Sacramento,
California -- Awww, it's so cute, this all-new Ford subcompact crossover
SUV! Really, I can't help myself.
Looking
adorable in "Lightning Blue" skin paint and taking up very little space in
my driveway, the tested 2018 Ford EcoSport Titanium 4WD pretty much summed up
the state of the auto industry these days: think small, versatile, crossover SUV ... as
opposed to the glory days of the midsize sedan, for instance.
Nothing wrong
with that. The tested EcoSport -- the
Titanium is the top of four trim levels, starting at around $25,000 and change
-- did all that was expected of a commuter/suburban workhorse.
Its small size
made it easy to handle, and the tester responded instantly to my beat on the
steering wheel. The 2-liter
four-cylinder engine with 166 horsepower offered more than enough pop to tackle
crowded urban streets and suburban roads.
Even twisty runs in the Sierra Nevada foothills were a snap, although
the EcoSport did amp up the noise level on sharp uphill climbs.
Full
disclosure: More humble versions of the EcoSport can be had with a 1-liter,
turbo-3 engine with 123 horsepower, but frankly, I'm not sure that offers up
enough power to manage the sometimes ruthless urban jungle. Still, other drivers might like it, given the
circumstances of where, and how, they live.
Not surprisingly,
fuel mileage on the four-cylinder SUV was pretty good at 27 miles per gallon in
the city and 29 mpg on the open road.
Also, the four-wheel
disc brakes functioned admirably. The
interior space was adequate up front but a tight fit for adults in the back seats. Cargo-carrying capacity was surprisingly
generous. What more could a young family
want, right? Or a retired couple of
empty nesters on the go?
The list of
standard features was impressive, and you get a loaded boat with the Titanium
version. Available features include a
power moonroof, a remote-start system and a voice-activated navigation
system. Those are impressive offerings
in this segment.
A strong list
of state-of-the-art safety features also impressed me.
Overall, this is a
solid B-plus effort in the current automotive world of less is more. Did I happen to mention that it's cute?
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