2018 Ford EcoSport Preview
CARS.COM
Competes with: Chevrolet Trax, Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, Nissan Juke
Looks like: A baby Ford Escape
Drivetrain: Turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder or 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine; front- or all-wheel drive; six-speed automatic transmission
Hits dealerships: Early 2018
More 2016 L.A. Auto Show Coverage
SUVs continue to dominate the market in all shapes and sizes, and Ford is expanding its lineup of offerings with the 2018 EcoSport, which is making its North American debut at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show. The smallest SUV that Ford has in its global showroom, the EcoSport has been on sale for almost a decade in other parts of the world, mostly developing markets such as Brazil, India and Eastern Europe. Now the company will be importing the subcompact SUV from a plant in Chennai, India. It will slot below the Escape and Edge, and compete with diminutive offerings such as the Honda HR-V, Chevrolet Trax, Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Juke.
Exterior
The resemblance to the rest of Ford’s lineup is clear — the EcoSport features the same front-end shapes and style as the bigger Escape and Edge, with the trapezoidal grille that adorns just about everything else in the Ford lineup from the Focus to the Mustang. The rest of the EcoSport, from the A-pillar back, looks like a traditional “one box” design, with an upswept beltline and blacked-out wraparound rear glass that looks a lot like a Buick Encore.
Four trim choices will be available: S, SE, SES and Titanium, with the SES designated as the “sporty” trim with unique styling elements. All models will feature a swing gate instead of a traditional upward opening hatch, hinged on the left side to allow for easier curb loading. Ten exterior color choices will be available.
Interior
Inside, the EcoSport features a unique floating display panel front and center to house the 8-inch touchscreen that uses Ford’s latest Sync 3 multimedia system, standard on the Titanium models. Lesser trims get either a 4-inch or 6-inch screen mounted in the same location with Sync 3 an option. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also will be offered, as will the FordPass app that allows connection and management of the car’s systems via a smartphone. Audio supplier Harman has teamed up with B&O to offer B&O Play, standard on the Titanium model, a 675-watt premium audio system featuring 10 speakers, including a subwoofer.
The interior is also designed for versatility, with as many as 30 cubbies, hooks and storage bins throughout the cabin. The second-row seats fold and stow for increased cargo room, and combine with a false floor board in the cargo area to create a flat area for larger items.
The SES trim also features some special interior appointments, with sport seats and unique copper colored trim pieces to spice things up. The top trims feature two USB ports low in the console for charging personal electronics along with a 12-volt socket. Optional is a 110-volt household outlet, plus a second 12-volt socket for the backseat.
Under the Hood
Two engine choices will be available. First is a turbocharged three-cylinder EcoBoost engine like the one found in the Ford Focus and Fiesta, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission; it sends power to the front wheels only. The optional engine is a larger non-turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that will include all-wheel drive as standard. The 2.0-liter will be standard equipment on the SES model, in keeping with that trim’s sportier demeanor, but the top Titanium can be had in either three-cylinder or four-cylinder guise. Ford did not provide horsepower or fuel economy ratings for the powertrains, and likely will not until closer to the car’s on-sale date, more than a year away.
