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Cute Ute: 2018 Ford EcoSport

April 18, 2018 by admin 5 Comments

Behind the wheel of Ford’s EcoSport crossover.

2018 Ford EcoSport
Ford’s newest model is this 2018 EcoSport.

The 2018 EcoSport gives Ford a critically needed crossover, a new model that fills a hole in the brand’s product lineup. The new-to-North-America vehicle is Ford’s smallest SUV yet, a product it has offered for years in countries such as Brazil and India, with the latter supplying the vehicle to the American and Canadian markets.

2018 Ford EcoSport

Ford offers the 2018 EcoSport in four trims: S ($19,995), SE ($23,000), Titanium ($25,880) and SES ($26,880). Add $995 for the destination charge. Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is available. You’ll find two engine choices and an automatic transmission.

With the EcoSport kicking off the utility vehicle range, Ford now offers seven SUVs and crossovers. The EcoSport slots beneath the Escape, followed by the Transit Connect, Edge, Flex, Explorer and Expedition. Ford says it will soon have 10 utility vehicles in its portfolio. One is already known: the 2020 Bronco.

2018 Ford EcoSport

Highlights of the Ford EcoSport

There is a lot to consider when looking at one of Ford’s smallest vehicles. We will approach this by dissecting five key elements of the vehicle. We will also examine each of its strengths and weaknesses.

1. Truly a subcompact SUV.

The EcoSport enables Ford to fill a glaring hole in its product lineup. For years, the Escape served as its entry-level model, but as manufacturers considered and followed through on building smaller models, Ford seemed to fall behind.

Now the automaker can claim a legitimate competitor in the segment, taking on such rivals as the Honda HR-V, Chevrolet Trax, Mazda CX-3, Kia Soul, Toyota C-HR, Hyundai Kona and the Nissan Juke (the replacement Kicks arrives this year). Most of these models offer standard front-wheel drive. Only the Toyota and the new Nissan don’t offer all-wheel drive.

2. It has its own design.

You have to give Ford credit for developing utility vehicles that share few design elements. Each one offers a distinctive look, although most deliver some variation on Ford’s horizontal grille theme.

As for the EcoSport, its small proportions are evident with just one scan of the body. Ford wasted no sheet metal, as the shortest of overhangs mark its tiny frame.

The most interesting feature of this model? That would be its hinged rear door, an uncommon design popularized by the first-generation Toyota RAV4 and the Suzuki Samurai. Unlike the other two, Ford doesn’t hang the spare tire on the outside of the door. In fact, you won’t find a spare at all — a tire inflation kit sits underneath the storage compartment floor. Take my advice: invest in a spare tire, a jack and a lug wrench. Only a spare will protect you in the event of a blowout.

2018 Ford EcoSport

3. You’ll find room for five, but not really.

There is a trend with manufacturers to offer as many seat belts as possible in their vehicles, especially the small ones. Where it is obvious that five couldn’t possibly fit comfortably, the 2018 EcoSport is best for four.

Even with one less person sitting in the rear, you would be hard-pressed to supply any legroom back there if you are a tall driver with an equally tall passenger sitting up front. I am about six-feet tall and routinely push my seat back. In the EcoSport, doing so cuts out the rear seat legroom completely.

If you don’t push the driver seat back much, the rear seat does offer an interesting feature. Namely, raised or stadium seating for better outward visibility.


See Also — Nissan Kicks SR Revisited


4. Tech features that are (mostly) pleasing.

2018 Ford EcoSportThe 2018 EcoSport offers many of the technologies customers want. Particularly if you move beyond the base model. But at least the S edition does have a six-speaker audio system with a 4.2-inch color display and two USB ports that are also illuminated — this feature is especially helpful when connecting at night.

Move your way up through the trim levels and you’ll find Ford’s SYNC infotainment system with either a 6.5-inch or an 8-inch color display.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are smartphone features customers demand and Ford supplies. You will even find an available WiFi hotspot.

As for safety technologies, the list is very thin: you get a rearview camera and rear parking sonars. Lane keeping assist and rear cross-traffic alert come with the SES trim only.

5. Two engine choices and an automatic transmission.

Most tiny SUVs offer one engine and transmission combination. With the 2018 EcoSport, you will find two. But only the larger of the two engines come paired with the available all-wheel drive.

The base power-plant is a turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine making 123 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. The optional engine and the one found in our test vehicle was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder power-plant with an output of 166 horsepower and 149 pound-feet of torque. That is quite a spread in performance. Both engines work in tandem with a six-speed automatic transmission.

2018 Ford EcoSport

We cannot comment on the base engine other than to say it is still offered in the Ford Focus, which also has the same four-cylinder engine. What we can say is that it is hard to imagine driving this utility vehicle with a less powerful engine, especially when carrying two or more people or at least two individuals and their extra gear. This model is rated to tow up to 2,000 pounds when properly equipped (1,400 pounds with front-wheel drive).

Driving Impressions

The EcoSport delivers a cushioned ride and that is a notable trait for a small vehicle. Its steering seemed disengaged at times, even prone to some wandering, but we found the EcoSport handles curves with only minimal body roll. Firm brakes bring this SUV to a confident stop.

The most disappointing aspect of the EcoSport from a performance perspective was its relatively poor fuel economy. As in an average 22 mpg. That may not too far below the 25 mpg EPA estimate for the all-wheel drive model, but it is much less than what we would expect in a vehicle of this size. The Honda HR-V averages 29 mpg, the same for the Mazda CX-3. The Chevrolet Trax comes in at 27 mpg, but the EcoSport brings up the rear in this segment.

2018 Ford EcoSport

The Bottom Line

The EcoSport is Ford’s first attempt at delivering a tiny SUV to the North American market. Unfortunately, the Ford is easily outclassed by more modern and efficient competitors. The current model rolled out in 2012, so it is already near the end of its lifecycle.

One feature desperately needing an update is its front lighting system. The headlights are weak, delivering below average illumination. Even with the high beams on, I found the headlights weaker than competing model headlights operating in low beam. Not only was the range limited, but the general illumination was not enough to flood the road ahead.

Another issue hard to ignore is wind noise. It does not simply seep in, but it whooshes inside, especially when driving at highway speeds. On the plus side, the front seats are comfortable, the color display is clear and the standard storage space is quite large.

Should you consider the EcoSport? Only if the price comes in lower than the competition and you do not need it for more than two people. A new model should arrive within two years, therefore improvements are likely to follow. In the meantime, competing models are simply superior to this Ford in design, safety options and fuel economy.

2018 Ford EcoSport

2018 Ford EcoSport


2018 Ford EcoSport Specifications

Ford 2018 EcoSport
Segment Subcompact Crossover SUV
Base Sticker Price $19,995 (plus $995 destination fee)
Price as tested $25,485 (Titanium AWD with $2,750 discount)
Standard Engine 1.0-liter, inline-three
Horsepower 123 @ 6,000 RPMs
Torque (lb.-ft.) 125 @ 3,500 RPMs
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Optional Engine 2.0-liter, inline-four
Horsepower 166 @ 6,500 RPMs
Torque (lb.-ft.) 149 @ 4,500 RPMs
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Seating 2+3
Curb Weight (pounds) 3,021 (1.0L FWD); 3,300 (2.0L AWD)
Wheelbase (inches) 99.2
Length (inches) 161.3
Width (inches) 81.0 (with mirrors)
Height (inches) 65.1
Head room (f,r — inches) 39.6, 37.5
Leg room (f,r — inches) 41.1, 36.7
Shoulder room (f,r — inches) 53.3, 51.3
Hip room (f,r — inches) 51.6, 50.9
Storage (cubic feet) 20.9, 50.0
Gross vehicle weight (pounds) NR
Towing (pounds) 2,000 pounds
Payload (pounds) NR
Fuel regular
Fuel Tank (gallons) 13.6
EPA Fuel MPG (city/highway) 27/29 (1.0L FWD); 23/29 (2.0L AWD)
Manufacturing Plant Chennai, India

See Also — Grand SUV: Ford Expedition Platinum

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine. All rights reserved.

Filed Under: New Car Reviews Tagged With: 2018 SUVs, all-wheel drive, FORD ECOSPORT, FORD INDIA, headlights, rear door, SYNC 3, turbo

Slot This Tiny Ford EcoSport SUV

June 17, 2015 by admin 1 Comment

The Ford Escape is the smallest SUV sold in North America. In other markets, including India, the EcoSport serves the growing subcompact crossover utility vehicle segment. A Chennai manufacturing facility may soon produce a US-spec version in time for the 2017 model year.

Ford EcoSport
Is this Indian-built Ford EcoSport bound for the US?

“One Ford” represents a business strategy adopted by the Ford Motor Company in 2007. Part of that wide-ranging game plan was to accelerate the development of new products, including European-centric models for the US market. That blueprint has been successful as it has brought to America new models ranging from the subcompact Fiesta to the full-size Transit van.

There are still some models in the Ford portfolio that are not stateside. One model pickup truck enthusiasts are well aware of is the Ford Ranger. That truck is no longer sold in the US and the current generation Ranger now employs unibody construction for a car-like ride.

Sorry, fans — Ford continues to insist that the Ranger is for all markets except for North America. Ford wants you to buy an F-150 and nothing else.

Ford EcoSport

One model that Ford has in select markets that could very well make its North American debut in time for the 2017 model year is the Ford EcoSport. This crossover utility vehicle or SUV is tiny and would slot below the Ford Escape, a compact model. Auto Trends has learned that Ford is seriously considering importing the EcoSport from one of the four overseas factories where it is produced. Specifically, Ford India continues to crop up as the manufacturing source with its Chennai assembly plant producing same.

So, why would Ford be interested in adding the EcoSport to its product line? And what effect would the new model have on its other products?

First, the EcoSport is needed to enable Ford to compete with the emerging subcompact SUV segment largely founded by the Nissan in the Juke, but since joined by the Chevrolet Trax, Honda HR-V, Jeep Renegade and the Fiat 500X. The Mazda CX-3 will arrive this fall and a next-generation Juke will follow in 2016. Based on the Juke’s past numbers, sales potential for the EcoSport is likely in the neighborhood of 10,000 units per month when production ramps up. That’s 120,000 models that Ford isn’t selling at the moment.

Second, top to bottom the Ford SUV lineup is solid, except for one model: the Ford Flex. The Flex has its following, but it’s a curious model crowded out by the five-passenger Edge and the seven-passenger Explorer. Its upscale twin, the Lincoln MKT is nearly invisible. Together, the two will barely account for 25,000 units sold this year. That’s too small of a number to invest in a new model that should hit the market by 2017. So, say goodbye to the Flex/MKT and hello to the EcoSport.

Ford EcoSport

Low-Priced Indian Product

Bringing a model such as the EcoSport to the US market is not a simple process as emissions and crashworthiness requirements must be met. Its an investment Ford will make, one that will add thousands of dollars to the sticker price. But that shouldn’t make the EcoSport uncompetitive as it retails for 675,000 Indian Rupee (INR) or just $10,532.58 in US currency. Most models in this segment start somewhere around $18,000 to $19,000.

Like other Ford products built abroad, the EcoSport has a variety of gasoline and diesel engine choices. But neither the 1.0-liter three-cylinder or a diesel seems reasonable for the US market, but the 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine does. For the US, the 5-speed manual transmission seems unlikely, but a 6-speed automatic would be spot on. Offer a 6-speed manual too and you may have some additional takers.

This five-passenger model offers standard front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive. It also has all the convenience features that Ford fans want, including fog lamps, roof rails, running boards, alloy wheels, Ford Sync telematics, and a rearview camera. Some things would need to change, including updating telematics to Sync 3, adding in the required safety features and probably benchmarking the Honda HR-V. Just as Honda is the sales leader in the compact SUV market with is CR-V, it intends to do likewise in the HR-V.

Ready for Export?

Producing the Ford EcoSport for the North American market would be a boon for the Chennai plant. It might also cast a positive light on the automaker’s efforts to make a dent in this emerging market. And Ford needs more than just a dent as it sells just 12-15,000 new vehicles per month, giving it just 3 percent of the Indian new car market.


See Also — Tiny Crossover Segment Set to Explode

Photos copyright Ford India.

Filed Under: Special Tagged With: CHENNAI, crossover, FORD ECOSPORT, Ford Escape, FORD FLEX, FORD INDIA, Ford Motor Company, HONDA HR-V, JEEP RENEGADE, SUV

Lincoln Continental: Standard Front-Wheel Drive

June 15, 2015 by admin 2 Comments

The 2017 Lincoln Continental will come with standard front-wheel drive. That fact was discovered by Auto Trends in May and confirmed last week by Automotive News.

Specifically, the Continental will be based on an extended version of the platform underpinning the midsize Ford Fusion and Lincoln’s MKZ. The Continental will replace the Lincoln MKS, itself based on the platform underpinning the Ford Taurus.

Available All-Wheel Drive

A concept of the upcoming Lincoln Continental was on display at the 2015 New York International Auto Show, but Ford was mum about the technical details other than to confirm that a Lincoln-dedicated twin-turbo, 3.0-liter V-6 engine was planned. That engine matches the displacement of one of the engines powering the 2016 Cadillac CT6, an all-new model coming to the market later this year.

Lincoln Continental

The Lincoln Continental concept.

While Lincoln may have several competitors in mind, including Cadillac, the front-wheel drive platform with available all-wheel drive may disappoint some fans. Rear-wheel drive models are more evenly weighted and provide better handling according to discriminating drivers.

But technological and engineering enhancements can mitigate some of those concerns. Indeed, torque vectoring control can manage understeer; depending on the all-wheel drive system used, that’s an option that could prove suitable. And that’s the approach Audi has successfully taken as its large A8 sedan is based on a front-wheel drive platform, but available in all-wheel drive only.

Continental to Flat Rock?

Automotive News also says that production of the Lincoln Continental will be handled at a different plant. Currently, the Chicago Assembly Plant builds the Lincoln MKS, but Ford needs to free more space to keep up with Explorer demand.

Likely, that means the Lincoln Continental will be built in Flat Rock, Michigan, alongside the Ford Fusion. The Ford Mustang is also handled by Flat Rock.

On the other hand, the Lincoln MKZ is assembled at the Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly Plant in Mexico. That same plant also handles a portion of the Ford Fusion capacity.

Ford EcoSport

The Indian-built Ford EcoSport.

Future Lincoln Product Plans

Notwithstanding the potential importance and success of the Lincoln Continental, the Ford Motor Company may be eyeing the top of the luxury heap with an even larger sedan. At the same time, Lincoln is enjoying a sales boost this year due in large part to its compact MKC crossover and its traditional, full-size Navigator SUV.

The next generation of the Lincoln MKX, a five-passenger midsize utility vehicle will arrive this September. At the same time, interest in the Lincoln MKT, a wagon-like utility vehicle continues to fall. As it stands right now, the marque will be hard-pressed to sell 4,000 units this year as sales are down by more than 20 percent over last year.

And that leads to the question routinely asked about this time every year: will the Ford Motor Company cancel the Lincoln MKT and its sister, the Ford Flex? Perhaps not immediately, but most likely in about a year.

That thinking is based on what Ford did earlier this year — the company filed trademark applications for Aviator and AV8R, the former representing a nameplate used briefly at the beginning of the century. The original Aviator was based on the Ford Explorer and a new seven-passenger model could be too. With the MKC, MKZ, Aviator and Navigator, Lincoln’s SUV line up would be formidable.

Future Ford Product Plans

As for Ford, the brand has a subcompact SUV waiting in the wings to slot below the Escape. It is called the EcoSport and it is built in India.

Just this past week news surfaced that Ford was studying exporting the EcoSport to North America, a model that would battle the Honda HR-V, Jeep Renegade, Nissan Juke, Chevrolet Trax, Fiat 500X and the Mazda CX-3. It is a volume segment and Ford has no representation. That could change quickly if the blue oval decides to import the EcoSport.


See Also — Black Label: 2017 Lincoln Continental

Ford EcoSport photo copyright Ford India.

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: CHICAGO ASSEMBLY PLANT, FORD ECOSPORT, FORD FLEX, FORD INDIA, Ford Motor Company, FORD MUSTANG, Lincoln Continental, LINCOLN MKZ, SUV

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