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Bronwyn Miller11 Jun 2014
REVIEW

Ford EcoSport 2014 Review

Ford’s contribution to the baby SUV segment is great on paper. But does it translate to genuine value?

Ford EcoSport Titanium
Road Test

Fords contribution to the compact crossover segment boasts a myriad of features, however, for almost $30,000 on the road the top-spec Titanium has a lot to live up to. While the EcoSport excelled in some areas, it did have its shortfalls, which may disappoint those wanting real value for money.

As Australia’s compact crossover segment becomes more competitive, I was eager to see what Ford could bring to the table.

The Indian-designed and built EcoSport lines up against with some pretty dominant players, including the Holden Trax, Suzuki S-Cross and Peugeot 2008, to name just a few.

The crux of the EcoSport is its blend of economy, space and amenity, or so it is said. It’s a vehicle for those chasing something bigger than a light hatch, but smaller – and less expensive to own – than a traditional small SUV.

The EcoSport brings a fresh, youthful look to the Ford line-up. This city runabout boasts plenty of curves, a bold front-end and plenty of edgy, chrome accents.

Aesthetics are of course subjective, however, one can’t deny that obvious cost cutting has been a priority here, as is evidenced by the cold, hard plastic interior that I was greeted with upon my first drive.

The leather faced seat trims with contrasting stitching were an elegant touch that made me feel a little better about the poorly joined panels and persistent lack of any soft-touch finishes.

In saying this, the high driving position was fantastic, along with the overall height of the vehicle which was very well received by my taller passengers.

Both passenger and drivers seats were relatively comfortable, with the added bonus of adjustable lumbar support for the driver

I was impressed by the sheer abundance of storage spaces throughout the EcoSport; in fact Ford boasts that the car has 20 storage compartments…not bad!

Space was not only limited to the cabin, with the cargo compartment allowing for plenty of groceries and other essentials.

As I was moving house at the time of this road test, I was quick to fold down the seats, which made room for four large boxes. The best part being that due to its height, ergonomically getting boxes in and out of the back was a cinch.

The only trouble I had in this department was that the tailgate is designed for the left-hand drive market – meaning it opens out into traffic. Be sure to keep this in mind when you’re parallel parking…

Depending on how much of a technology lover you are, you may or may not be in love with the busy dash and control panel that the EcoSport encompasses.

In a word, the cockpit was overwhelming, namely the dash and centre control panel. If you’re into simplicity, allow yourself time to get to know the car before you set off on your test drive.

I found it took me longer than usual to connect my Bluetooth in comparison to other vehicles I’ve driven. This was primarily because it was difficult to navigate the settings function in the entertainment unit – I’ll admit I did give up after a few attempts.

With all the hype and advertising surrounding Fords partnership with Microsoft’s SYNC, I was expecting smooth, simple and most of all responsive technology. Unfortunately, I didn’t get smooth, or simple, and I really didn’t get responsive. I tried giving instructions verbally to the SYNC several times during my time with the EcoSport, and either it didn’t understand me or I didn’t understand it.

The concept of SYNC and what Ford has tried to achieve here has been done before, and perfected – particularly in relation to simply playing music via Bluetooth connectivity to your phone. It is as though Ford have tried to reinvent the wheel here, when it wasn’t in need of fixing in the first place.

Once I got to know my way around the inside of the EcoSport, it was time to take it for a spin – and let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised.

As mentioned earlier in this review, the high driving position felt great, and allowed for fairly good visibility across most angles.

Despite a little low gear engine lag, which in turn created a little more noise from under the bonnet than I'd like, the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine did provide adequate punch when asked to accelerate quickly on the freeway.

The ride and handling that the EcoSport presented was impressive considering some of its other shortfalls. Throughout my time driving the car I experienced minimal body roll through corners with the car feeling stable even when I gave it a little more throttle around bends.

I did find the suspension to be a little on the hard side, however, it certainly didn’t put me off the overall feel of the car.

The turning circle was equally as impressive as the ride, being well on par with a compact hatch coming in at a decent 10.6 metres. I found it easy to get in and out of tight spaces and parallel parking was a breeze.

Fuel economy read fairly close to the tested claims of 5.7L/100km, with my combined driving leaving me at an average of 6.2 – although when utilising the cruise control on the freeway I found the reading was consistently closer to 6.0L/100km (according to the trip computer).

The EcoSport, particularly in the variant tested, is worth considering if you’re after something that offers the economy and convenience of a small car, with higher, more secure driving feel of a small SUV... and have the cash to splash.

What it lacks in materials quality and refinement, it makes up for with a reliable, fun ride and better than expected handling.

Consider this along with a three-year/100,000km warranty and Fords’ capped-priced servicing and you may find yourself the owner of a new breed of crossover vehicle.

2014 Ford EcoSport Titanium pricing and specifications:
Price:
$27,790 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 82kW/140Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 154g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

What we liked:
>> Good ride/handling compromise
>> Plenty of oddment storage
>> Decent fuel economy

Not so much:
>> Dated infotainment system
>> Sub-par interior trim
>> Slight step-off lag

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Written byBronwyn Miller
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Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Expert rating
72/100
Engine, Drivetrain & Chassis
14/20
Price, Packaging & Practicality
14/20
Safety & Technology
13/20
Behind the Wheel
17/20
X-Factor
14/20
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