2020 Ford EcoSport

Ford has updated the new EcoSport for the 2020 model year and it now gets wifi hotspot as standard and 4G connectivity which allows the driver to lock and unlock the car using nothing but their smartphone. SYNC 3 is the highlight of EcoSport as it is a standard feature now across the range right from the base S model. AWD drive is a welcome addition and it comes at a premium of $1500. Albeit, AWD can only be coupled with the 2.0L four-cylinder unit. Another upgrade for the 2020 model would be the new Powershift 6-speed auto box which is far more superior than the Selectshift dual-clutch gearbox which Ford developed in the light of the success garnered by the DSG unit of Volkswagen.

Trim	S	SE	SES	Titanium
MSRP (FWD)	$19,995	$23,450	-	$26,265
MSRP (AWD)	$21,590	$24,950	$27,380	$27,715
Key Features	Cloth upholstery	Adds/Upgrades to S	Adds/Upgrades to SE	Adds/Upgrades to SES
	Ford My Key	Heated Front Seats	Blind Spot Monitoring	Upper Chrome Grille
	Rearview Camera	Rear Parking Sensor	Rear Cross-Traffic Alert	Manual Tilt/Telescopic Adjust Steering
	4.2” Touchscreen Infotainment system with SYNC 3 System	6.5” Touchscreen Infotainment with Android Auto, Apple Car Play, Sat. Radio	8” Touchscreen Infotainment System with Navigation, Wi-Fi Hotspot	Interior Chrome Door Release Levers
	2 USB ports	Auto Climate Control	Partial Leather Upholstery	Full Leather Upholstery
	6 Speaker Audio	Push Button Start	7 Speaker Audio	10 Speaker B&O Audio
	4 Way Manual Adjust Front Seat	6 Way Power adjust Driver Seat	Powered, Heated ORVM with Indicators	Center Floor Console with Sliding Armrest
	Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel	Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	Silver Painted Roof Rack Side Rails
	Fog Lamps	Power Moonroof

What do we recommend?

Our pick of the lot would be the SES trim. It hits the sweet spot for a value for money deal. At $27,715, it gets the top of the line SYNC 3 with the massive tablet-like 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, partial leather upholstery, and blind-spot monitoring.

Ford is offering two gasoline engines and there is no diesel engine option, unlike the one offered in the Asian markets. The base variant comes equipped with a puny 1.0L Ecoboost engine. It puts out 123 HP @6000 rpm and 125 ft-lbs at 3500 rpm. It feels inadequate, to say the least, and out on the highway, the motor runs out of steam fairly quickly and to get the most out of the engine, it has to be revved hard. At high revs, the engine sounds quite rough and stressed. 

For highway runs and towing duties, upgrading to the bigger 2.0 L four-cylinder motor is highly recommended. Among its closest competition, it has the highest power output of 166 HP @ 6500 rpm and a maximum torque of 149 ft-lbs at 4500 rpm. On paper, the numbers do look quite assuring for a subcompact SUV but out in the real world, it always leaves the driver wanting more. The bigger motor is slightly less efficient but the trade-off is definitely worth it. 

This leads the way to the most remarkable feature of EcoSport which certainly bumps up its utilitarian feel, its towing capacity. For a car itself weighing a touch more than 3000lbs, the ability to haul up to 2000 lbs of cargo seems to be a magnificent achievement.

Models	Ford EcoSport S	Honda HR-V LX	Chevrolet Trax LS	Mazda CX-3 Sport
MSRP	$22,685	$21,565	$22,195	$21,435
Engine	2.0L Ti-VCT GDI Inline-4	1.8L SOHC i-VTEC Inline-4	1.4L ECOTEC Turbocharged Inline-	2.0L SKYACTIV-G DOHC 16-Valve Inline-4
Drivetrain	AWD	AWD	AWD	AWD
Transmission	6-speed automatic	6 speed Manual	6-speed Automatic	6-speed Automatic
Power (hp @ rpm)	166 @ 6,500	141 @ 6,500	138 @ 4,900	148 @ 6,000
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm)	149 @ 4,500	127 @ 4,300	148 @ 1,850	146 @ 2,800

In terms of power and torque figures, on paper Ford EcoSport is way ahead of its competition with Mazda and others stacked up real close. But the power to weight ratio of EcoSport is lower than that of Mazda’s and that’s one of the reasons why the Ford feels slower off the line.

How fast is the Ecosport?

EcoSport hits the 60 mph mark in 10.6 seconds and the quarter-mile run is completed in 16.5 seconds. The figures are as humble as it can get and if the EcoSport were to participate in a drag race, it would lose to all of its competitors.

The acceleration is plagued by the heft that the motor has to lug around. It's the heaviest in its segment and by quite a margin. The power is delivered in a linear fashion.

Models	Ford EcoSport S	Honda HR-V LX	Chevrolet Trax LS	Mazda CX-3 Sport
0-60 MPH (sec)	10.4	9.3	9.0	8.6
Quarter Mile (sec)	16.5	16.8	16.8	16.3
Top Speed (MPH)	110	125	116	119
Engine	2.0L Ti-VCT GDI Inline-4	1.8L SOHC i-VTEC Inline-4	1.4L ECOTEC Turbocharged Inline-	2.0L SKYACTIV-G DOHC 16-Valve Inline-4
Emissions (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15k mi/yr)	7.0	6.3	6,3	5.7

There’s enough torque to pull sudden overtaking maneuvers but only at speeds below 50 mph. That being said, some planning is required prior to overtaking as the gearbox, sometimes is slow to react, especially with sudden throttle inputs. Mazda being the lightest pull away cleanly and gets ahead of the rest of the pack. EcoSport comes back in the game with the second-fastest quarter-mile run. 

What about the braking performance?

Braking duties are handled by discs all around. ABS and EBD are well-calibrated and under hard braking, it tends to hold its line pretty well and maintains its composure, which can be confidence-inspiring for the driver under emergency situations. Tipping the scales at over 3000lbs, the EcoSport still manages to reach a halt from 60 mph in just 125ft, which is quite an impressive feat given the weight of the vehicle. 

The pedal feel is satisfactory and the bite is progressive but because of all that mass, the pedal soon becomes soft like a sponge after continuous application and the pedal travel increases. This behavior is predominantly felt around the canyons but as the EcoSport is projected more like a city car and not as a corner carver hooligan, this should not be a deal-breaker for anyone.

Models	Ford EcoSport S	Honda HR-V LX	Chevrolet Trax LS	Mazda CX-3 Sport
Brake Rotors  Front (in)	12.2	11.5	11.8	11.0
Brake Rotors Rear (in)	11.8	11.1	11.0	11.1
Curb Weight (lbs)	3060	2888	2805	2809
60-0 MPH (ft.)	125	127	121	117

Mazda CX-3 clearly dominates the charts here as its one of the lightest cars among the competition and with the most sorted out chassis and clever dynamics, it lunges ahead of its competitors.

How good is the Ride and Handling?

2020 Ford EcoSport suspension is not as softly sprung as one might expect which makes it a rather fun to drive little “SUV”. This underlying stiffness means that it remains quite flat around the corners. That being said, when pushed hard at higher speeds, the top-heavy nature of the SUV is quite noticeable. Even in the SES trim which is supposedly the more sporty variant and has an even stiffer suspension can’t run away from body roll pulling the car outside. Nipping in and out of small gaps around the city, thanks to its small footprint and a commanding seating position, is fairly easy and is one of the USPs of the Ecosport. 

The steering feel is decent but can undeniably do with some more life. The steering weight sometimes feels artificial but that’s something which is true for most of the budget EPS systems out there at this price point. 

Adding to the stiff ride is the fact that the 2020 EcoSport rides on 17” rims and there’s not enough rubber on the sidewalls which results in some of the sharper bumps to filter in through the cabin. The smart-looking 17” alloys come shod with 205/50 R17 Bridgestone Ecopia tires which are primarily focused towards efficiency. Having said that, they do offer a sufficient amount of grip. 

In terms of fuel economy, EcoSport manages to emerge ahead of some of its competitors. City and highway figures of 27 Mpg and 29 Mpg are not the best on offer in the segment but not the worst either. The 2.0L Duratorq engine powering the Ford Ecosport is not the most efficient power plant out there and even the smaller 1.0L three-cylinder Ecoboost motor, although projected as more of an economy focused motor, but to get a move on with the traffic, it has to be revved hard and that totally negates the fuel economy factor of the motor. 

Models	Ford EcoSport S	Honda HR-V LX	Chevrolet Trax LS	Mazda CX-3 Sport
MPG (City)	27	25	25	29
MPG (Highway)	29	33	33	34
MPG (Combined)	28	28	28	31
Fuel Capacity (Gallons)	13.8	13.2	14.0	11.9
Range (City/Hwy/Combined) (mi)	317/400/386	356/409/369	336/546/392	321/381/368

Mazda CX-3 excels in the battle of fuel economy with the help of the Skyactiv technology which Mazda claims to be the best of both worlds. Ford EcoSport manages to perform adequately and is a worthy contender. Out on the highway though, it gobbles up the most amount of fuel which might hamper its outright range.

The interiors of the 2020 refresh of the EcoSport might not feel like a totally different space altogether. Most of the parts and are carried over from other cars from Ford’s stable. What seems to be a miss is the build quality of the plastics used inside the cabin. Plastics feel hard and lack a sense of luxury. However, the SES trim tries to woo the driver and the occupants with some subtle upgrades over the base and mid-spec variant. It gets sporty faux leather and fabric mixed seat upholstery with orange contrast stitching to break the monotony. The steering gets a posh feeling leather cover. 

The cabin of the EcoSport feels plenty spacious in the front. That SUV feeling is accentuated by large greenhouse area and high seating position. Talking of the seating position, it’s quite easy to find the perfect driving position as the SES and the Titanium variants come equipped with a tilt and telescopic function.

Now the shortcomings of the interior of the 2020 Ford EcoSport. Upfront the visibility is hampered by the humungous A-pillar which can be a dealbreaker for some potential buyers. The centre armrest is not adjustable and placed quite rearwards, so it might not be accessible for some drivers. Rear seating comfort gets a hit in the EcoSport. The legroom is very limited and the cabin is only wide enough to carry two adults at a time. Headroom is again restrained due to the high set rear bench. People above 6 ft. might feel quite cramped. 

To lift things a bit, a sunroof is on offer. Although it’s not a big unit, it lets in a decent amount of light in the cabin. 

Models	Ford EcoSport S	Honda HR-V LX	Chevrolet Trax LS	Mazda CX-3 Sport
Seating Capacity	5	5	5	5
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	36.6/53.3/42.9	39.5/56.8/41.2	39.6/54.1/40.8	37.6/53.5/41.7
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	37.5/55.1/38.2	38.3/54.5/39.3	38.8/52.8/35.7	37.2/50.4/35

Honda has managed to give HR-V a class-leading cabin in terms of outright space on offer followed by the Chevy. Ecosport dominates the Mazda CX-3 in terms of passenger volume but the headroom and shoulder room is among the least inside the Ford's cabin.

Cargo and Towing Capacity

Being projected as an SUV, the Ford EcoSport is expected to have a decent cargo carrying capacity and it doesn’t disappoint. Given the total length of the vehicle, Ford has managed to extract a more than decent size boot. Its has a square design and the loading lip is not too high, so it makes it quite easy to load heavy items inside. The rear seats fold down with a 60:40 split which helps to open up an impressive amount of space. Ford has given a false floor option for the boot of EcoSport with three different levels of adjustment. 

Models	Ford EcoSport S	Honda HR-V LX	Chevrolet Trax LS	Mazda CX-3 Sport
Cargo Capacity (ft3)	20.9	24.3	18.7	12.4

Infotainment Features

As you climb inside the cabin of the Ford EcoSport, a huge tablet-like 8.0-inch floating touchscreen welcomes you. Floating touchscreens are one of the latest infotainment trends as they manage to fall directly in the eye line of the driver. The screen inside the Ecosport is big and clear in terms of visibility. The display is clean and crisp and it comes loaded with SYNC 3 system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The system is fluid and has absolutely no lag whatsoever. The system is one of the best units out there and it can easily compete with the infotainment systems from luxury cars costing twice or thrice more. There are some physical buttons for audio controls and a proper physical volume knob. Climate control gets its own physical buttons too.

Some other notable infotainment features:

• Apple Carplay and Android Auto compatibility
• 2 USB ports and one 12-volt outlet in the front
• 675-watt B&O Play audio system with 10 speakers
• 8” Touchscreen System with Navigation
• Ford Pass connect
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot
• SiriusXM satellite radio

Interior Features

Ford has thrown every possible feature they could find that would fit in this price point, which makes the EcoSport an irresistible package and power it through to the upper tier of the segment in terms of the kit on offer. Some important features include:

• Heated front seats
• 6-way powered driver's seat and 4-way powered front passenger's seat
• Voice control with Amazon Alexa
• Available power moonroof with sunshade
• Eight cup-holders
• Ambient lighting system
• Heated leather-wrapped steering wheel with chrome inserts
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• A high definition reversing camera which can compete with the one found in luxury cars
• Electrically adjustable front seats

The 2020 Ford EcoSport received an overhaul of the fascia. It now gets a new bigger, bolder and more upright grille, more in line with the Ford SUVs. The design has matured and now looks angrier and meaner than before. It gets a signature LED DRLs. That being said, it’s a shame that it still makes use of an old halogen projector set up in this day and age of premium looking LED headlamps. 

Ford has given it a host of SUV characteristic design elements which combined with the given length of the vehicle gives it a very sporty and beefy stance. The hood is raised and sculpted and merges beautifully with those massive A-pillars. Wheel arches are wide and incorporate the 17” rims perfectly. Coming to the rear, the tailgate looks quite bland and boring. 

Models	Ford EcoSport S	Honda HR-V LX	Chevrolet Trax LS	Mazda CX-3 Sport
Curb Weight (lbs)	3060	2888	2805	2809
Length (in)	161.3	169..1	167.2	168.3
Width (in)	69.5	69.8	69.9	60
Height (in)	64.8	63.2	64.9	60.7
Ground Clearance (in)	7.0	7.1	6.2	6.2
Wheelbase (in)	99.2	102.8	100.6	101.2

Ford stretched both the axles as far as possible and the result is a wheelbase figure comparable to its competitors, even though it's the smallest in terms of length. This extended wheelbase translates to the cabin being more spacious on the inside from what’s expected by looking at the small footprint of the EcoSport. Having said that, EcoSport still lags behind the competition in terms of overall comfort. Honda HR-V seems to be the king in this comparison and is closely followed by the Mazda and the Chevy.

What features will grab your attention?

The Ford EcoSport, albeit not the best in any comparison, still manages to keep up the good fight with its rivals and comes across as a fairly decent package with the help features like:

• Halogen Quad-Beam Projector Headlights with LED Signature Lighting
• Rain-Sensing Wipers
• Fog Lights
• Black/ Silver Roof Rails
• Heated and Powered Exterior ORVMs
• Chrome grill
• Reverse parking sensors

Ford Ecosport was awarded a 4-star safety rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The sheet metal that is being used by Ford seems to be of a higher grade. Driver aids such as adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, etc. are absent. However, features like blind-spot monitoring, rear traffic cross alert, and reverse parking sensors are a part of the expansive features list. Some other eminent features are as follows:

• Driver and Front Passenger Airbags
• Driver and Front Passenger Knee Airbags
• Front and Second Row side airbags
• Side curtain airbags
• Emergency brake assist system
• LATCH in rear seats
• Tire Pressure Monitoring system
• Remote Keyless Entry with Ford MyKey

Ford EcoSport Vs Honda HR-V

On paper, Honda seems to be the best buy. It has the most amount of space on the inside and its way more fuel-efficient too. Looks are totally subjective though. EcoSport is designed to mimic a true SUV whereas Honda HR-V looks like a generic crossover. When it comes to driving pleasure, EcoSport might have an upper hand. It comes equipped with a traditional 6-speed auto whereas the HR-V has a CVT, which doesn’t respond well to a sudden burst of acceleration. And Ford is packing more punch under the hood too. 

Ford EcoSport Vs. Chevrolet Trax

Chevy Trax is a decent car and certainly a better buy for a rational buyer. It has more room on the inside and its lighter. It has features like forward collision warning and apple car play is standard across the range. The ride quality is slightly better too on the chevy. Ford, on the other hand, is more powerful, has more luggage room, marginally better seating comfort and that fluid SYNC 3 system. It’s a very close call with these two but EcoSport adds some characterful touches which might appeal to more buyers out there.

Ford EcoSport Vs. Mazda CX-3

Mazda CX-3 clearly have an upper hand on the EcoSport. It’s roomier on the inside, it has a more refined powertrain packing more punch and it offers better fuel efficiency at the same time. The quality of materials used inside the cabin of Mazda is superior in every way. There are soft plastics, stitched leather on the dashboard, an equally nice infotainment system, better driving dynamics and so on. Mazda CX-3 is clearly is a much better buy and more value for money compared to the aging Ford Ecosport.

 

Ford EcoSport experienced wild success in the Asian markets and Ford wanted to test its smallest baby out in the super-competitive subcompact market in the USA. Ford loses out on the quality of interiors, space on offer and efficiency. It tries to claw its way back with a far better infotainment system and a well-kitted features list. It looks like a proper mini SUV and packs in a somewhat capable AWD option too. So, if you are in the market for a rugged-looking mini SUV with a go-anywhere ability, the 2020 Ford EcoSport might just be the best buy for you.