Ford Ecosport review

The latest Ecosport is far smarter inside than previous versions, and has the edge on the Seat Arona, thanks to soft-touch materials being used on the top of the dashboard and a cushioned section on the door armrest. However, below-par build quality is revealed by plenty of creaks when you grab onto the door handle, and newer rivals such as the Skoda Kamiq have a far classier feel.

One area where the Ecosport does beat the Kamiq, and indeed much of the small SUV class, is by offering a commanding driving position. You sit completely upright like you might in an SUV twice its size, with a good view of the road straight ahead, although the A-pillars are relatively thick. The rearmost pillars are also quite chunky, but large door mirrors and a standard rear-view camera help with visibility when backing up.

It’s a shame that the front seats are quite narrow and have manual adjustment regardless of which trim you pick. Manual lumbar support adjustment is available throughout the range, though. The pedals have quite a long travel, which means shorter drivers might have to sit closer to the steering wheel, but the wheel itself can now be adjusted for both height and reach, unlike previous versions of the Ecosport.  

The dashboard is based on the latest Fiesta’s, and most of the major controls are easy to use on the move. A 8.0in touchscreen is standard, controlling DAB radio, USB connection plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring. It’s design is outdated, though; the Seat Arona's on-screen graphics are sharper and laid out much neater.