THE Ford EcoSport is ideal for those family motorists on a budget who want to enjoy the many benefits of an SUV.
I’ve recently been driving this compact crossover in ST-Line trim and feel it offers genuine value for money. With bold, sporty looks, a characterful powertrain and loads of creature comforts, I was surprised to find the test model cost from just £21,645 on the road.
The blue oval badged marque's ST-Line certainly makes a style statement, with a large gloss black grille and chunky headlamps and fog lights on the snub nose.
Bodystyling kit including pronounced side skirts, black roof rails, contrasting black roof and mirrors (a £350 option), and a large gloss black rear spoiler add to its appeal.
It comes with snazzy 17in alloy wheels as standard, although the test car sat on even more striking 18in rims at a budget price of £600. The Desert Island Blue paintjob is also worth the £500 cost, in my opinion.
The interior is just as pleasing, with faux leather and suede upholstery, lots of red stitching and sports pedals with stainless steel inserts. I particularly liked the feel of the sculpted multi-function steering wheel, with a perforated fake leather finish, and the shiny gear knob.
And the sliding armrest on the centre console also ensures great driver comfort. The vehicle’s height means there is plenty of head and legroom for four adults or a family of five in the cabin, which features lots of well-placed storage areas.
The 356-litre boot, accessed by a side-opening door, which was a quirk that added to the Ford’s appeal for me, is good for a golf trolley or the weekly shop.
Fold the back seats and there’s a sizeable 1238 litres of space to play with – great for DIY runs or additional outdoor kit.
Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system – operated through an eight-inch touchscreen perched jauntily atop the centre console – is a cinch to use.
As well as full smartphone compatibility, DAB radio and voice control, there’s sat nav and an emergency assistance function if you have an accident.
The screen, which allows you to see the map, music and phone options simultaneously in a three-way split, also gives access to other car functions. This includes seven-shade adjustable ambient lighting so you can create an atmosphere to suit your mood.
But there are plenty of other items on the goodies list that not only make the EcoSport even more of a bargain but also more pleasant for its occupants.
These include automatic air con, remote central locking and keyless start, cruise control, auto lights and wipers, a reversing camera with rear parking sensors and powered/folding door mirrors with puddle lights.
Safety systems include pre-collision warning with autonomous emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, electronic stability control and hill launch assist.
The award-winning EcoBoost 125PS 1.0-litre petrol engine and sports suspension set-up of this particular EcoSport help make it an even more enjoyable family car.
Despite the surprisingly high and commanding driving position for a small SUV, it holds the road fairly well. Also, if you make good use of the six-speed manual gearbox, the three-cylinder unit delivers both a pleasing, throaty sound and a quite willing response.
For the record, it will officially travel from a standstill to 62mph in 11 seconds and has a top speed of 111mph. And as this is a front-wheel-drive machine, fuel economy is also reasonable, with an official average of 43.5mpg and CO2 emissions of 148g/km.
After my week with this EcoSport, I could certainly understand why this car would end up as the first-place choice for a lot of families and couples into their outdoor activities.
Factfile:
- Model: Ford EcoSport ST-Line 1.0T EcoBoost 125PS
- Engine: 1.0-litre petrol
- Power: 125PS
- Top speed: 111mph
- 0-62mph: 11.0 seconds
- Average mpg: 43.5
- CO2 emissions: 148g/km
- Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles
- Price: £21,645
