Not satisfied with feisty styling and a high ride height, Ford continues its mission to woo crossover buyers with the 2019 Ford EcoSport. Coming off its North American debut in 2018, the pint-size crossover is now stuffed with as much technology as Ford can manage.
What's New for 2019
Other than a few option shuffles and a new appearance package, the Ford EcoSport returns unchanged for 2019.
Choosing Your Ford EcoSport
Finding an EcoSport begins with a choice between two powertrains. The first is just as diminutive as the car, a 1.0-liter inline three-cylinder engine producing 123 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. This engine is front-wheel drive only.
The larger engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 166 hp and 149 lb-ft of torque and is available exclusively with four-wheel drive. On all except the top trim (where it's standard), the upgrade costs around $1,500. Both engines come with the same six-speed automatic transmission, but neither is quick – even with the extra power, the EcoSport barely manages to get from zero to 60 mph in under 10 seconds.
Fuel economy is slightly more encouraging, but still mediocre for the class. The EPA estimates that the base engine will do 27 miles per gallon city, 29 mpg highway, and 28 combined, while the larger motor gets 23/29/25 mpg (city/highway/combined).
Despite the EcoSport’s tiny size, Ford does its best to boost practicality. There's 20.9 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, which utilizes a 60/40-split folding bench. With the second row folded, cargo capacity expands to 50 cubic feet. A cargo management system comes standard.
The remaining features are divided across four trims:
Although leather upholstery is a tempting upgrade, the best value in the 2019 Ford EcoSport range is clearly the SE. Those in colder climates will appreciate the standard heated seats, and the Convenience Package is available for extra tech if necessary.