Ford EcoSport engines, drive and performance

2014 onwards (change model)

Performance rating: 1.5 out of 51.5

Written by Murray Scullion Updated: 14 June 2023

Two petrols
No diesel engines anymore
No automatic gearbox

After a new diesel engine or an automatic? You’re out of luck we’re afraid. You’ll have to look for a used Ford EcoSport as nowadays your only option is petrol. Whereas previously the EcoSport was available with a 1.5-litre diesel with two different levels of power and the option of all-wheel drive.

Petrol engines

There are two petrol options on offer, both of which are 1.0-litre engines sporting six-speed manuals. First up there’s the 125hp version, capable of the standard 0-62mph sprint in 12.7 seconds.

Offering a boost in power is the 140hp iteration of this engine. Despite the extra power, it’s not much quicker than the 125hp car, going from 0-62mph in 11.8 seconds.

From new you can only order a manual petrol car with front-wheel drive. But diesels, automatics and all-wheel drive models can be had used.

You’ll want the extra power that this model offers, though, as it can take a while to coax the EcoSport up to speed. If you’ve no issues with revving it out, then there’s fun to be had, but it never gives quite as much as you expect it to from how it sounds. It sounds quicker and more eager than it really is.

What’s it like to drive?

Tidy handling is a Ford trait
Drives fairly well for a tall car
Noticeable body roll, but good steering

The EcoSport shares a lot of mechanical framework with an old Ford Fiesta, but unfortunately you can’t expect the same pin-sharp handling since this car is far taller and rolls around a lot more when cornering.

It’s not bad, though, and it handles well for a taller car. Sure, the steering can feel a little vague around the straight-ahead, but that lends itself to a settled and secure feeling on the motorway.

If we’re splitting hairs we think the steering is a little on the heavy side – especially in ST Line trim with its sportier suspension – but it’s not a serious issue.

The ride is a bit of a mixed bag. Higher-spec models with larger 17-inch alloy wheels can feel unsettled over uneven surfaces around town, with a noticeable fidgetiness to the ride. At higher speeds though it’s very good at dealing with imperfections in the road, and hardly ever thuds hard into bumps.

Something we noticed when driving the car is that it’s not always the easiest to make smooth gearchanges. The need to rev the engines quite hard means you’ll be making faster shifts that can cause the car to pitch and feel quite jerky when getting up to speed.