Ecosport a compact crossover with potential

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This article was published 24/05/2018 (2162 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — It’s somehow fitting Ford is launching the 2018 Ecosport compact crossover here on the Rock, a place where the friendly locals gently chide “mainlanders” and have their own, unique dialect.

Fitting, because Ford is employing its own version of talking strangely. That’s because the company that fiercely demands its turbo engines be called EEKO-boost is just as fiercely demanding the Ecosport be pronounced “ECHOsport.”

Whatever you call it, the Ecosport is yet another entrant in the fastest-growing segment in automobilia, the compact crossover. And set against much of its competition, the Ecosport has a few things going for it.

First, unlike competitors Toyota CH-R or Nissan Kicks, it’s available with all-wheel drive. It feels more spacious than Mazda’s CX-3 (though Ford points out it doesn’t consider the CX-3 to be in the same class).

Like its competitors, the Ecosport offers a short, nimble vehicle with tall, command seating, and is another nail in the coffin for the passenger car, a segment Ford is largely abandoning and Mitsubishi has abandoned entirely.

The Ecosport can also tow up to 2,000 pounds when equipped with the 2.0-litre engine. With the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, it can tow 1,400 pounds.

Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, but only the 2.0-litre engine can get all-wheel drive.

That is unfortunate, since we found the 1.0-litre turbo to be more sprightly and fun to drive than the non-turbo 2.0.

The good news is you’ll get more mileage in winter out of winter tires than out of all-wheel drive, which isn’t a substitute for winter tires.

Ideal, of course, would be all-wheel drive with winter tires.

All-wheel drive and the 2.0 are available across the lineup and the combination is standard on SES models.

Shannon White, product marketing manager for Ecosport in Canada, said the typical customer is expected to be a woman, with a household income of $50,000 per year and up, as well as pre- and post-family millennials.

“We see it appealing to empty nesters who still want an SUV but are downsizing,” she said.

White didn’t accept the premise of questions on whether Ford was late to the compact utility party, populated by the models mentioned above as well as the Chevy Trax, Hyundai Kona, Honda HR-V and Jeep Renegade.

“There are more and more competitors and we think our product is well-positioned to give people what they want.”

White expects the big seller to be the SE, which comes with heated seats, moonroof, passive entry and start and rear-view camera as standard. Available is a cold-weather package, which adds heated steering wheel, heated wiper de-icers and heated mirrors.

The Titanium model adds a B&O Play sound system by Harman-Kardon.

The Ecosport is produced in India.

Since it looks like a baby Escape, it shouldn’t be a surprise it drives like one, too. Good handling, good ride comfort and precise steering make highway driving enjoyable, while its small size makes it equally at home in the city.

The cargo area comprises 21 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up, 50 cubic feet when the seats are folded. A handy shelf system provides the most cargo space when stowed, a hidden compartment when placed level with the tailgate sill and a larger space underneath when placed at the top notch.

The tailgate opens sideways, like a door that’s hinged at the driver’s side, so opening it doesn’t mean standing close to traffic when parked on a roadway. Whether such a door will resonate with a market more accustomed to overhead tailgates remains to be seen.

The roof rack accepts bolt-on accessories such as bike and cargo carriers, to extend the vehicle’s utility.

The Ecosport starts at $22,099 and tops out at $29,399 for the SES model.

kelly.taylor@freepress.mb.ca