This year, Ford has tweaked the exterior styling of the 2021 EcoSport while the MSRP is bumped by $150. Two engines are on offer for the 2021 EcoSport. The S, SE and Titanium trim come standard with a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine that makes 123 HP and 125 LB-FT. A 6-speed automatic is the sole choice of transmission in the 2021 EcoSport.
The Ford EcoSport gets minor cosmetic changes for the model year 2021
Power lovers can go for the optional 166 HP, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Pricing for the 2021 EcoSport starts at $19,995 and it can reach up to $27,575 for the top-spec SES trim. With rivals such as the Honda HR-V, Chevrolet Trax, and Mazda CX-3, will the EcoSport be able to attain prosperity in 2021? Scroll down to find out.
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
Ratings
Pricing And Features
7.0
Engine And Performance
6.4
Fuel Economy
7.9
Interior
7.2
Exterior
5.5
Safety
8.0
Competition
6.0
6.8
OVERALL RATING
Expert Review, Pricing Analysis and Buying Guide
6.8
Overall Rating
Regardless of engine choices, you get only one transmission option- a 6-speed automatic transmission. One plus point is that even the base model comes with an AWD system. The Titanium ($26,265) and SES ($27,575) trim add safety features like Cross-Traffic Alert, Blind-Spot Monitor and Reverse Parking System to the list.
The EcoSport is the cheapest Ford offering at the moment.
"Ford’s offering to the horribly crowded, but highly lucrative supermini SUV segment". - TopGear
The 2021 Ford EcoSport, just like the 2020 model, will be available in a total of 4 trims. The 4 trims of the 2021 Ford EcoSport will go by the names - S, SE, SES, and Titanium. All the trims come with both RWD and AWD setups but the SES trim comes with just AWD configuration. The prices for the 2021 Ford Ecosport will initiate at $19,995 for the base S trim and will go up to $27,715 for the top-of-the-line Titanium trim.
The 2021 Ford EcoSport comes in a total of 4 trims
The base S trim comes with limited standard features while the SES trim gets upgrades like a sport-tuned suspension and black roof rails. Features like color-adjustable ambient lighting and footwell lights and 7 speakers are standard on the Titanium trim. The 2021 EcoSport, Ford also offers an appearance package that includes a leather steering wheel, a 6-way power driver's seat, 17-inch alloy wheels, and orange accents on the seats.
Trim
S
SE
SES
Titanium
MSRP (FWD)
$19,995
$23,450
NA
$26,265
MSRP (AWD)
$21,590
$24,950
$27,575
$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
Our pick would be the SES trim. The SES trim, at a difference of $6000 from the base S trim (AWD) offers a lot of worthy upgrades such as a bigger 8-inch touchscreen display, partial leather upholstery, silver-painted roof rack side rails, and a number of driver-assistance features. However, look for the 2021 Honda HR-V for better practicality and the 2021 Mazda CX-3 for premium interiors.
"Far from quick, the Ecosport’s better around town at city speeds".- TheCarConnection
The 2021 Ford EcoSPort's powertrain remains unchanged. The standard powertrain comes in the form of a petite 1.0L EcoBoost 3-cylinder engine that belts out 123 horsepower @ 6000 rpm and a peak torque of 125 lb-ft. @ 3500 rpm. This powertrain feels deficient in terms of grunt.
The 2021 Ford EcoSport gets the same powertrain options as the 2020 model
The second powertrain option in the 2021 Ford EcoSport is a 2.0L 4-pot that’s good for a much better 166 hp and a peak torque of 149 lb.-ft. Transmission duties for both engines are performed by a 6-speed automatic transmission. The transmission setup routes all the power to the front wheels of the EcoSport unless you choose the optional AWD drivetrain.
The 2021 Ford EcoSport gets a standard Powershift 6-speed automatic transmission
The Ford Ecosport, in its base avatar, with a 1.0L 3-cylinder engine, takes 11.4 seconds in order to sprint from 0-60 mph. Swap this 1.0L engine with the more powerful 2.0L 4-pot and the Ecosport can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 10.4 seconds. With this engine, the Ecosport clocks the quarter of a mile lap in 16.5 seconds.
The Mazda CX-3 emerges as the ultimate winner here with the best in class mpg figures. The Chevrolet Trax, on the other hand, gains an edge, owing to its 14-gallon fuel tank, which is the best in class fuel tank capacity.
"The 2021 Ford EcoSport has an above-average cargo capacity and a decent amount of room for adult passengers". - cars.usnews.com
The quality of materials used to fabricate the cabin of the 2021 Ford Ecosport is nothing to talk about. The asking price of $26,265 for the Titanium trim truly justifies the price. It adds some cool features like ambient lighting and footwell lights with color-adjustable options, leather-trimmed perforated seats, etc.
The 2021 Ford EcoSport provides ample space to comfortably accommodate up to 5 occupants
The crossover packs 37.5 inches of headroom and 38.2 inches of legroom in the rear row to make all the occupants feel comfortable. The 2021 EcoSport's cargo capacity measures 20.9 cubic feet. The standard 60/40 split expands the space to 50 cubic feet.
Models
2021 Ford EcoSport
2021 Honda HR-V
2021 Chevrolet Trax
2021 Mazda CX-3
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
All the trims of the 2021 Ford Ecosport get SYNC3 infotainment system. The base S trim gets a 4.2-inch touchscreen panel, the mid-spec SE trim gets a 6.5-inch touchscreen panel, and the top SES and Titanium trims get a large 8-inch display. Regardless of their size, all the touchscreens are clear in terms of visibility.
The SYNC3 infotainment system of the 2021 Ford EcoSport is easy to interact with
Apart from this, some of the most prominent convenience features aboard the 2021 Ford Ecosport includes:
6-way powered driver's seat and 4-way powered front passenger's seat
Voice control with Amazon Alexa
Available power moonroof with sunshade
Ambient lighting system
Heated leather-wrapped steering wheel with chrome inserts
A high definition reversing camera which can compete with the one found in luxury cars
"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". - KellyBlueBook
The 2021 Ford EcoSport received some cosmetic upgrades. For a start, the front grille of the EcoSport was made bigger, bolder, more upright, and more in line with the bigger SUVs from the “Blue Oval”. Unlike its rivals, the 2021 EcoSport is still stuck with halogen headlights.
The Ford EcoSport's dimensions make it easy to maneuver under city traffic conditions
For the model year 2021, the Ford Ecosport gets new 17-inch aluminum diamond-cut wheels on the lower trims and 17-inch Shadow Silver aluminum wheels on the upper trims. Apart from this, Ford offers optional overlander decals for hood, side, and tailgate, on all the trims of the 2021 Ecosport.
Models
2021 Ford EcoSport
2021 Honda HR-V
2021 Chevrolet Trax
2021 Mazda CX-3
Curb Weight (lbs)
3060
2906
3146
2,851
Length (in)
161.3
170.4
167.2
168.3
Width (in)
69.5
69.8
69.9
69.6
Height (in)
64.8
63.2
66.0
60.7
Ground Clearance (in)
7.0
7.3
6.2
6.1
Wheelbase (in)
99.2
102.8
100.6
101.2
The 2021 Ford Ecosport is the smallest in terms of length and wheelbase. The Honda HR-V seems to be the king in terms of dimensions and is closely followed by the built of the Mazda CX-3. Even the Chevrolet Trax, which looks like an extended hatchback, is bigger in size than the Ford Ecosport.
The 2021 Ford EcoSport cannot really be called a looker. Yet, the crossover flaunts a few eye-catching exterior elements, the most noteworthy of them are:
Halogen Quad-Beam Projector Headlights with LED Signature Lighting
Only NHTSA has crash-tested the 2021 Ford EcoSport for its crashworthiness. It received four out of five stars overall. The 2021 EcoSport earned perfect five stars in both side-impact and front crash tests. But, in the rollover test, it earned only three stars. IIHS ratings of 2021 Ford EcoSport are not available at the time of this writing.
Most of the prominent safety features are optional in the 2021 Ford Ecosport
The 2021 Honda HR-V is one of the most economical crossovers you can get in this segment. The HR-V offers more space and practicality in this segment. However, it's the 2021 Ford Ecosport that offers a better driving experience and gets a much more indulging 6-speed gearbox, as compared to the CVT arrangement inside the HR-V.
The 2021 Mazda CX-3 clearly has an edge over the 2021 Ecosport. Consider any aspect of comparison, and the CX-3 will emerge as a winner over the Ford. The CX-3 packs in more grunt. performs better, offers more space, and of course better fuel efficiency. Apart from this, the CX-3 also has a better cabin layout, which feels much more premium than that of the Ecosport. However, it's the cargo capacity, the CX-3 takes a beating at.
2021 Mazda CX-3
2021 Ford EcoSport Final Verdict
The 2021 Ford EcoSport is a mixed bag with some pros and some cons. Though it's an absolute bang for buck value, and it may seem immoral to ask for anything more at such a humble cost. Yet, there are some rivals that are offering a much better bundle and that too at the very same price. So in order to conclude, we’d say that the 2021 Ford EcoSport is a satisfactory agglomeration. Yet, we’d suggest you consider other competitors as well before making the final call.
The 2021 Ford EcoSport is an absolute bang for the buck proposition
Depends! The 2021 Ford Ecosport has a maximum towing capacity of 1400 lbs. with the 1.0L engine, whereas the 2L 4-cylinder variant can tow up to 2000 lbs. So until and unless you are not planning on towing a boat with it, you are good. Click here to read more about the towing capacity of the 2021 Ford Ecosport.
Are all Ford EcoSport AWD?
Yes, the 2021 Ford EcoSport can be configured with an AWD drivetrain, but only with the 2.0L Inline-4 engine. The 1.0L engine of the Ford Ecosport does not offer you the liberty of choosing an AWD drivetrain.
What are the available transmission options in the Ford EcoSport?
All the models of the 2021 Ford EcoSport come with standard six-speed automatic transmission.
Is the Ford EcoSport expensive to maintain?
No. Compared to its rivals, it is less. It costs around $5,000 for a period of five years.
Cons - Time from 0 to 60, a mixture of cloth and leather seats, software for radio/navigation system
I should have purchased the top model but the one I did purchase had more options which I found more attractive. I encourage folks to do their research.
6/10
Features
7/10
Interior
8/10
Design
8/10
Safety
7/10
Reliability
8/10
Deal Value
8/10
Dealer Review
CB
Christopher J. Barr
2020 Ford EcoSport
S 4dr SUV (1.0L 3cyl Turbo 6A)
8
User Overall Rating
Posted On: February 9, 2021
eco sport's dull acceleration
Pros - Reliable, good dealership reach and name, price
Cons - Dull acceleration, delayed engagement
Ford has made it thrifty for sure but has kept a customer off of so many basic thing. I never really enjoy the acceleration response especially when downshifts are involved.
7/10
Features
8/10
Interior
7/10
Design
6/10
Safety
9/10
Reliability
7/10
Deal Value
6/10
Dealer Review
RO
Ronald M. Olson
2020 Ford EcoSport
SE 4dr SUV (1.0L 3cyl Turbo 6A)
8
User Overall Rating
Posted On: February 9, 2021
Saving on gas
Pros - Good features, fast, mileage
Cons - Exhaust sound, lurches in traffic at times, no stick shifter option
I needed a car which could fit in my family of four, have good features and comfort, decent utility, and would be easy on the pocket. I think my new Ecosport does all of that and then some.
I should have purchased the top model but the one I did purchase had more options which I found more attractive. I encourage folks to do their research.
by Michael Landis
8
User Overall Rating
eco sport's dull acceleration
Ford has made it thrifty for sure but has kept a customer off of so many basic thing. I never really enjoy the acceleration response especially when downshifts are involved.
by Christopher J. Barr
8
User Overall Rating
Saving on gas
I needed a car which could fit in my family of four, have good features and comfort, decent utility, and would be easy on the pocket. I think my new Ecosport does all of that and then some.
by Ronald M. Olson
8
User Overall Rating
No scope left for tech atleast
As futuristic as a car could get, my new ecosport ses does and know things which any of my previous cars.
by Brent D. Morton
8
User Overall Rating
Spry family hauler
Typical family hauler that knows how to go fast and still keep the calm.
