FORD ECOSPORT

Ford EcoSport Active

Ford tell us that their EcoSport Active is designed for the urban jungle and built to escape it, and with off-road-inspired chunky black plastic wheel arches, side skirts, and a subtle suspension lift it certainly looks the part.

On the road

The last time I borrowed an Ecosport was around 4 years ago when Muddy Madam and I drove to see our friends up in Scotlandshire, it was a 6 hour drive - one way. Initially I was cursing the fact that I’d booked such a small car for the trip, as opposed to say, a Range Rover or big Audi, but it surprised us and was actually quite enjoyable.

This time around I had no such long journeys planned, just the usual commute, and maybe a trip up to the Lakes for a little green lane action.

Along smooth and twisty roads it’s quite joyful for a taller, yet slim vehicle, and it grips really rather well, though once the surface becomes more undulating the ride in turns is a bit jittery, which is fair enough considering its relatively short wheelbase.

With its 125PS 3-cylinder engine churning out 170Nm of torque, and super slick 6-speed manual gearbox, it’s a lively thing to hoon around in, if you keep up the revs, but it isn’t as frugal as you may think. After quite a few decent journeys and the regular commute around town, I was seeing between 38-41mpg, Ford reckon I should be seeing around the 47mpg mark.

As a motorway basher I found the EcoSport both comfortable and relaxing, but if you want umph to overtake something in a hurry - nah, that ain’t going to happen, you can only ask the 3-cylinder engine to do so much.

Off road

Look at it, sitting there looking all chunky and purposeful like, you’d think it was a 4x4, but it isn’t. However, it does have a fantastic amount of ground clearance for such a short car, as well as decent approach and departure angles.

Regardless of its looks, I didn’t want to take the EcoSport too far off the beaten track as the press car didn’t have a spare tyre, not even a space saver, so I really didn’t want to run the risk of having a puncture.

That being said, I did take it along a classic Cumbrian green lane - The Old Coach Road, and yes, on the northern section I had to be very, very careful!

Interior

Apart from the silly stuck on media screen, I didn’t mind the EcoSport’s interior. The seats are a tad narrow, but very comfortable.

There was a problem for front seat passengers in that the passenger seat is of fixed height, and both Muddy Madam and young Keiran moaned that the nearside windscreen wiper wasn’t cleaning their field of view; more so Muddy Madam as she’s taller, and of course moans the loudest.

Whilst I’m moaning, rear passenger legroom is pretty much non-existent, very small children and Oompa Loompas only, I’m afraid.

Because I have a memory like a, erm, kitchen implement of some kind, I’d forgotten that the Ecosport has a side opening tailgate instead of the usual lift-up type - and it took me more than a few minutes to figure it out.

I actually quite like this set up, and if you’re up for adventures, then there’s no reason why you couldn’t fit a folding table on the back door to fit a camping stove on, or prepare food whilst out and about. The only downside to this is, if like me you reverse into supermarket car park spots, opening the back door when only a few feet away from another parked car isn’t great.

Staying in the back, the EcoSport has an adjustable load floor can be fitted in three positions: ideal when you don’t want things piled on top of one another.

Engine ‘n’ transmissions

The EcoSport comes with a choice of either the multiple award-winning 3 cylinder 1.0 litre Ford EcoBoost petrol engine, or the 1.5 litre EcoBlue diesel engine. You can choose from a power output of 100PS, 125PS or 140PS, all with a 6-speed gearbox.

Conclusion

Although the EcoSport isn’t a 4x4, it certainly has the ground clearance, as well as the approach and departure angles to cope with more rugged terrain for the adventurists amongst us who don’t want a typical 4x4.And with a price starting from £21,645 I can see how it will fit someone’s active lifestyle. more at » www.Ford.co.uk