2018 Ford EcoSport SES Group Review: A Tiny Crossover With Little Love for the Highway

Two of The Drive’s staffers—Will Sabel Courtney

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney

Haha, I'm calling BS on Ford.

caitknoll

ANYWAY

willscourtney

willscourtney

You, however, ARE large. How was that for you?

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney

caitknoll

But there was an adorable little sunroof!

willscourtney

caitknoll

There was a surprising amount of cargo room in the back. Although it took me a hot minute to figure out how to open the rear gate

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney

willscourtney

willscourtney

And it was tiny enough to wind through super-dense Manhattan traffic with ease.

caitknoll

Butttttt when you're on the highway a whole bunch, it quickly makes it known that it's probably not the car you'd get for a road trip.

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney

caitknoll

caitknoll

willscourtney

caitknoll

Although it did the heated wheel thing where it only got warm in very specific areas

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney

caitknoll

So does this compete well with the Honda Fits of the world?

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney

It's the old bones problem again. A car introduced in 2012 is based on a chassis they started developing in 2008-2010, which means we hopped into a brand-new car made with decade-old technology. I think the next version they make will be better. Kinda has to be.

caitknoll

But will anyone care, other than car journalists?

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney

caitknoll

(cough, in our 30s, cough)

Anyway. I think it absolutely needs a design refresh if it really wants to compete in the small crossover arena. "new to you" isn't enough, in my opinion

willscourtney

so clearly somebody's going for 'em.

caitknoll

So maybe no one will actually care aside from us!

willscourtney

willscourtney

caitknoll

caitknoll

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney

I will also add that the sideways-opening rear door feels borderline-unsafe in certain situations. Like, if you have to stop on the left side of the street (which happens plenty in places like NYC, where there's a lot of busy one-way streets), you have to basically stand in traffic to open the hatch.

caitknoll

willscourtney

willscourtney

willscourtney

caitknoll

...it's good enough.

willscourtney

caitknoll

willscourtney