoSport Exterior

The Ford EcoSport still has its boxy shape, sculpted sides, and the rear gate-mounted spare tire compartment, which all served as its signature appeal on the local public roads. However, there are new and bigger headlights, as well as wider grille, and minus the slim upper grille that used to connect both headlights and hold the emblem.

To differentiate the range-topping EcoSport EcoBoost trim from the rest of the range, it has HID Projector headlights. Almost all of the variants get 17-inch alloys, except for the base Ambiente MT that has 16-inch steel rims.

Ford EcoSport Interior

The Ford EcoSport employs exemplary cabin quality in terms of materials used. The range-topper has leather trimmings, while the lower variants get polyurethane materials and fabric upholstery. Space up front is cavernous but legroom at the rear seats is a bit limited. Trunk space is expected for the vehicle’s size but can be expanded by folding the rear backrests. The swing rear door is a bit heavy, though.

Ford EcoSport Safety

The Ford EcoSport is loaded with safety features, starting with dual front airbags that are present across the range. The range-toppers get side and curtain airbags, as well, while the mid-Trend variant has extra side airbags. Other standard safety features include ABS with EBD, traction control, stability control, emergency brake light, front seatbelt reminders, and ISOFIX child seat tethers.

The Ford EcoSport has not been tested by the ASEAN NCAP at this time. However, the Australian NCAP, which tested a similarly specced Ford EcoSport, gave five stars to the subcompact crossover, with 15.14 out of 16 points in frontal-offset impact and a perfect 16 out of 16 points in side-impact crashes.

Ford EcoSport Pros and Cons

What you will like in the Ford EcoSport is the choice of materials used in the cabin, regardless of the variant you’ll choose. You’ll also love the SYNC3 infotainment system in the Titanium variants as it’s seamless to operate and pair with smartphones.

On the other hand, you might find the limited rear legroom to be unappealing, as well as the hesitation from the new six-speed automatic transmission.