Used Ford Ecosport for sale: everything you need to know
The Ford Ecosport was Ford’s entrant into the hugely popular small crossover market back in 2014, and it’s only recently gone off sale, despite Ford launching the more modern Puma in 2019. The Fiesta-based Ecosport was designed for developing markets, and felt a little crude at first, though Ford improved it over the years, making later models a better buy.
While somewhat overshadowed by the Puma, the Ecosport remains popular with buyers for its value, interior space, and raised seating position that gives it an SUV-like feel. There’s been a wide range of petrol and diesel engines over the years and tax bills can be low too, for pre-2017 models. Read on to find out more about the Ecosport.
Should you buy a Ford Ecosport?
The Ford Ecosport is one of those cars where reviewers and owners don’t quite see eye-to-eye. It’s not especially attractive, the car’s ride and handling aren’t up to Ford’s usual standards, nor is interior quality, and its performance and economy lags behind the Ford Fiesta on which it’s based. But owners seem generally pretty happy with their Ecosports - so more so than many cars in this class, it’s probably one to try before you buy, to make sure it’s the right car for you.
Among the Ecosport’s plus points is a look that tends towards rugged rather than sporty, aided by relatively high ground clearance for a small car, that might just come in handy if you find yourself on unsurfaced roads or have a particular disdain for kerbs. The raised seating position also confers good visibility, and it’s easy to drive, despite a busy ride and wallowy handling.
Ford’s 1-litre Ecoboost petrol engines pick up some points - they’re frugal and their thrummy engine notes aren’t unpleasant. Interior space is good, though the boot is smaller than you’ll find in Ford’s sportier Puma crossover. It’s well worth going for a post-2017 model if you’re in the market for an Ecosport - they’re still average by class standards, but much better than earlier cars.
Before you put down a deposit, it’s worth checking out Ford’s own Puma, which feels and drives like a much more modern car. If you like the Ecosport’s rugged feel and appearance, then the Dacia Duster - larger, but fantastic value - is well worth considering, and if your budget stretches, the relatively new Jeep Avenger also has a chunky look and feel that might appeal.
What’s the best used Ford Ecosport model to buy?
We’d advise skipping past the basic petrol 1.5 and the lower-powered 1.5-litre diesels, none of which are especially pleasant to drive thanks to their low power outputs and poor refinement. That leaves the more powerful, later diesels, and the 1-litre Ecoboost petrols in their various forms - later cars came only in 125PS and 140PS versions. Titanium is the pick of the trim lines, avoiding the sports suspension of the ST-Line that further harms the Ecosport’s unsettled ride quality. We’d be tempted to buy a Ford Puma instead, though.
Used Ford Ecosport fuel economy and performance
- Ford Ecosport 1.0 Ecoboost 100: Ford’s popular 1-litre Ecoboost kicks off the Ecosport range with 100PS, for an 11.9-second 0-62mph run and combined economy of 53.3mpg.
- Ford Ecosport 1.0 Ecoboost 125: The more powerful 125PS Ecoboost is also available, with a 0-62mph time of 11 seconds flat, and only a small drop in economy to 45.6mpg. A manual gearbox is standard, but an automatic is optional.
- Ford Ecosport 1.0 Ecoboost 140: Topping the petrol range is a 140PS variant of the 1-litre petrol. It gets from 0-62mph in 10.2 seconds, and matches the 125PS car’s economy, though this does drop slightly on the larger wheel options.
- Ford Ecosport 1.5 112: This non-turbo petrol offered from 2014 to 2018 made 112PS and is among the slower Ecosports, with a 13-second 0-62mph time. Economy doesn’t quite match the Ecoboosts either, with a 44.8mpg average.
- Ford Ecosport 1.5 TDCi 90: The 1.5-litre turbodiesel is similarly plodding, with a 13.7-second 0-62mph time, though it does have claimed economy of 61.4mpg on its side. From 2018 on this engine got a higher 100PS output.
- Ford Ecosport 1.5 Ecoblue 125: The most powerful diesel made 125PS, and is the only engine offered with all-wheel drive. 0-62mph takes 10.9 seconds, and economy with all-wheel drive is up to 47.1mpg.
What used Ford Ecosport trim levels are available?
Equipment levels are one of the Ecosport’s stronger suits, as you can see from some of the trim levels below. Ford also offered an X-Pack, which for £600 when the car was new, added an effective 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, power folding door mirrors, keyless entry and start, and rear privacy glass. It’s well worth finding a model with the X-Pack included as a result.
- The Ford EcoSport Zetec starts the range with 16-inch alloy wheels, electric front windows, air conditioning, USB connection, and driver's seat lumbar adjustment.
- The Ford Ecosport Titanium upgrades to touchscreen infotainment, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, climate control air-con and 17-inch alloy wheels.
- The Ford Ecosport ST-Line has a sporty appearance taking its cues from Ford’s ST performance models, and gets a bodykit, sports seats, and lowered sports suspension.
- The Ford Ecosport Active is a more rugged, off-road inspired model based on Titanium trim, with mainly visual upgrades over that trim line.
Used Ford Ecosport dimensions and boot size
The Ford Ecosport’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4,096mm
- Width: 1,765mm
- Height: 1,653mm (1,713mm including roof rails)
- Ground clearance: 190mm
The Ford Ecosport’s boot space is:
- 356 litres
- 1,238 litres with rear seats folded
Used Ford Ecosport road tax
As the Ecosport first arrived in 2014, quite a few models on the used market will be taxed based on CO2 emissions. That makes the diesels cheapest, with a minimum CO2 output of 115g/km working out to a bill of £35 per year. From April 1, 2017, all others get a flat rate of VED, which is set at £190 per year for the 2024/2025 tax year.
How much is it to insure a Ford Ecosport?
Insurance costs should be about what you’d expect from a small crossover, with group 8-17 ratings (out of 50) depending on engine and trim level. A 1.5 TDCi in Zetec trim is at the lowest end, with the petrol 1.5 just above it in group 9, while the 1-litre Ecoboost models start in group 10, and the 125PS diesel with 4x4 in Titanium trim with the optional Lux pack sits at the top of the scale.
