2021 Ford EcoSport

Despite the name, the EcoSport isn’t the sportiest proposition out there in the automobile market today. Any inclination towards the rugged-looking SES trim should be waived in favor of the Titanium trim and FWD, due to the sheer lack of pace from both engine options. While the creature comforts offered in the SES are good, they can be had in the Titanium trim with additional packages, and won’t cost a bomb either.

Base versions are spartan, but the Ecosport SE offers more of the good stuff- The Car Connection 

The 2021 Ford EcoSport is not as well equipped as the competition even in the top-tier trims. The base S trim offers features like manual air conditioning, fabric upholstery, passive anti-theft system, hill start assist, rear view camera, auto start-stop technology and multiple safety features. With a starting msrp of $20,395, the EcoSport S is not competitive. The EcoSport SE adds a cargo management system, automatic temperature control, heated front seats, power moonroof with sunshade, and a larger 8.0-inch infotainment screen. 

The 2021 EcoSport SES trim adds auto-dimming rear view mirror, heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, 6-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, ambient lighting, AM-FM stereo with seven speakers, voice-activated and touchscreen navigation system. The EcoSport Titanium trim offers similar features as the SES trim and adds B&O sound system with 10 speakers, chrome grille, and some other available optional packages. 

The SE Convenience Package includes enhanced driver-assist features, voice-activated navigation system, ambient lighting and seven speakers. The SE Appearance Package includes 17-inch wheels, 6-way power driver’s seat with manual lumbar, unique Medium Stone cloth-trimmed seats with orange copper accents, orange instrument panel appliqués, and leather-wrapped steering wheel. Ford also offers cargo management and interior protection packages for all the trims.

The 2021 Ford Ecosport is OK on gas, but it should be better- The Car Connection 

The Ford EcoSport 2021 mpg ratings are not satisfactory for a car of its size and output. With an EPA-estimated gas mileage of 27/29/28 mpg in the city/highway/combined conditions, the EcoSport 2021 does not excel over its rivals. With a gas tank size of 13.8 gallons, the Ford’s compact SUV can travel up to 367/394/380 miles in the city/highway/combined driving conditions. The 2.0L engine is equally fuel efficient at 29 mpg on highways but drops city and combined efficiency by 4 mpg and 3 mpg respectively.

The Ford EcoSport is less efficient on the highways as compared to the competiotn, while the combined gas mileage is similar. The Mazda CX-3 is the most fuel efficient and offers better driving range. The Chevrolet Trax comes second with its driving range, courtesy of its larger gas tank. The Honda HR-V offers similar gas mileage as the EcoSport but owing to a smaller gas tank, offers lower range than the Ford EcoSport. 

The EcoSport's cabin is just roomy enough, but smarter packaging would open it up even more- Edmunds

The Ford EcoSport 2021 interior is designed very practically and spot-on ergonomics make the driver's seat a comfortable place to be in. With easy access to every function on the neatly put-together dashboard, most drivers would like it. Also, there is enough tech on offer to make it feel like a vehicle designed in 2021, and the hard plastics aren’t too much of an eyesore when you consider their durability. Nevertheless, the cabin quality remains the same as you go up the trims, making the interior of the SES and Titanium variants look out of place with a mixed bag of materials, ranging from quality leatherette seats to poorly fashioned dashboard panels. 

The front seats are acceptable but the rear seats are not very practical, lacking adequate leg space. The interior color options include Medium Stone and Ebony Black, offered with cloth or leather upholstery. Despite the limited interior space, the cargo space of 20.9 cubic feet is competitive and by folding the rear 60/40 split seats, the cargo volume is increased to 50.0 cubic feet. For enhanced practicality, features like four cargo area tie down hooks and eight cup holders are standard, while cargo area cover and package tray are offered on higher trims. Some other features like automatic climate control, heated front seats, and power moonroof with sunshade are standard from SE trim onwards.

Right off the bat, the Ford EcoSport offers segment-leading front legroom, and it is a front seat inclined vehicle altogether. It isn’t the smartest option for rear-seat travelers, simply because the suspension is sprung for a better driving experience, although the EcoSport can be comfortable at times. The Chevrolet Trax offers class-leading headroom across both seating rows, but compromises on cargo space, where the Honda HR-V shines. The Mazda CX-3 lacks with the cargo space and rear seat legroom.  

Ford has always shown an affinity for technology in its cars and has provided the best of in-car tech in recent years, at least at the price ranges they operate in. The infotainment system is superbly refined and very easy to use, offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support as well. The floating display in the center is visible from both driver and passenger seats due to its viewing angles and comes connected to a 6-speaker audio system that can be upgraded to a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen setup.

Some of the key interior features of the 2021 Ford EcoSport are:

• 6-way power-adjustable driver’s seat (SES trim)
• Electronic automatic temperature control
• Leatherette upholstery
• Leather-wrapped gear shifter and steering wheel
• Heated steering wheel and front seats
• 8” touchscreen with navigation capabilities
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - SYNC3 
• 10-speaker B&O sound system. 

The Ford EcoSport has some funky outer styling, owing to a funny-looking box-like shape. It is sold in other markets around the world with a full-size spare tire mounted to the rear, which gives it a much more rugged look. Without it, the EcoSport looks even funkier than it should. Obnoxious front styling takes your mind away from the prospect of buying the EcoSport further sometimes, although it might be to the liking of some. 

The SE trim gets a silver lining oainted grille, the SES trim gets a black painted grille, while the Titanium trim gets a chrome grille. Some exterior features like auto headlamps, halogen quad-beam reflectors, power side view mirrors with integrated blindspot mirrors are standard. Different exterior colors like Blue Metallic, Diamond White, Lightning Blue Metallic, Luxe Yellow, Moondust Silver Metallic, Race Red, Shadow Black and Smoke Metallic are on offer. 

Even for a subcompact crossover, the 2021 EcoSport has some cramped dimensions. When we say it isn’t a very good vehicle for those who prefer the rear seat, it is due to the shorter than 100” wheelbase, combined with the 7.0” ground clearance that makes for a wobbly experience. While the EcoSport is also the least wide of the lot, it can't be considered due to the lack of difference between the cars when it comes to width.

Some of the key exterior features of the 2021 Ford EcoSport are: 

• Power Moonroof with Sunshade
• Black Roof Rails
• Rain sensing wipers
• Rearview camera
• Easy Fuel capless fuel filler

The 2021 Ford Ecosport gets a 4-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA or National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A front crash rating of 4-stars, a side crash rating of 5-stars, and a rollover risk rating of 3-stars contribute to this overall score. The AWD variant gets 4-stars for its rollover risk, as it shows more stability over its FWD companion. Apart from decent crash test scores, the EcoSport offers Ford’s Co-Pilot360 driver assistance suite offers automatic headlamp, hill start assist and rear view camaera as standard. With the SES trim onwards, features like blind spot information system, reverse sensing system and rainsensing wipers are standard. 

Some of the key safety features of the 2021 EcoSport are: 

• Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert
• Reverse Parking Sensors
• 8 Airbags
• Hill Start Assist
• Rear Vision Camera

2021 Ford EcoSport vs 2021 Honda HR-V

The Japanese subcompact crossover outclasses the EcoSport with regards to practicality, offering better interior room and cargo storage capacity, along with a more balanced powertrain setup that provides a good balance between efficiency and acceleration. The Ford EcoSport doesn’t measure up to the HR-V in too many ways, although you may appreciate its sportier driving characteristics.

2021 Ford EcoSport vs 2021 Chevrolet Trax

The Ford and Chevy crossovers offer similar propositions, as seen in their engine options and interior dimensions. Nevertheless, the Trax is a seemingly better option on paper when compared to the EcoSport, offering better acceleration and braking. It also trades off cargo space for more interior room, making it the better choice for those who prefer the rear seat. 

2021 Ford EcoSport vs 2021 Mazda CX-3

The CX-3 is probably the peppiest crossover being compared here. Quirky but elegant styling combined with an agile chassis that you wouldn’t expect in a crossover makes for a fun driving experience, and the higher trims offer a premiumness worthy of the luxury tag. The EcoSport falters against the Mazda CX-3 in higher trims, but the competition is rather balanced in the lower trim levels.

There isn’t much information that we can provide to support a yes to that question. The Ford EcoSport is a decent proposition that offers plenty of value for money but fails to register against any of its competition. Rivals in the segment beat the Ford crossover when it comes to performance, interior quality, and space, not to mention fuel efficiency as well. It does offer a good package of technology that the rivals fail to match, although it isn’t something to be too interested in.