Ford Ecosport 2022 Overall Reviews: Is it a good family car?

It all started with a glorious bang but coldly petered out in an untriumphant finish.

Once hailed as the cream of the crop, Ford Ecosport has been a phenomenal success during its initial run in the Brazilian car marketplace in 2003.

The stream of revenue was so good in fact, that the former had eventually reached cumulative sales of 700,000 units in 2011; with profits also streaming in from other neighboring countries like Venezuela, Argentina, and Mexico all this as part of Ford Motors’s largely ambitious “Amazonian Project” that was precisely aimed to vigorously corner most of the Latin American markets.

The plan worked at first but when market saturation hits boiling point well, then things started to shall we say, simmer down, way, way down the drain.

Thus, one by one like toy soldiers, Ford factories from around the globe started closing up.

The first of a series of shut-downs occurred In 2018, when Ford ended manufacturing Ecosport cars in Thailand, the next happened in 2019 in Naberezhnye, Chelny (Russia) and in 2020, both Ford Australia and New Zealand bid their last farewell to the public and in late 2021 Ford India cease car production while in the better half of this year, Ford Vietnam finally close up shop for good.

But this gloomy outlook of degenerative sales growth still has some sliver of silver lining to it as Ford Ecosport was, and still, duly loved by Filipino motorists who seem to have an uncanny affinity for petite and largely compact crossover SUVs. 

The former was one of the three-best selling cars from Ford Philippines according to one prominent local car reviewer, Autodeal.com, signifying once and for all, that Ecosport’s prominence in the local car market scene was still largely intact than ever before, prompting us to declare that it would never be over until the fat lady sings,

so to speak. (bank on it buddy)

With that said, this article highlights Ecosport’s core of desirable attributes not just for the sake of enlightening the multitudes of local Ecosport fans who still love this car but also for those other cars aficionados who are on the lookout for small and snappy SUVs.

EXTERIOR 

By US standards, Ecosport’s boxy and somewhat truncated-chiseled design coupled with that awkward-looking gate-mounted spare tire compartment that nearly dwarfs the rear view was, however, never quite as appealing as one would like to believe.

But on the other side of the coin, however, Filipino motorists were enamored of Ecosport’s external features, too much so that most of them consider the look like some sort of a “signature motif” especially when this nimble chariot caromed off into the roadway wielding that somewhat oversized tire-shelf.

Moreover, adding to this special “appeal” were bigger halogen headlamps installed upfront while the front fascia exudes a wider grille that formerly was too small and an ungainly sight for sore eyes. (you bet)

INTERIOR

One high-profile US-based car reviewer, The Car Connection.com summed up Ecosport’s interior as having the humdrum “feel’ and “dream” of the “90’s” wherein plastics, and we do we mean hard polyurethane plastic materials adorn most of the cabin but most especially of the driver’s cubicle.

(who says we don’t adore the technicolor trappings of LegoLand)

But of course, comfort levels would soon dramatically drop as you park behind one of the thinly-padded seats upholstered in plain fabric or cloth, much to one’s dismay we suppose as further aggravated also by the driver’s seat that was somehow angled too high diminishing driving comfort and maneuverability.

However, top-specced variants have leather-trimmed seats that more or less,

LAUNCH DATE

Ford Ecosport debuted on Philippine shores way back in January of 2014. Then In August of 2018, Ford Philippines introduced a revamped version of Ford Ecosport as part of its marketing strategy to continuously woo budget-conscious consumers who want affordable fuel-economy cars within the crossover range.

Now, with a new facelift coupled with a set of powerful engines, the new Ecosport continues to hug the limelight as one of Ford Philippines’s top-selling cars in the local market scene.

PLATFORM, CHASSIS, AND POWERTRAIN

The new Ford EcoSport was molded along the lines of the B2E platform and comes with a front-engine, front-wheel-drive powertrain configuration.

This subcompact SUV offers two gasoline engine options.

The first was a 121-hp 1.5-liter Ti-VCT which delivers 121 hp and 1150 Nm of torque.

while the other option is the 123-hp turbocharged 1.0-liter EcoBoost GTDi

producing an output of 123 hp and 170 Nm of torque mated to either an optional 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox while the front wheels are only equipped with disc brakes for braking efficiency.

ENTERTAINMENT AND TECH SPECS

It would perhaps appear as overkill but just as well since top-level Ecosport variants are that expensive enough to warrant extravagant features befitting those of royal blood. (don’t think so hah-hah)

But of course, this all depends upon the kind of “dough” that lines one’s pockets, so let’s leave it at that, shall we.

But the trim-topping EcoSport Titanium will give anyone their money’s worth as it flaunts speed-sensing door locks, auto-dimming rearview mirror, keyless entry with push-button start/stop, hill-start and hill-descent controls, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, and the auto start/stop which thank goodness! all works like a charm.

Moreover, the Trend models and down below still has that basic touchscreen infotainment system, but admittedly lack certain key features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto though it still has Bluetooth connectivity which is a big plus for your entertainment needs.

SAFETY

While safety is on the top of the list, especially for inscrutable defensive drivers whose idea of fun is to drift around in heavily-drenched city traffic and back, it’s good to know that Ford Motors had equipped Ecosport with several sensible safety features like dual front airbags that were fixed across the entire range.

In addition, top trims have side and curtain airbags, as well, while the mid-Trend variant comes with extra side airbags.

Other basic safety features also include ABS with EBD, traction control, stability control, emergency brake light, front seatbelt reminders, and ISOFIX child seat tethers.

So far, well and good but the driving experience would become a whole lot better if only Ecosport were equipped with Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) (now that’s a game-changer) which was quite discussed in a previous article. 

PRICE

The refreshed 5-seater crossover Ford Ecosport 2022 comes in four exciting mechanical flavors namely: Ford Ecosport 1.5 L Trend MT priced at ₱750,000; Ford Ecosport 1.5 L Trend AT pegged at ₱998,000; Ford Ecosport 1.5 L Titanium AT billed for ₱1.1 Million; and lastly the Ford Ecosport 1.0 L Titanium AT which comes at a jaw-dropping ₱1.19 Million.

LAST WORDS

Now that this article had covered well, almost all of the basics of Ecosport’s good side, it all boils down to whether or not despite all the negatively bad connotations being heaped towards this car has made you momentarily forget who you are and has ruffled your precious feathers at the same time and probably anyone else lately? Anyone? yes, no, please make up your minds hah-hah.

But seriously, mum's the word as it suits us just fine whatever it is and thankfully, the nearest showroom is just a stone’s throw away from here and our aimlessly rambling car-pal Ecosport? Why that death-defying bamboozle of a car was still doggedly open for business around these parts the last time we heard. Now, clear enough?