We know Ford can make really good small cars, the ever-popular Fiesta is testament to that, and we also know Ford can make good family cars and SUVs. Just look at current models such as the likeable C-MAX, S-MAX and Kuga.
With all this mind, the Ford EcoSport could be seen as an exciting prospect, since it can be accurately described as both a small car and a family car. Plus, it has crossover SUV design quirks.
But how well does it actually mix all these elements together? Well that’s what we aim to find out while we’ve got our hands on a EcoSport for a few months.
Naturally when we get our hands on a new press car, one of the first things we are keen to find out is what the driving experience is like. Since the car arrived we’ve been putting the Ford EcoSport through its paces on a wide variety of roads, tackling the various driving situations family car owners are bound to experience.
Performance
First, a word on our long-term EcoSport’s technical specifications and performance.
There are three specifications of the EcoSport to choose from in Britain, and we have the range-topping Titanium S version. Sitting above the Zetec and Titanium specification, the Titanium S is the most powerful EcoSport, offering 138bhp and 180Nm of torque from a 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engine.
We’ve experienced this engine before, most recently in the Ford Fiesta ST-Line and we know it’s a cracking little unit. It offers a surprising and delightful amount of power and torque for an engine this size.
In the heavier EcoSport though, this engine feels considerably less sprightly and the proof is in the stats. The 0-62mph sprint takes 11.8 seconds (whereas it takes just nine seconds in a Fiesta with the same engine).
Despite this, there is enough oomph from the engine to move out of junctions or roundabouts with urgency should the situation arise. Also, the five-speed manual gearbox which comes with this model offers smooth gear changes.
Ultimately, we wouldn’t call this car sluggish, but we certainly wouldn’t call it quick.
Driving in town
Like other small crossovers, the Ford EcoSport is designed for motorists who want something with SUV styling that has a smallish stance and can handle the close-quarters combat of urban and city roads.
When driving our long-term EcoSport through a town, we found little to complain about. The steering is precise and the large windscreen, plus the tall ride height, gives a clear, commanding view of the road ahead.
The side mirrors are large too and the engine and gearbox are smooth enough to handle the stop-start nature of urban driving with minimum fuss.
The steering could take some getting used to though because it has a self-centring action which feels stronger than it needs to be. This feeling is less noticeable though when your cruising through town at low speed.
Driving on country roads
We’ll admit that looking at the noticeably tall height of the EcoSport, we were worried it would roll in the corners like the Big Dipper. However, the Titanium S model rides lower down than other EcoSport models, with its ride height reduced by 10mm. It also brings with it a tweaked and sportier suspension set-up.
Through the twist and turns of a country lane there’s surprisingly little body roll and it soaks up most bumps and undulations without trouble. The engine has enough grunt and the steering has enough precision to encourage you to drive with some gusto, but there are limits to what this car can handle before the car’s composure noticeably dissolves.
Push hard on a national speed limit country road and the EcoSport does start to sway a lot more and shake over large bumps.
Driving on the motorway
With this amount of power onboard, the EcoSport Titanium S feels well suited to dealing with motorway miles, handling overtaking manoeuvres with little fuss, although a sixth gear would add some more flexibility and refinement.
Also, while the EcoSport is all-round quiet driving through town roads, there is a noticeable amount of wind noise when you build up speed.
Parking the EcoSport
The EcoSport’s tall ride height and its distinct face with its large, gaping grille can create the impression that this is a big car. But really, it is based on the same platform as the Fiesta and it is only slightly larger than the supermini.
Its compact dimensions are useful not just for driving in town but also dealing with parking. We have to say though that despite it’s relatively small build, reverse parking in the EcoSport can feel a bit awkward.
Even though this is the range-topping model, the EcoSport Titanium S doesn’t feature any parking aids. You have to pay £210 for parking sensors and £250 for a rear view camera - and we’ve got neither on our test car.
You may think this wouldn’t make much difference on a car this compact, but the EcoSport does have a tall and narrow rear window which doesn’t offer much in terms of visibility when looking behind.
Combine this with the EcoSport’s tall ride height and it can become quite difficult to judge the distance of any car directly behind since you probably won’t be able to see their bonnet or boot lid once you’re close. We recommend a bit of practice before entering a busy supermarket car park.
Should you buy it for the fun factor?
Small crossovers are not usually bought by motorists prioritising driving dynamics, and to be fair the EcoSport will feel adequate or better when driving in town, which is where family drivers are likely to spend most of their time.
However, other entries in the small crossover sector like the Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V show that these kinds of cars can be entertaining and well-composed at the same time. In fact, we’ve had significantly more enjoyable and more poised driving experiences in other Ford family cars found in the company’s current product line-up.
While the EcoSport is not a bad car to drive, it doesn’t feel reflective of the best Ford can offer with its family cars when it comes to driving dynamics.
