Used 2021 Ford EcoSport

The subcompact-crossover SUV market is hot, but the 2021 Ford EcoSport has a hard time competing with the Honda HR-V and newcomers like the Hyundai Venue and Kia Seltos. The Indian-built Ford’s 123-horsepower 1.0-liter 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine isn’t particularly powerful or efficient, and the EcoSport doesn’t have many of the driver-assist systems standard on most of its competitors.

Buyers can opt for a more powerful 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 166 horsepower, but only on models with all-wheel drive (AWD). The EcoSport is equipped with a side-hinged rear door that makes loading from a sidewalk easy while eliminating any overhead clearance concerns in your garage.

Two engines continue to be available in the Ford EcoSport: a turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-cylinder or a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter 4-cylinder.

The 3-cylinder EcoBoost offers better EPA city fuel economy than the 4-cylinder (27 mpg versus 23 mpg), but both are rated at the same 29 mpg on the highway. While we’re happy to report that Ford uses a conventional 6-speed automatic transmission (and not a continuously variable automatic transmission) in the EcoSport, the 3-cylinder feels sluggish, especially when you have a full load of people aboard. Moreover, the engine sometimes suffers from turbo lag, meaning its throttle response is delayed and power doesn’t come on with any noticeable force until above 2,000 rpm.

Our preferred choice is the 2.0-liter. With 166 horsepower, this 4-cylinder feels noticeably stronger. It’s available only in all-wheel-drive (AWD) EcoSport models.

Where this tiny Ford crossover SUV shines brightest is on twisting roads. Its suspension and steering are well suited for enthusiastic driving, putting the EcoSport on a dynamic par with the Mazda CX-3, one of the sportiest vehicles in the subcompact-SUV segment. On the downside, the short-wheelbase EcoSport has a choppy ride on rough pavement, and its interior noise levels are high.

Not much has changed inside the Ford EcoSport for 2021, apart from the glovebox and vanity mirrors (in the sun visors) no longer having illumination.

While this Ford is technically a 5-seater, no more than four adults will fit comfortably. We appreciate the spacious cargo area and the configurable rear load floor, but the seat bottom must be flipped up to create a flat load floor. And that split-folding rear seat, we should point out, feels cramped and upright.

As for the EcoSport’s front seats, they are reasonably comfortable, and the large 8-inch touchscreen (standard on the SE and above) is prominently positioned atop the center stack for easy access. Besides the Sync 3 infotainment system, the screen allows the EcoSport driver to control the climate control and the audio system, as well as the available navigation system.

Final points: The view from the EcoSport’s driver’s seat is inhibited by thick A-pillars and a rather pinched rear window, and we wish the interior had some soft-touch surfaces on its doors, dash and center console.

The 2021 EcoSport has a stubby but tall and muscular look, with a nose that wouldn’t be mistaken for anything but a Ford’s. The 17-inch alloy wheels on the SE Appearance Package fill out the wheel wells nicely, and the Titanium fulfills its flagship role with a chrome beltline, body-color bumpers (with metallic accents), and a silver applique on the tailgate.

While the swing-out tailgate does make loading the EcoSport from the sidewalk much easier, consider this: If a car is parked directly behind this subcompact Ford SUV, it will be impossible to open the gate more than a small amount.

SYNC 3 INFOTAINMENT
Along with its 8-inch touchscreen and FordPass Connect apps, the Sync 3 system quickly and capably connects with your handheld devices, allowing seamless integration with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and Waze navigation.

SE APPEARANCE PACKAGE
New for 2021, this optional package includes 17-inch alloy wheels, a 6-way power driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and unique interior fabric with Orange Copper Accents.

As was the case last year, the Ford EcoSport S has standard features that include a 3-cylinder turbocharged engine, power windows, power locks, air conditioning, cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, Sync audio with six speakers, and onboard Wi-Fi.

A power moonroof becomes standard at the SE level, along with the Sync 3 infotainment, an 8-inch touchscreen, automatic climate control, heated front seats, a power driver’s seat, and a Reverse Sensing System.

As the sporty EcoSport, the SES is available only as an AWD 2.0-liter model with a sport-tuned suspension. It’s also equipped with a blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert, two safety technologies that we feel should be standard on all EcoSport models.

At the top of the EcoSport tree is the Titanium. The opulent EcoSport, it’s fitted with a leather interior, satellite navigation, and a premium Bang & Olufsen audio system, along with a heated steering wheel and mirrors.

All-wheel drive is optional on all 2021 Ford EcoSport models, and it brings with it the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, which comes standard only on the SES. Most EcoSport options are bundled into trim-specific packages.

The $1,495 SE Convenience Package includes a 110-volt power outlet, ambient interior lighting, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Sync 3 with voice-activated navigation and an 8-inch touchscreen.

The $495 SE Appearance Package, new for 2021, features 17-inch alloy wheels, a 6-way power driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a lively interior cloth with orange accents.

Two engines remain available in Ford’s EcoSport for 2021. A turbocharged 1.3-liter with 123 horsepower is standard on front-wheel-drive (FWD) models. This engine isn’t particularly smooth or powerful, but it does return respectable fuel-economy figures.

A normally aspirated 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine powers all the all-wheel-drive (AWD) EcoSport models. With 166 horsepower, this engine feels better suited to the EcoSport, and it provides this subcompact crossover SUV with a 2,000-pound tow rating. Both engines have fuel-saving automatic stop/start, and both team with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

1.0-liter turbocharged inline-3 (FWD)
123 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
125 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/29 mpg

2.0-liter inline-4 (AWD)
166 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
149 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/29 mpg