2022 Ford EcoSport Is A Budget-Friendly Subcompact Crossover

The 2022 Ford EcoSport boasts a new engine, standard all-wheel-drive, a 2000-pound tow rating, lofty driving position, and good maneuverability. While Ford has ditched the less powerful turbo three-cylinder engine and standard front-wheel drivetrain, it also decided to stop its production later this year.

Trim Levels and Powertrain

Ford offers the 2022 EcoSport in four trim levels – S, SE, SES, and Titanium – all carrying a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine pumping out 166 hp and 149 lb-ft of torque. The engine mates to a 6-speed automatic transmission, sending power to all the wheels. The previous EcoSport had a 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo mill with a front-wheel-drive layout.

2022 ExoSport S

 

 

2022 ExoSport SES

 

 

2022 ExoSport Titanium

 

 

Performance and Mileage

The performance within the city is fun with good handling characteristics and braking power. One of the biggest highlights of the EcoSport is its capability to tow 2000 pounds, which is better than most subcompact crossovers.

The new 2.0-liter engine delivers a better fuel economy at 23city, and 25 hwy. With a 13.8-gallon gas tank, the crossover can cover an impressive 345 miles!

Exterior

The entry-level S gets a black beltline molding, black door handles, halogen headlights, and 16-inch alloy wheels.

The SE model boasts a silver-painted grille, black roof rails, and fog lights, whereas the Titanium has bigger 17-inch wheels, a chrome grille, beltline molding, and silver roof rails. The SE, Titanium, and SES also come equipped with LED daytime running lights and a power moonroof. The SES sports a darkened grille and custom-built black-painted aluminum wheels.

With a 99.2-inch wheelbase, the EcoSport is 161.3 inches long, 71.9 inches wide, and 64.8 inches tall. Another plus point of this Ford crossover is its highest ground clearance (7.9 inches) in the class.

The 2022 EcoSport comes in different exterior shades, some of which are trim-exclusive. The no-cost paints include Smoke Metallic, Race Red, Blue Metallic, Blue Metallic, Luxe Yellow Metallic, Diamond White, Shadow Black, and Moondust Silver Metallic. Additionally, you can opt for the White Platinum Metallic on the SE and Titanium models for an extra $595.

The Lightning Blue, Blue Metallic, Luxe Yellow, Diamond White, and Moondust Silver are reserved for the SES. For best contrast with black, we recommend Diamond White or go for Luxe Yellow if you are an outgoing person.

Interior

The interior is modern, logical, and solid. It can seat four comfortably with 36.7 inches of legroom and 37.5 inches of headroom for the rear passengers and 42.9 inches of legroom and 39.6 inches of headroom on the front.

The seats are comfy and supportive, allowing you to adjust them manually or electronically. Thanks to its elevated seating position, visibility isn’t an issue. Moreover, we need to give the EcoSport credit for its big trunk. For a subcompact, it is pretty roomy at 20.9 cubic feet with rear seats intact, which is suitably above-average in its class. For times you need to carry extra luggage, you can fold the back seats to increase the cargo space to 50 cubic feet. Even you can fold flat the front passenger seat to accommodate something lengthy.

Besides the adequate cargo capacity, the budget crossover has plenty of storage areas, such as a sunglasses holder, center console, big armrest storage, and two cupholders at the front and rear.

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Standard Facilities

The base model comes equipped with a multi-function steering wheel with audio controls, a rearview camera, daytime running lights, and auto Start-Stop technology. Furthermore, you get manual air conditioning, two smart-charging USB points, and automatic headlamps.

A step above is the SE model, featuring a leather-covered shift knob, push-button start, heated front seats, a single-zone climate control, and a power moonroof.

The high-end Titanium and SES models have almost the same standard facilities with minor differences. The shared features include an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a heated steering wheel, a 110-volt power outlet, a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a voice-controlled touchscreen navigation system.

The SES gets a chrome-finished steering wheel, whereas the Titanium uses chrome door release handles. In addition, the Titanium sports perforated ActiveX synthetic leather, whereas the SES comes with ActiveX synthetic leather.

Infotainment

All the variants of the 2022 Ford EcoSport employ Ford’s SYNC system. The S trim has SYNC with a 4.2-inch color display along with AM/FM playback, Bluetooth support, a six-speaker sound system, and a Wi-Fi hotspot support for up to 10 gadgets.

The SE comes with an eight-inch display with SYNC 3 capability in addition to an elective seven-speaker system. This seven-speaker system is standard for the SES. The SYNC 3 offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support as well as SiriusXM availability. The Titanium model boasts a ten-speaker Bang & Olufsen surround sound system.

Safety

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave it a four out of five stars overall safety score. However, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) did not review it for the 2022 model year. The last time they examined it was in 2018, when they only tested head restraints and seats and approved them with a ‘good’ rating.

The standard safety equipment comprises ABS, stability control, and an SOS post-crash alert system. Ford ensures the safety of all occupants through its impressive ten airbags setup, consisting of dual front airbags and curtain airbags. Other desirable safety features include automatic headlamps, tire pressure monitoring, a reverse sensing system, a rearview camera, and blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alerts for the SES and Titanium.

Price and Verdict

The 2022 Ford EcoSport is an affordable subcompact crossover, available at a starting price of $22,040. The SE costs $25,510, the SES goes for $28,205, while the flagship Titanium demands $28,395. Generally, Ford has bumped the prices for the 2022 model year, partly because of the standard all-wheel-drive setup. These prices do not include the $1,295 destination fee.

The 2022 Ford EcoSport is a cheap way to get a subcompact. Its standard all-wheel-drive system, a 2,000-pound tow rating, high driving stance, and spacious trunk, all accessible at a reasonable price, are a few reasons to give it a try.