2018 Ford EcoSport SES AWD - Bottom Line Review

(Contributing Editor: Tomasz Paluch)

Economy (En.) = derived from the Greek words "οικος" (En. "family") + "νεμομαι" (En. "management") and pertains to the management of household resources.

The omicron + iota dipthong is in "oikos" pronounced as a long English letter ē vowel.

Fuel Economy = management of fuel resources, in most cases, petroleum. The letter "e" in "economy" is similarly pronounced as a long letter ē vowel.

Roadblazing.com now investigates the mystery of Ford ignoring proper Greek pronunction, emphasizing that it's new 2018 EcoSport entry in the cute ute foray should be pronounced with a short letter "ê" as in the echo made by a voice in a deep cave.

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WHAT: All-new to North America 2018 Ford EcoSport 2.0L SES AWD  sub-compact sports activity vehicle, built on the B2E platform, shared with Mk. 6 Fiesta (Mk. 7 available only outside the U.S.). EcoSport is assembled in 6 countries since the 2013 MY.

Standard Power: 999 cc, turbocharged, direct injection 2 x Ti-VCT DOHC 12V I-3 cylinder gasoline engine = 123 hp/ 123 lb-ft  @ 3500 rpm + 6-speed planetary automatic transaxle;

Optional Power: 1591 cc, direct injected, 2 x Ti-VCT DOHC 16V I-4 gas engine = 166 hp/ 149 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm + 6-speed planetary automatic transaxle;

Optional Drivetrain (available only w/ 2.0L): PTU to viscous multi-clutch differential all-wheel drive.

WHAT (A) STYLING DIFFERENCE: It's larger bro Ford Escape, shrunken in the cotton cycle, splaying un-clad wheel arches further to the corners in a stubby stance.

√ A-pillars form butressed valleys along deep raked hood, with flared headlights, reminiscent of Transit Connect; √ Glass fills between A-pillar and sail panel; √ Door mounted wing oversized mirrors; √ Octagonal Ford dark honeycomb grille with truck dual horizontal bars, √ Lower dark gray cladding throughout, except at naturally bulging wheel arches; √ Prominent upper and lower door creases; √ Sharp rising belt-line; √ Upright swing-gate; √ U-dipping rear backlight; √ Flared wrap around split tail-lamps; √ Lower swing gate bevel mimics lift-gate; √ Lower rear fascia reflectors w/ integrate reverse lamps.

WHY: Purveyor of truck forays into cute utes.

WHEN: On-Sale (in the U.S.) since Spring 2018

WHERE: Ford new vehicle dealers

WHERE MADE: Chennai, India

WHERE TO: √ Front-wheel biased all-wheel drive, electronically transmits up to 50% of torque rear-wards; √ side-to-side ABS torque vectoring; √ Downhill brake control; +1 Sized right for narrow urban quarters maneuvers; √ 7.8"-inches ground clearance matched in segment only by Jeep Renegade; √ Able to traverse a grassy gulley; -1 No AWD lock.

HOW ROADWORTHY:

Optional 2.0L I-4 lugs 300 lbs. > front-drive 1.0L I-3; Add slow throttle reaction to arrive at flirtation with notions of urban zip, while saddled with eons of motorway meandering;  6-speed planetary automatic = smoother than Ford DCT; Steering wheel dorsal shift paddles generate more commotion than locomotion, bouncing off the upshift wall at 5000 rpm;

Smooth rider, despite concrete slab motorway jounce resulting from the extra suspension travel + soft springing; Body control and grip find early limits; Slow to react steering demonstrates heft but filters road feel; Initial 4-wheel disc brake bite impresses, not so the weaker reaction at the end of pedal travel.

HOW FAR: 26 combined miles per gallon; 406 miles highway range.

HOW BIG/ LITTLE: Considerable usable space per small footprint

√ EcoSport wheelbase = 1.0" < Jeep Renegade, 0.8" < Chevrolet Trax , 3.2" < Hyundai Kona

+1: 36.7"-inches Row 2 legroom = 2.1"> Kona, 1.6" > Renegade; 0.9" > Trax;

HOW USEFUL: √ Tall load aperture; √ 60/40% split incline fold 2nd Row seatbacks; √ Low load floor adjusts to 2nd Row seat incline fold; √ Center console storage management + deep armrest bin; +1 Supportive front seat bolstering & lumbar contour; +1 Outward visibility from low cowl, oversized wing mirrors, narrow side pillars, tall tailgate window; -1 Sparse front & rear door pocket storage; -1 No cockpit swing-gate release switch; Tow Rating: 2000 lbs.

+1 Cargo space (max.) = 43% > Toyota C-HR, 3% > Chevrolet Trax; ≈ Jeep Renegade

 HOW SAFE: √ 8 airbags; √ Rear camera w/ predictive grid; √ Audible rear park assist; √ Blind Spot Warning; √ Post collision S.O.S. alert; -1 Dim headlights -1 Lacks extensive driver assist suite.

 HOW PEOPLE FRIENDLY: √ Heated, leather trimmed cloth sport front bucket seats, 6-way power  driver's; √ 4 power windows = front full express; √ Height adjustable front pax seat; √ Heated, tilt & telescoping, cross-stitched leather wrapped steering wheel; √ Automatic climate control;  √ Easy access left lower dashboard dimmer & rotary light switch; +1 Wind & road noise isolation; -1 Dis-used safety belt buckle B+C-pillar rattle; -1 Non-tilting, 2nd Row seats, -1 Constrictive 2nd Row knee space;

Cool Gizmo(s): √ Split compartment glove-box + passenger-side dash shelf;

Details Done Right: √ Soft dashtop, door arm & hand area inserts; √ Burnt orange dash, door & console accents; √ Blue-green night switch illumination; √ Variable color cabin door, foot-well and console ambient illumination; √ Sun-wash resistant gauge binnacle;

 Nearly Non-Descript: -1 Hard plastic pillars; Scuff prone cargo area dark hard plastics; Add-on, non-distinctive sub-horizontal steering wheel spoke cruise control switches; Driver's door window switches located too far forward

HOW "APP" -LICABLE: √ Dash-top 8.0"-inch Sync3 3-pane capacitive touch LCD infotainment screen; +1 Large icons; +1 Extensive voice commands; √ Voice learning hands-free communications; √ 7-speaker, 240 W w/ streaming audio & HD radio; √ Mobile powered Android Auto/ Apple Car Play application & navigation overlays; √ Pandora mirror application;

√ Subscription based: Sirius XM radio (90 day free trial); √ Sirius TravelLink traffic, weather, sports scores, movie listings, fuel prices, ski conditions apps (5 years); √ WiFi hotspot;

√ USB x 2, 12V x 1; 110V 2nd Row outlet +1 Segregated front center console device nook;

HOW MUCH: $26,740 = 2018 Ford EcoSport 2.0L SES AWD

WHAT'S MISSING: 2nd Row USB port

ANY COMPETITION:  Chevrolet Trax: +1 fold-flat Row 2 seatbacks, 2nd Row side air bags; Honda HR-V: +1 Dual fold Row 2 seating & cargo space;  Jeep Renegade: +1 Offroad creds, versatile T-top roof; Hyundai Kona: +1 Car-like ride, handling, fuel economy;  Kia Soul: +1 Hi-po turbo engine, cargo space; Mazda CX-3: +1 Cabin finish; handling; Toyota C-HR: +1 Funky looks

BOTTOM LINE: 1/3rd of a Ford Expedition Max