2019 FORD ECOSPORT

Damilare

6 years ago

What’s new

A few formerly optional features are standard this year
Part of the first EcoSport generation introduced for 2018

Pros

Above-average cargo space for the class
All-wheel drive can be ordered at every trim level
Widespread availability of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Sync 3 infotainment interface is fast and easy to use

Cons

Aside from blind-spot monitoring, advanced safety aids aren’t available
Below-average fuel economy
Base engine might struggle while carrying passengers and cargo
Choppy, jittery ride on most road surfaces

Edmunds’ Expert Review

Overall rating

With a name like EcoSport, you might assume Ford’s newest crossover offers a high-octane driving experience with an eye toward efficiency. In reality, it doesn’t deliver on either front. Fuel economy is just so-so, and acceleration doesn’t reach the modest bar set by the rest of the class. But a large, flexible cargo area and an intuitive technology interface make the 2019 Ford EcoSport a viable choice for shoppers.

Even though the Ford EcoSport’s been on sale in other countries for the better part of a decade, its interior feels remarkably new. The cabin design is similar to what you’ll find in other small Fords, and the materials quality is appropriate for the price. Four adults should fit without issue — provided they aren’t exceptionally tall — and the cargo area is one of the largest in the class. We also like the Sync 3 infotainment system. With an intuitive interface and quick reactions to user inputs, we think it’s one of the best systems out there.

That isn’t to say the EcoSport is without faults. Aside from the slow acceleration and middling fuel economy, the ride is rougher compared to rivals, the throttle is jumpy, and thick pillars impact outward visibility. And while the touchscreen interface is better than most, the lack of advanced driving aids might deter some tech-savvy shoppers.

In a broader sense, the EcoSport doesn’t offer anything unique. Buyers looking for a fun-to-drive crossover might consider the Mazda CX-3 or the Toyota C-HR. The Honda HR-V has more passenger and cargo space, while the Subaru Crosstrek and the Jeep Renegade both offer rugged off-road ability.

Trim levels & features

The 2019 Ford EcoSport is a five-passenger subcompact crossover that slots below the Escape in Ford’s SUV lineup. The EcoSport S is pretty well equipped, with available all-wheel drive and most basic amenities you’ll want from a modern car. The SE is quite a bit pricier, but its list of added features is extensive. From there, buyers can go in one of two ways: the sport-themed SES — adding the EcoSport’s upgraded engine and standard all-wheel drive — or the luxurious Titanium, with leather upholstery and a B&O Play premium sound system.

EcoSport S, SE and Titanium models with front-wheel drive are powered by a turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine (123 horsepower, 125 pound-feet of torque). Optional for those models and standard on the SES is all-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (166 hp, 149 lb-ft). Both engines are paired to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The short list of standard equipment on the base S model is indicative of its modest price. Features include 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, a rearview camera, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, height-adjustable front seats, 60/40-split rear seats, a cargo cover, a removable cargo floor panel, Bluetooth, a 4.2-inch central display screen, and a six-speaker audio system with two USB ports.

Upgrading to the SE equips the EcoSport with LED running lights, foglights, a windshield wiper de-icer, body-colored exterior accents, roof rails, rear privacy glass, rear parking sensors, a sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, automatic climate control, an upgraded driver information display, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable driver seat, heated front seats, upgraded cloth upholstery, a 6.5-inch touchscreen with the Sync 3 interface, satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.

The SE’s optional Convenience package further adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, interior ambient lighting, a navigation system, an 8-inch touchscreen, a seven-speaker audio system, a Wi-Fi hotspot and a 110-volt household-style power outlet.

The SES is the somewhat sporty variant. It has the contents of the Convenience package and the 2.0-liter engine/AWD combo, along with 17-inch wheels, heated mirrors, a rear spoiler, a sport-tuned suspension, black exterior styling elements, automatic wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a heated steering wheel with wheel-mounted shift paddles, and leather upholstery with cloth inserts. The new Black Appearance package adds a black roof and hood decal.

The luxe Titanium builds off the contents of the SE with the Convenience package, further adding 17-inch wheels, chrome exterior trim, body-colored bumpers, heated mirrors, automatic wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a heated steering wheel, leather upholstery, and a 10-speaker B&O Play premium audio system with HD radio.

A keyless entry keypad and remote engine start are stand-alone options on every trim level.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Ford EcoSport Titanium (turbo 1.0-liter inline-3 | 6-speed automatic | FWD), with additional impressions of a Ford EcoSport SES (2.0-liter inline-4 | 6-speed automatic | AWD).

Driving

A short wheelbase makes for sharp handling that would benefit from better tires, but there’s no helping the underpowered engine. This car is just slow and its sluggish transmission doesn’t help. The brakes are good, but otherwise it’s a well-balanced subcompact lacking muscle.

Acceleration

There isn’t much. Unless the three-cylinder engine’s turbochargers are spooled up and ready for action, it requires a Herculean effort to bring the EcoSport to highway speeds. In Edmunds testing, it required 11.4 seconds to reach 60 mph from a stop, one of the most leisurely paces in this segment. Selecting the 2.0-liter/AWD combo shaves a full second off the 0-60 mph time.

Braking

There’s a delay between the application of the brake pedal and the car slowing in earnest. Firm pressure is required for stopping power, but slowing is smooth and stable. No pulling or drama in emergency stops. It stopped from 60 mph in 124 feet — just shy of average for the class.

Steering

The steering feels fairly accurate in direction and offers confidence that the car will go where the wheel commands it. But the steering feel is abysmal; it’s as though the steering wheel is connected to the tires with only a large rubber band. It’s a strange sensation that’s hard to get accustomed to.

Handling

Despite the EcoSport’s top-heavy looks, body roll isn’t severe. You can whip the EcoSport into curves with some confidence if you’re mindful of the car’s front-weight bias. (The rear end likes to wiggle when driven hard.) Grippier tires would reclaim a measure of sport, but this is not a car for spirited driving.

Drivability

It feels frenetic and over-caffeinated in dense urban traffic. The transmission is indecisive about whether it needs to save fuel or deliver quick acceleration, yet it’s not particularly good at either. Long intervals between gear changes means the EcoSport tends to bog down during upshifts.

Comfort

The supportive seats, a relatively quiet engine, and strong climate control hit the essential points for a comfortable cabin. But backseat passengers may not be as enthused. Ride quality suffers in the pursuit of sporty handling, yielding a choppy, jostling ride on all but the smoothest pavement.

Seat comfort

The unobtrusive side bolsters offer easy entry and exit, and they still manage to secure front passengers in fast turns. The seat bottoms are firm and comfy, but the seatbacks feel flat as boards. The rear seats are flat, shapeless and utilitarian. The combination of power seat adjustments and manual lumbar controls is clumsy.

Ride comfort

The EcoSport delivers a choppy, bumpy ride on most road surfaces. It won’t rattle your teeth, but this car lacks the refined damping of a competitor such as the Mazda CX-3. It handles road undulations well, but it gets bounced around by the sharper impacts of bad, rashy pavement.

Noise & vibration

The three-cylinder’s small-engine snarl makes its way into the cabin, but it sounds surprisingly good, even when pushed. The cabin does a good job muting most road and tire noise, and at idle you’ll barely hear the engine. But while road and wind noise is hushed, large and small impacts still creep into the cabin.

Interior

The cabin is just roomy enough, but smarter packaging would open it up — the deep dashboard gobbles valuable real estate (and creates forward blind spots). Otherwise, the controls are intuitively placed, save for the tacked-on touchscreen display, which feels, well, tacky and could be executed better.

Ease of use

Most common controls are simple to read and within easy reach, but the steering wheel and stalk buttons are a bit cryptic. The touchscreen, basically a tablet affixed to the dash, is tricky. Its vertical orientation requires a steady finger to enter commands. A separate controller would be preferable.

Getting in/getting out

The front seat height is just right, and short thigh bolsters make it easy to slide in and out. The rear seats are trickier — the seat bottoms are placed higher than the front seats for a “stadium seating” effect — which is nice for rear passengers to see out the windshield, but it requires a noticeable step up.

Driving position

A decent range of power seat adjustments makes it easy to find a comfortable perch, whether you prefer traditional SUV “command”-style or lower “cockpit”-style angle. Thigh-angle adjustment would be nice especially for taller drivers on long drives.

Roominess

The driver and front passenger get good headroom and legroom, but they’ll fight over a tiny armrest surface. Rear seat room is decent, but 6-foot-tall front passengers will make things tight for the passenger behind them. There’s a good sense of space between the seats and the door panels. The cabin doesn’t feel claustrophobic.

Visibility

Forward visibility is obscured by large windshield pillars, while small sail windows at the pillar bases make futile attempts to reclaim some of that visibility. Thick rear window pillars also create large blind spots. The narrow rear window doesn’t help. Blind-spot monitoring is a welcome feature.

Quality

The EcoSport looks and feels solid overall, but our test car had an annoying and persistent unidentified rattle from the rear of the cabin.

Utility

Like the larger Escape, the EcoSport suits active lifestyles. The EcoSport offers cargo space similar to the Jeep Renegade and the Mini Countryman and a bit larger than the Mazda CX-3. It requires an orchestrated seat and headrest flipping/folding routine to yield maximum space. The left-hinged tailgate opens to the side for curbside cargo-loading.

Small-item storage

There’s a very skinny but deep center console up front with a handy tray. The door pockets offer bottle holders and long molded channels for phones, snacks and personal items. The mobile phone cutout/shelf for the front passenger is a nice touch.

Cargo space

With 20.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 50 cubes of maximum cargo space, the EcoSport makes a compelling case to drivers who like to move around with outdoor and weekend gear or shopping-trip hauls. It’s more space than most rivals offer, although it’s well short of what you’d get by sizing up.

Child safety seat accommodation

Lower LATCH anchors aren’t very easy to access. The seat backing is pretty stiff, and you’ll need to work the buckles to push them past the stiff upholstery and connect with the LATCH hooks. There are three tethers behind the rear seatbacks.

Technology

The optional Sync 3 infotainment system is fast and useful. Response time to inputs and commands is blazing. Voice controls require deliberate sequence and syntax. It’s easy to learn but clumsy. Bypass with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto if you can. The B&O Play audio system, standard on this trim, exceeds expectations for segment.

Audio & navigation

Onboard navigation looks sharp and sophisticated and offers a good alternative to iPhone and Android navigation apps. The 8-inch touchscreen is large and high-resolution. Good audio quality, although there’s a certain color baked into the B&O system. Basic EQ functions help dial in the best tone.

Smartphone integration

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included with Sync 3, which comes standard on SE trims and above. (The base S model offers a basic Sync system.) Other devices can be integrated into the EcoSport’s basic Bluetooth or wired Sync system.

Driver aids

It offers a rearview camera and blind-spot monitoring (almost a necessity owing to the enormous rear blind spot) but no other more advanced features, such as automatic emergency braking or lane departure warning. They’re not even optional.

Voice control

Voice controls are limited to phone, navigation and audio commands, but they work well enough within those parameters. Users need to follow a fairly rigid sequence, and clear enunciation is key. Voice command defaults to Siri when an iPhone is plugged into the USB even when operating outside of CarPlay. Odd.

Which EcoSport does Edmunds recommend?