Ford EcoSport review: Fiesta-on-stilts fails to meet high expectations 

The market for small SUVs has exploded in recent years, so it’s no surprise Ford has got in on the action with a model based on its ever-popular Fiesta. It is called the Ecosport and goes up against rivals including the Renault Captur, Suzuki Vitara, Kia Soul, Vauxhall Mokka X and Nissan Juke to name but a few. 

As with all these small crossovers, the goal is to offer a bit more space and a higher driving position than a conventional hatchback without saddling you with the high running costs traditionally associated with an SUV.

The Ecosport’s boot is one of the smallest you’ll find in a car of its type and uses a side-hinged door that is fiddly to use and requires a lot of space behind the car to open fully. The fixed parcel shelf is also a pain when loading in items, and the boot space is tall rather than deep, meaning you end up stacking things on top of each other. Folding the rear seats also results in a large ridge in the floor, so the Ecosport isn’t good for carrying longer items.

Two adults will fit comfortably in the back, each getting adjustable backrests (although the seats themselves don’t slide). However, doors that don’t open particularly wide hamper access, and while there is a third seat belt in the middle the space is fairly narrow, so if you regularly want to carry three in the back a Honda HR-V is a better bet.

In the front the Ecosport feels roomy, and has lots of storage in the form of large doorbins and a useful glovebox.