Name: Ford EcoSport (2013 to 2023) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Ford EcoSport
Rating: 60.0

Summary

The Ford EcoSport was a small SUV/crossover that was launched in 2013. It was given a major update in 2017, and discontinued in 2023.

The EcoSport received mostly poor to average scores from most of the UK media, although the updated version launched in 2017 was considered a significant improvement on earlier versions. However, there are many rivals in this sector and a lot of them are rated more highly than the Ford EcoSport.

The diesel engine option disappeared due to lack of demand, meaning that by 2020 the only engine option was a 1.0-litre petrol engine. The Ford Puma isn’t officially a replacement for the EcoSport, but it’s about the same size, only a little more expensive and a lot more popular, so it seemed inevitable that the EcoSport would be dropped eventually.

As of April 2024, the Ford EcoSport has a Used Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 60%. Although it was marked harshly by motoring journalists, the EcoSport is a very cheap used car to run, with low servicing and insurance costs.

More Ford Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features

Key specifications

Body style: Small SUV/crossover
Engines: petrol
Price when new: From £20,850

Launched: Spring 2013
Last updated: Spring 2017
Discontinued: Autumn 2023

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4 / 10
“With below-par practicality and uninspiring road manners, the Ford EcoSport can’t match the best small SUVs.” (Paul Adam)
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Auto Trader+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“The Ford Ecosport is reasonably competitive on price when compared to many key rivals, but it is true that there are some very desirable rivals – like the Volkswagen T-Cross and Renault Captur – that’ll cost you a bit less to buy.”
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Autocar+

Model reviewed: 2021
Score: 4 / 10
“Ford’s boxy Ecosport supermini SUV is finally finding a receptive audience after some significant mid-life revisions.”
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Score: 6 / 10
“It’s a long time since a new Ford was as bad as the Ecosport. It may not be a European-hailing car and it may be due an early revision to address its failings, but customers won’t care and neither should we.”
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Car+

Score: 6 / 10
“The EcoSport is now much easier to recommend than it was before. It looks better than it did, has a nicer interior and comes with a good range of engines. However, that doesn’t quite feel enough to push it to the top of the class.”
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Car Keys+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“In Ford’s excellent line-up, it was always the Ecosport that managed to just fall shy of the mark. However, that has now changed with this latest version, with a much-improved interior making a lot of difference to the overall package. Combine affordable prices with lots of standard equipment and a good range of engines and the Ecosport is a small SUV that should be on your shortlist.”
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Carbuyer+

Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“It has the outline of an SUV, but the Ford EcoSport isn’t big enough for a family, suffers from poor economy and is underwhelming to drive.” (Andy Goodwin)
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Carwow+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Ford EcoSport is a small SUV with Tonka-toy looks and agile handling. Unfortunately, the latter comes at the expense of comfortable suspension and the boot isn’t very practical”
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Company Car Today+

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual Titanium
“The Ford Ecosport is better, but still not as good as the most polished rivals in the segment, and the much-improved looks are still a bit challenging.”
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Heycar+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4 / 10
“Where once there was a place for the EcoSport in the Ford range as a stop-gap to snap up buyers hungry for anything with a raised driving position, the presence of the vastly superior Puma now renders it obsolete.”
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Honest John+

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 6 / 10
“It’s fair to say it’s not Ford’s most adventurous design, but it does look good from the front with a strong mini-SUV look. We’re far less convinced by the rear though.”
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Motors.co.uk+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“The Ford EcoSport did not get off to the best start in life in the UK, with a relatively poor transition that belied its South American origins and emerging market intent. It garnered poor reviews on just about every front and though it has improved since then, it’s still fighting off some of that negative early publicity. The cheapish cabin doesn’t do much to help either.”
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Parkers+

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 7.2 / 10
“New face and tech for compact SUV”
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The Sun+

“The new SUV would be perfect but for the totally impractical rear door. This just makes the compact city SUV not a very compact city SUV.”
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The Sunday Times+

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre EcoBoost 125hp ST-Line petrol manual
Score: 7 / 10
“Improvements all round, quality and style abound in Ford’s tiny hulk.”
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The Telegraph+

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual EcoBoost ST-Line
Score: 6 / 10
“There’s no doubt this latest Ford Ecosport is an improvement on its predecessor (particularly on the inside) and Ford’s 1.0-litre engine is terrific. However, that’s still not enough to lift it above average in what is fast becoming one of the most congested sectors of the new car market. The diesel version is even farther off the pace.”
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Top Gear+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Ford has gone to work on the updated EcoSport, dragging it from a blot on its record to a class contender.”
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What Car?+

Model reviewed:
Score: 4 / 10
“The Ford Ecosport’s chunky looks and commanding driving position are easy to fall for, but it’s a disappointing car to drive and is stingy with space inside.”
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Score: 4 / 10
“The Ford Ecosport’s chunky looks are easy to fall for, but it’s a disappointing car to drive and is stingy with space.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 4 stars
Date tested: November 2013
Date expired: January 2020
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 93%
Child protection: 77%
Vulnerable road users: 58%
Safety assist: 55%

No safety rating

The Ford EcoSport was originally tested by Euro NCAP back in 2013 and awarded a four-star rating. However, this rating expired in January 2020 and is no longer valid as the car no longer meets the standards required for such a rating. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.

However, if you are comparing a used EcoSport to vehicles of similar age, whose ratings will have probably also expired, its safety rating score is still useful.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

The Ford EcoSport was not lab-tested by Green NCAP during its production life.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of April 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Ford EcoSport to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the EcoSport, we’ll publish the score here.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	48 mpg	C	47 – 48 mpg	C – C
Diesel models	55 mpg	B	53 – 57 mpg	B – B

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	142 g/km	B	133 – 143 g/km	A – B
Diesel models	133 g/km	A	128 – 139 g/km	A – B

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	11	A	10 – 11	A – A

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£138	A
Year 2	£385	A
Year 3	£615	A
Year 4	£861	A
Year 5	£1,148	A
Overall	£3,147	A

The Ford EcoSport is a relatively affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

Fuel consumption is average for the petrol models but better for the diesel versions, while service and insurance bills are likely to be some of the cheapest around for a vehicle of this size.