Ford EcoSport

In the age of millennials, the SUV boom is becoming more of an epidemic rather than a trend because every day, you'll see one passing by everyday. Why the continuous growth of SUVs? No one asked but carmakers are pooling all of their resources on crossovers because they're very profitable than any other car type. One such example is Ford and as their crossovers continue to be hot-sellers, they decided to add their baby brother to the crossover family tree known as the EcoSport.

2018 Ford EcoSport

2018 Ford EcoSport

The rest of the globe already familiar with the Ford EcoSport but because it's now under American hands for the very first time ever long before the ape took over the most powerful nation in the globe, the EcoSport you should be focused is the US-spec only so don't wander off, okay? This is the EcoSport you should be focusing. Enough said but anyway, the EcoSport is meant to rival against baby crossovers from Asia, namely the Nissan Juke, the Toyota C-HR, and the Honda Vezel.

Thing is though the EcoSport is sourced from India, which sounds convincing because of headlines about the orangutan who runs this country wants to join forces with India, Australia (a country that no longer makes cars), and Japan, and even though it's Indian-sourced, much like the Suzuki Baleno hatchback, it was accommodated to North American conditions so it goes and feels like your next neighbor's car.

2018 Ford EcoSport interior

2018 Ford EcoSport interior

First off, the styling is not bad by Ford standards, judging from its hexagonal grille that has been the staple for Ford cars since the Fusion, the compact sizing, and the rear door that can be opened horizontally rather than vertical. And because it's so small, you might think that this is much easier to drive than any other crossover you're familiar with. Not so fast, buddy, because you might want to check on the inside and while this is as small as your cousin's Honda Fit, the dashboard is a tad conventional rather than modern crossovers. 

You have SYNC 3 with smartphone connectivity, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, B&O Play premium audio system, Wi-Fi HotSpot, 60:40 rear folding seats, and a Cargo Management System. Of course, because the rear tailgate wasn't electronic compared to most crossovers, you had no problem fitting Fido before closing the door and there's more room for your stuff you bought from the thrift store. 

Because it has room for five, it's not very recommended to use the second row seats as baby bait but if you're planning to do some road trip with your mates from Muntinlupa to Cabanatuan, it's not half bad although the juddering really leaves a big impression to the EcoSport. Heck, you enjoy your nap while your man is driving your way from city streets to provincial streets from dusk to dawn and then on the journey home.

2018 Ford EcoSport

A base EcoSport is powered by the smallest engine Ford ever made, a 1.0L 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine, but if you go for the top-speed SES variant, you will get a 2.0L Ti-VCT 4-cylinder engine and because being a 2.0L engine and not a hatchback, you can use it for your TNVS job like if you're working as either an UBER driver or a Lyft driver. While not being used as a TNVS car, the EcoBoost is not half bad to drive for a little car, although being a crossover, it's not as sporty as what the S in the SUV meant for. True story and having a 4WD option doesn't cut it despite having the capability to do some Sunday drives, be it tarmac, gravel, snow, any condition it might come across.

Of course, even though gas is cheap in American soil, the EcoSport never forgot the Eco part because of its Auto Start and Stop function that shuts the engine off when stopped at the set of lights and then restarts when setting off, giving the EcoBoost an EPA-estimated city/hwy fuel economy of 27/29mpg. On the safe side, the only safe spots the EcoBoost had is the Hill Start Assist, rear view camera, and BLIS, which is less than what today's crossovers had, but it works rather well for a crossover that is smaller than your sister's.

The price of the EcoSport start at 19,995 US Dollars, that's 1-9-9-9-5, big fat American dollars. Not Canadian dollars, American dollars. Focus, people. Focus. Pun intended but anyway, the EcoSport is a world proven crossover since the last decade. Drivers across Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific had experienced it and now in North American roads for the very first time, the dream of seeing the EcoBoost driven by American hands is now real, although the dynamics are somewhat upsetting for a small crossover. Needless to say, the EcoSport is part of the ongoing trend why crossovers are growing in sales rather than focus on the key principles of a proper SUV which is sport, utility, and vehicle. Looks like knowing is half the battle, after all.

Available colors: Canyon Ridge, Smoke, Shadow Black, Lightning Blue, Race Red, Ruby Red, Moondust Silver, White Platinum, Diamond White, and Blue Candy.

Photo: Ford Motor Company