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2025 Car Mileage with the Best Gas Mileage2022 Ford EcoSport Review
The 2022 EcoSport is Ford's smallest crossover. Does it hold up to the Ford nameplate? We look at powertrain, interior options, trim levels, and more.
2022 Ford EcoSport – ford.com | Shop 2022 Ford EcoSport on Carsforsale.com
What’s New for the 2022 Ford EcoSport?
The 2022 Ford EcoSport has seen few changes since its inception. The engine has been changed from a turbocharged three-cylinder to an inline four-cylinder without a turbo, and AWD is now standard on all four trims.
This may sound like a great change, but in reality, it lowered the fuel mileage and raised the price slightly over the 2021 model. It is also important to note that 2022 will be the last year that the EcoSport will be made. Ford has decided to end production on the crossover, as well as other vehicles made in India. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing considering the 2022 Ford EcoSport’s poor value and even worse fuel economy.
The Breakdown
Very smooth ride
Sporty handling
2,000 pound towing capacity
Low fuel economy for a crossover
Competitors offer more value
No hybrid powertrain option
Rides and handles like a dream
2022 EcoSport Specs
- 166 horsepower from base engine
- 149 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 4 available trims
- 20.9 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 50.0 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- 2,000-lb towing capacity
- 8-inch infotainment system on upper trims
- Optional blind-spot monitoring
- 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty
2022 Ford EcoSport Powertrain
The 2022 Ford EcoSport is equipped with a non-turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. One of the greatest features of this setup is that AWD is standard on all trims. This is a great change from the FWD three-cylinder engine that was offered in previous model years.
The new powertrain and drivetrain deliver 166-hp and 149 lb-ft of torque to the wheels. While it is not nearly as impressive as other crossover SUVs, it is more than capable of getting to 60 MPH in 9.8 seconds.
Perhaps one of the biggest disappointments of the 2022 Ford EcoSport is the lack of a hybrid powertrain option. It is called the “EcoSport,” which is a bit misleading. It is anything but economical.
The front strut suspension and multi-link rear suspension provide a very comfortable ride – one of the best in its class. It handles more like a sporty car than an SUV and is pleasantly fun to drive. It takes corners effectively and allows drivers to maneuver through traffic with plenty of feedback from the steering wheel. This is great from an SUV with only 7.8 inches of ground clearance.
Despite its shortcomings, the 2022 Ford EcoSport is a crossover that is truly fun to drive. The sporty handling and comfortable ride are certainly highlights of this little machine.
Towing & Payload
The 2022 Ford EcoSport can tow up to 2,000 lbs. For a subcompact SUV, this is not a bad thing. Drivers who are looking to tow a small camper will rejoice in this feature. It isn’t up to the task as some of its industry-leading competitors, but it at least gives drivers the ability to bring along some extra cargo.
Even if you plan on not towing anything, the 2022 Ford EcoSport has a payload capacity of 1,570 lbs. which is, for its size, very respectable.
2022 Ford EcoSport Fuel Economy & MPG
The “Eco” in EcoSport means absolutely nothing when it comes to overall fuel efficiency. The 2022 Ford EcoSport only gets 23 MPG city/29 MPG highway, which is a disappointing surprise for a crossover of this size. Competitors such as the Ford Escape surpass this almost exponentially.
The addition of a hybrid powertrain option would have probably saved the 2022 Ford EcoSport from being cut from Ford’s lineup – or at least made it worth the MSRP. Drivers could otherwise look to competitors such as the Chevy Trax for a more fuel-efficient compact SUV at the expense of a few horsepower.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
The interior of the 2022 Ford EcoSport leaves more to be desired. It is not nearly as classy as some of its competitors – especially for the price. The choice of materials isn’t the best with many of them feeling like hard, cheap plastic.
The leather has a rubbery texture to it, so stepping up from the base S trim to the higher trims really doesn’t help things. There is a surprising amount of room in the front though which is a bonus for a car of this size. Don’t expect the roominess of the Kona or the Soul, however.
The rear provides a tight fit for passengers and may not be well suited to taller passengers at all. The cargo space is sufficient for carrying a week’s worth of luggage when the seats are folded down – giving drivers 50.0 cubic feet of space. With the seats up, drivers still get 20.9 cubic feet of cargo space.
The 2-row, 5-seater offers leather and cloth seats on the SE, SES, and Titanium trims. Copper-colored accents add a bit of a modern vibe to these trims as well. The infotainment system is easy to operate without reaching too far from the driver’s seat, and the controls are intuitive.
Overall, it is great for those looking for plenty of room up front with ample cargo space for longer trips if the seats are folded down. For the price, Ford could have made it feel classier and less like an economy car on the inside.
Entertainment & Technology
The 2022 Ford EcoSport comes with 2 different infotainment systems. The S trim comes with a basic 4.2-inch screen with Bluetooth functionality. Unfortunately, that’s about it, as the basic system does not support Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Wi-Fi hotspot capability is standard on all trims.
Moving up to the SE, SES, or Titanium trims gives drivers a much more intuitive 8.0-inch touchscreen. This system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. On the SES and Titanium trims, navigation is also included. It is a very intuitive and easy-to-navigate system that is based on Ford’s Sync 3 system.
For sound, the standard is a 6-speaker audio system. This can be upgraded to a Bang & Olufsen 10-speaker setup for better quality sound.
Safety Features
As far as safety features, the 2022 Ford EcoSport lacks many of the features that one may find standard on competitor models. However, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are standard on the SES, but optional on the SE and Titanium trims.
ABS is standard and rear parking sensors are optional.
The 2022 Ford EcoSport only earned a 4 out of 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. With a lack of many standard modern safety features, there are certainly better options available in this class of crossover SUVs.
2022 Ford EcoSport Trims and Pricing
S – $23,335
The base model is about as standard as they come. The S trim doesn’t offer much in the way of optional features either. Drivers get a 4.2-inch infotainment system that only supports Bluetooth functionality. A 6-speaker audio system is standard as well.
You also get 2 USB ports inside the cabin and 2 12-volt power outlets. Ice blue lights in the gauge cluster give it a sporty vibe.
AWD is standard, as is the non-turbo inline four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission.
SE – $26,805
Stepping up to the SE trim gives drivers the same powertrain with additional interior features. The most useful is the 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
Heated cloth front seats, a powered moonroof with sunshade, leather steering wheel and shifter knob, and chrome interior appointments also set it apart from the base model.
SES – $29,500
The SES trim gives drivers all of the features of the SE with some extra attention paid to the interior. The seats are made of ActiveX material which gives a classier look and feel than the standard cloth seats of the lower trims.
The SES model also includes a special sport-tuned suspension. This gives even more control when you hit corners or go off-road.
The infotainment system is the 8.0-inch touchscreen with all of the capabilities of the S and SE trims with added voice-activated navigation. Rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, and a blind spot monitoring system come standard as well.
Titanium – $29,690
The cream of the EcoSport crop is the Titanium trim. Drivers get all of the same features of the SES with the addition of a Bang & Olufsen 10-speaker sound system. Remote start is optional, as is the towing package.
Warranties
The warranties offered are rather standard for its class. Ford offers a powertrain warranty of 5 years/60,000 miles and a limited warranty covering 3 years/36,000 miles. There is no complimentary maintenance offered.
What we think
2022 Ford EcoSport – ford.com | Shop 2022 Ford EcoSport on Carsforsale.com
Overall, the 2022 Ford EcoSport isn’t that “eco”. It just doesn’t stand up to the strong competition of the Kia Soul, Chevy Trax, or Ford Escape. In fact, it may be the least desirable of the Ford lineup. The introduction of the Ford Maverick pickup makes the 2022 Ford EcoSport an overpriced vehicle with limited features.
The best parts about the 2022 Ford EcoSport are the sporty handling and comfortable ride. Love it or hate it, the EcoSport does handle like a sporty car instead of an SUV. This is the redeeming quality of this crossover.
We would have loved to have seen a hybrid powertrain offered, especially on the SES and Titanium trims. Ford could have kept the EcoSport in this price range while offering drivers more fuel economy. It just doesn’t make sense to have a crossover SUV in this price range without a hybrid option.
If you’re looking for your next crossover SUV, we suggest taking some of the competition into consideration. There is much more bang for your buck out there.
