The EcoSport is not a new car. Even though it has been recently revealed for the US market as the 2018 Ford EcoSport, the car has been available in Europe and a few other markets for a while. Even so, the US model does bring a few key differences over its siblings which will eventually find their way into the other markets as well. The car has been launched in the US mainly because Ford didn’t have a suitable compact crossover. The EcoSport should be more than capable to offer a good amount of features and a great character, especially at less than $20,000.
In detail
While the car is new, its platform isn’t. The EcoSport is based on the same chassis as the outgoing Fiesta. This means that it has a rather basic suspension setup with a twist-beam in the back and an independent setup up front.
source:cnet.com
This allows the car to drive well on the road but it means it will not be as capable in off-road as some of its rivals. Even so, the EcoSport is capable of quite a bit more than its size may suggest. It comes with plenty of space inside the cabin, great trim levels and likely a great acquisition price.
2018 Ford EcoSport Interior
While its European sibling has roughly the same interior as the old Fiesta, the 2018 Ford EcoSport manages to get away from that. Instead the car received the same cabin as the newly revealed Fiesta. This interior is not only more modern but also considerably better built than the one before it.
source:cnet.com
The dashboard offers a minimalist design with an infotainment system at the top of the center stack. Right under the screen Ford installed the HVAC vents and the climate controls while the rest of the dashboard remains barren. This not only frees up the cabin but it makes the EcoSport look bigger than it really is.
source:cnet.com
The driving position is as high as that of any other car in its class while both the front and rear passengers get quite a bit of space thanks to its boxy look. The rear gets a side-opening tailgate which is not ideal but it still offers a huge opening allowing the passengers to easily access the trunk.
The looks
The car is pretty much identical to the European EcoSport. The only real differences are in the front where the 2018 Ford EcoSport boasts a new fascia.
source:cnet.com
This combines the grille usually found on the larger Edge with a swept-back set of headlights that make it seem more aggressive than it really is. Ford is likely going to offer new wheels as well as new trim levels but the overall design remains quite similar to the original.
Under the hood
The 2018 EcoSport will come equipped with two different powertrains. The base model will get a 1.0 liter 3 cylinder EcoBoost engine likely offering around 120 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque. This engine will drive the front wheels via Ford’s older 6 speed automatic gearbox. The option will come in the form of a larger naturally aspirated 2.0 liter inline 4 engine. This is expected to make over 140 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque. Unlike the smaller engine, this particular one will only be available with all wheel drive sporting the same 6 speed transmission. There are also rumors about a third powertrain which would likely make the EcoSport rather special, at least in the US. There are rumors about a 1.5 liter turbocharged diesel. If the rumors end up to be true then this engine will allow the EcoSport to offer north of 40 MPG on the highway while delivering performance on par with the smaller gas-powered EcoBoost.
