Her + His Car Reviews
2018 Ford EcoSport SES 4WD
Our car reviews are innovative and interesting as we provide insightful and expert reviews from both Her + His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate, women-drivers.com
His: Don Hammonds, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| HER | HIS |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| $26,740 | $26,740 |
| Performance | |
| The newest addition to the Ford line up in the United States, the EcoSport SES has a 2.0 Liter engine that produces 166 horsepower, and can tow up to 2000 pounds, so it's a good little hauler to the camp/lake and home. You can have your pick of two engine sizes - one with front-wheel drive and the other with 4WD, which is definitely our preference. Handling was fair-to-midland, but the cars acceleration was smart and responsive. | Standard engine is a 1.0 - liter, three-cylinder engine that produces 123 horsepower on all front wheel drive models, but reviews we've read suggests that this engine is very slow and has issues for hill climbs, etc. Everyone agrees that the 2.0-liter 166 horsepower four-cylinder engine is a much, much more pleasant choice, and it is the standard engine on all models when you order all wheel drive. |
| Fuel Economy | |
| 23 city miles/29 highway miles. Not sure what the Eco part of the EcoSport is referring to, as this is average mileage for this classification. Nothing outstanding. | Fuel economy ratings are 27 city, 29 highway for the three-cylinder model and 23/29 rating for the optional four-cylinder engine. |
| The Car | |
| A new arrival for Ford this year in the US market, the EcoSport gets added to an already saturated small SUV category. Driving the car was enjoyable, but it wasn't overly responsive on the turns, yet the vehicle had a burst of surprising acceleration. It competes with the ever popular Kia Soul, Mazda 3, and even the smaller Hyundai model. Let alone all the other smaller CUVs, so there are no shortage of models to get consumers attention. What pushes the EcoSport ahead of the pack? The first year to market will pose some challanges. Through May only slightly more than 16,000 units had been sold. In an era when Ford is cutting back models, we are unsure of the purpose of the EcoSport and how it will hold water. Storage space is average to most competitors. It has plenty of tech and safety features which is a plus. And, a spare tire. The EcoSport for the US Market is made in India. |
The EcoSport is the latest entry in the smallest CUV market, where it joins Chevy Trax, Buick Encore and some might say the Nissan Juke, Hyundai Kona, Toyota CH-R and a few others, but these last three are somewhat larger and heavier. The EcoSport was a lot of fun to drive, and handled well, thanks to sharing its platform with the lively Ford Fiesta. It looks a bit like a smaller Ford Escape, and it undoubtedly looks better than the mediocre looking Chevy Trax. But there are some challenges that lie ahead for the EcoSport. The transmission performed well for the most part, but there also were some moments when it felt jerky and the transmission seemed to be hunting for gears. Going up hills can be a chore. And the back seat is almost impossible to use except for small--and we do mean small--children. |
| Safety | |
| This model has ample safety features including fog lamps head lamps, LED signature lighting, Intelligent Access with Push Button Start, MyKeY®, Power Steering, Rear View Camera, Reverse Sensing System, Sport-Tunes Suspension, Airbags - Driver/Knee/Safety Canopy/Front Seat/Side Panel, Advanced Trac with RCS, Front Passenger Sensing, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, LATCH Child Safety System, SOS Post Crash Alert and Secui-Lock Anti-Theft Security System. | Four wheel antilock brakes, rear door child safety locks. turn signal mirrors, daytime running lights; engine immobilizer, front fog/driving lights, rear center three point belt, post-collision safety system, child seat anchors; dual front side-mounted airbags, front and rear head airbags, front and rear head airbags, stability control, emergency braking assist, passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation, rear height adjustable headrests, two front headrests, three rear seat headrests, dusk sensing headlamps, auto delay off headlamps, front and rear solid disc brakes, blind spot warning accident avoidance system, tire pressure monitoring and traction control. |
| Technology | |
| A real plus on this vehicle is the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SES model has a 6.5" touch screen with Navigation and the SYNC 3 interface. Bluetooth, 2 Smart Charging USB Ports, and Sirius Satellite Radio, AM/FM, MP3 and 7 Speakers for sound. Moonroof, Keyless entry and Push Start, Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control for personalized comfort, Easy to maneuver 60/40 split rear seats that fold flat, Spare Tire, Cargo Cover. Driver side seat has 6 power way moves and a lumbar to help with back support. Active Grille Shutters, Paddle Shifters, Heated front seats, Tilt and Telescoping Steering Wheel for Customized Fit, 110V/150VAC Power Outlet, 4 Wheel Disc Brakes, 17" Aluminum Wheels. Reverse Sensing System. |
The following are standard features: automatic headlights, hill start assist, remote locking and unlocking, full power accessories, a rearview camera, air conditioning, cruise control, a driver information display, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, height-adjustable front seats, 60/40-split rear seats, a cargo cover, a removable cargo floor panel, front floor mats, Bluetooth, a 4.2-inch central display screen, and a six-speaker audio system with two USB ports. Added to the SE are LED running lights, foglights, body-colored exterior accents, roof rails, rear privacy glass, rear parking sensors, a sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, an upgraded driver information display, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a six-way power-adjustable driver seat (with manual lumbar), heated front seats, upgraded cloth upholstery, rear floor mats, a 6.5-inch touchscreen with the Sync 3 interface, satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. Seventeen-inch wheels are available as a stand-alone option. For our SES, this is the version of the EcoSport for those looking for a little sporty pizzazz in their next purchase. You get all of the features in the Convenience package for free plus 17-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, black exterior styling elements, automatic wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, steering wheel-mounted shift paddles, leather upholstery with cloth inserts, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Every model except the base S comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a central touchscreen with the Sync 3 interface. |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| Our Ford EcoSport tester was an attractive Canyon Ridge Metallic on the outsider; inside it had an Ebony Black Leather with cloth. The vehicle is a good looking CUV, built on the Fit-model. It opens like a door, and has a flush handle that hides under the right rear light - a pretty cool design.
For a five passenger CUV, it will be a little tight in the back row, especially for adults as it's a tighter squeeze. The Roadside Assistance plan is a nice part of the warranty package Ford offers. |
This is a pretty good looking little CUV. It looks small on the outside but classy, given the judicious use of trim and its resemblance to the snappy looking Ford Escape. It manages to inject some style and personality into things, which is more than we can say for the forlorn looking Chevy Trax. Inside, there is plenty of hard plastic, and at places where your body will notice the discomfort. But the theme is still sporty and substantial looking inside. Interior room is at a premium in the back seat, but that would be true with virtually any vehicle the size of the EcoSport. |
| Warranty | |
| 3 Year/36,000 Mile Bumper to Bumper Warranty. 5 year/50,000 Mile Powertrain Warranty. 5 year/50,000 Mile Roadside Assistance. | 3 years/36,000 mile warranty for the basic car. |
