Used Ford Ecosport 2014-2023 review

The truly international Ford Ecosport is a small SUV that was designed in Brazil, built in India and sold worldwide by what is essentially an American company.

It stands out in a class of heavily stylised cars by being shorter and taller than the norm, with tonka-toy looks and a side-hinged rear tailgate with an external covered spare wheel (on early cars) only adding to its rugged appeal. The car received a major redesign in 2018, incorporating a new nose and grille similar to the firm’s family SUVs, the Ford Kuga and the Ford Edge.

Engines and performance: The Ecosport has similar engines and mechanicals to the Ford Fiesta, Ford B-Max and Ford Tourneo Connect. The engine line-up is usefully simple, with four options to choose from: a 113bhp 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol, an 89bhp (boosted to 94bhp in 2015) 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel and the UK-designed 123bhp 1.0-litre, three-pot EcoBoost petrol engine. To complete the range, there's a 138bhp 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine that's only available with Titanium S trim. The facelifted model keeps the 123bhp and 138bhp 1.0-litre Ecoboost engines and adds 99bhp and 123bhp version of the 1.5-litre TDCi diesel to the range.

All Ecosports are available with either a manual or automatic gearbox. The manuals have five or six speeds (depending on the engine and model year), while autos have six speeds.

On the road, the Ecosport is not a sparkling performer with any of the engine options. The 1.0-litre engines never feel quick and the diesel options add unwanted noise and not much more in the way of grunt. However, given that we found the braking to be surprisingly poor, that shortage of straight-line speed is perhaps just as well.

Ride and handling: After the engines, the car’s ride is its most disappointing aspect, with the Ecosport thumping into potholes and bouncing over road irregularities, all the while proving fidgety and unsettled over most of the UK’s roads. The Skoda Kamiq and VW T-Cross are considerably more comfortable.

Sadly, the Ecosport’s handling doesn’t inspire much confidence, either. Its steering is far too vague, leaving you sawing at the wheel on anything but poker-straight motorways, and there’s considerable body lean in corners. It's no where near good to drive as a Ford Puma or Seat Arona on a twisty road.

Interior and practicality: Later versions of the Ecosport are smarter inside than earlier versions, but all models are still pretty basic. Sub-par build quality doesn't help with matters, either; you'll notice plenty of creaks when you grab the door handle. Overall, the Kamiq and T-Cross are much classier inside. They also feel more solid.

The dashboard is based on the Fiesta’s and most of the major controls are easy to use on the move. A 6.5in colour touchscreen is standard, while the smarter Titanium and ST-Line models get an 8.0in version. Both respond quickly and come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, but you'll find the Arona's on-screen graphics are sharper and laid out much neater.

In terms of space, there’s enough leg and head room up front for most drivers to feel comfortable, but the Ecosport is narrow, so you may feel that elbow room is a little restricted.

Rear leg room is disappointing. There’s plenty of foot space under the front seats and a recess for your knees, but any driver close to six feet tall will eliminate any real space left in the back. It’s equally narrow back there, too, so squeezing three across the rear bench will only be an option for short journeys.

More likely to irritate is the fairly small boot, which is accessed via a heavy and impractical side-opening door. It means you can’t get to the boot when you back into a tight car park space or when parked close to a wall or garage. It’s also a pain to get into if you’re parallel-parked on the side of a busy road.

Trims and equipment: Trim levels start with the entry-level Zetec, which comes with a long list of standard equipment, including a DAB radio, two USB sockets, 16in alloy wheels, air-con and electric front and rear windows. Next-level Titanium models get 17in alloys, built-in sat-nav, a rear-view camera, partial leather seats, keyless start, climate and cruise control, as well as automatic headlights and wipers. Meanwhile, the range-topping ST-Line gets sports suspension and various sports-inspired styling, while an Active version offers a more rugged appearance.

If you're interested in finding a used Ford Ecosport, or any of the other small SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

To bag yourself an Ecosport you’ll need around £3000. This will buy you an early car with high mileage, either with the 1.5-litre or 1.0-litre petrol engine in Zetec trim. Up the money to around £5000 and you’ll get a better example in Titanium trim.

For facelift cars, prices start from around £8000 for Titanium and £9000 for ST-Line trims. Later 2022 and 2023 models command more of a premium, with those costing upwards of £10,000.

Check the value of a used Ford Ecosport with What Car? Valuations

MPG

The latest post-facelift version of the 1.5 TDCi diesel is the most economical engine, with a claimed average fuel consumption figure of 64.2mpg. Choose one of the 1.0 Ecoboost engines and the best-performing can claim an average figure of 52.3mpg. Early versions fitted with an automatic gearbox came exclusively with a 1.5-litre petrol that only manages 44.8mpg.

CO2 emissions

Go for a 95bhp 1.5 diesel and you'll have an Ecosport with the lowest CO2 emissions of 115g/km; the earlier 89bhp model puts out 120g/km. The best petrol is the 1.0 Ecoboost with 125g/km, while the worst performer is the 1.5 petrol because it emits 149g/km.

Road tax (VED)

Cars registered before the tax changes of April 2017 will be relatively cheap in VED road tax, while those registered after will be charged at the unified rate of £195. You can find out more about road tax costs here.

Insurance and servicing

Ford recommends a service every 12 months or 10,000 miles with the Ecosport for oil changes and tyre rotations. You can check the owners manual for more detailed service items, such as for brake fluid, engine coolant and spark plug changes.

Warranty

From new, all Ecosports come with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. This falls short of the five-year, unlimited mileage package included with the Hyundai Kona and the class-leading seven-year, 100,000-mile cover on the Kia Stonic.

Safety

The Ecosport received four stars when it was safety tested by Euro NCAP back in 2013, but it won’t live up to that score with today's more stringent testing. It was at least updated to include automatic emergency braking (AEB), while an optional Driver Assistance Pack adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and high-beam assist.

Reliability

The Ford Ecosport delivered a mixed bag of reliability results in our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, based on real-world feedback from owners.

Some drivers experienced electrical niggles, including unexplained warning lights, and a few diesel models suffered from diesel particulate filter (DPF) issues that led to expensive repairs. Dealership experiences varied too, with some owners praising efficient service, while others faced long waits, poor communication, and recurring faults.

That said, several owners reported no issues at all, highlighting decent mechanical dependability when things went right.

Find out more about Ford Ecosport reliability on our dedicated reliability page.

Engine

On the whole, the petrol engines are smoother and more refined than the diesel options, so unless you do lots of miles we’d try to seek out the 1.0 Ecoboost engine, preferably the 123bhp version.

Specification

We'd recommend going for a post-2018 car because it gives you a better interior. Titanium is the best trim option on facelift models, plus it has smaller alloy wheels and standard suspension to help with the ride. ST-Line versions might look the part, but the stiff sports suspension makes the ride unbearably bad.

Our favourite Ford Ecosport: 1.0T Ecoboost 125 Titanium

In 2018, Ford released the Ford Puma small SUV and it put the Ecosport to shame in almost every area. It's better to drive, more practical and equally well priced when buying used, so we'd recommend taking a look at one of those. It also has a similar line-up of engines and trims.

If comfort and practicality are important, take a look at the VW T-Cross. It's a decent all-rounder for the money, plus it has a good reliability record. The Skoda Kamiq is equally good (if not better) in those areas, but it is more expensive when buying used.

The Mazda CX-30 appeals for its high-end interior, generous equipment levels and efficient engines. It's definitely worth a look, but it's not the most practical small SUV.

The Seat Arona, Nissan Juke and MG ZS are obvious alternatives, but these cars suffer from poor reliability.

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Interested in buying a used Ford Ecosport? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.