2018-2022 Ford EcoSport: What You Need to Know Before You Buy
Faced with the growing popularity of small SUVs, Ford joined the party in 2018 with the EcoSport, which was already available in other parts of the world. Was it a good strategy? That’s up for debate. If there’s one vehicle that doesn’t deserve the “Sport” title, it’s the Ford EcoSport. Unfortunately, it’s not a champion either in terms of fuel economy, and the relevance of the “Eco” part of the name can indeed be questioned.
Ford probably should have made more effort to design a vehicle better suited to the North American consumers’ needs. It was finally decided to stop selling the model on our continent in 2022. Should it still be on your list of potentially good pre-owned sub-compact SUVs? Here’s what you must know about the 2018-2022 Ford EcoSport …
The EcoSport is available in four different trims: S, SE, SES and Titanium, and with a two-wheel or a four-wheel drive. Under the hood, there’s a tiny 1.0-litre EcoBoost (turbocharged) three-cylinder with 123 horsepower, or a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder producing 167 horsepower. Both are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission (no CVT here), but the second engine comes with standard all-wheel drive and increases the towing capacity from 1,400 to 2,000 pounds, which is rare in this segment.
Speaking of capacity, you can carry up to 592 litres of luggage in the EcoSport’s modular trunk. And when you lower the backseat, the cargo space increases to 1,416 litres, which is respectable. By the way, the tailgate doesn’t open vertically as we usually see; it opens horizontally, and not everyone is thrilled by this.
On the other hand, the SYNC 3 multimedia system with its eight-inch screen and other state-of-the-art technologies like the FordPass connected services (they allow you to monitor and control your vehicle remotely) will make young and active customers happy. Among the other enjoyable equipment you can find, there’s an excellent Harman Kardon audio system.
The three-cylinder’s weak performances, a stiff and bouncy ride, a rather poor finish quality, lack of soundproofing, and relatively high fuel consumption are the EcoSport’s main flaws. Regarding the last point, we’re talking about 8.4 L/100 km on average for the small engine and 9.2 L/100 km for the four-cylinder.
Lastly, the EcoSport’s reliability isn’t the best, on the contrary. The most problematic parts are the oil pump, the transmission, the ABS system and the drive belt. Ford’s original warranty on the vehicle being 3 years/60 000 km, and 5 years/100 000 km for the drivetrain, you are very likely to find an example still under warranty, which is good news.
As for safety recalls, you shouldn’t worry about them, since the two that were issued impacted only 14 vehicles, which have all been repaired, according to Transport Canada.
Happy shopping!
