Ford EcoSport(Front / Side View) (2014)
Ford EcoSport (Rear / Side View) (2014)

Ride and Handling

Modern Ford cars are highly regarded for the calibre of their ride and handling. This one is not in the same league. The Fiesta-based EcoSport handles tidily enough, but it is undistinguished in its behaviour around the bends, and you wouldn't choose it for any superiority in the way it drives compared with similar size rivals.

There is some body roll, and this combined with the relatively low rear seats means that families with young children may need to be aware of the risk of car sickness. Booster seats may be needed by older children for longer than in some other models, to ensure the kids can see out and stay nausea-free when the handling gets a bit roly-poly on a twisty country road.

On the plus side is the steering, which is nicely weighted and has more feel than is typical for this type of small SUV. The ride quality isn't at all bad either, sopping up all but the worst bumps and ironing out most minor undulations.

Ease of Use

The EcoSport is quite practical, with some handy features. You can adjust the angle of the rear seat-backs, both for passenger comfort and to vary the boot space. But the boot itself is not particularly large for this type of car at 333 litres, although it can be increased to a total load space of 1,238 litres with the rear seats folded. Usefully, those rear seats have a fold-and-tumble arrangement that moves them out of the way.

It is good to know that the EcoSport does come with a spare wheel, and some buyers may welcome the fact that it is stored in a holder mounted on the side-opening rear door. The downside of this is that it makes the door rather heavy, giving it a disadvantage compared with a tailgate-style rear door.

Access via largish doors is reasonable for both the front and rear seats, and rear knee-room is not at all bad for the car's overall size. Headroom is OK too. The rear end styling, with thick back pillars, means that you have to take care with overtaking manoeuvres because rear three-quarter vision is quite restricted.

Ford EcoSport News

This is a 10-year+ news article, from our Ford archive, which dates back to the year 2000.

If in doubt check with your local Ford dealer as car prices and technical data will have changed since 2014.

Although our car news is published in good faith, we cannot guarantee it to be error free or complete or up-to-date.

Ford EcoSport Images

Ford EcoSport Images may not be UK specification cars. Colours and exterior and/or interior elements may differ from actual models.

Copyright

The car news and images remain the copyright of the rights holder and may not be used without their consent.