The 2019 Ford EcoSport is the smallest of six crossover SUVs sold with the blue oval badge.

Distinct from the compact Escape, the 2019 EcoSport doesn’t offer very good value compared to that larger, slightly more expensive vehicle. The EcoSport’s a dated design sold around the world long before it made it to the U.S., and it shows in its technology, safety, and interior finish.

With the EcoSport, Ford earns one of its lowest vehicle ratings, a 3.7 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

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Sold in S, SE, SES, and Titanium trims, the 2019 EcoSport doesn’t have styling in its strengths column. The high beltline, tall nose, and abrupt hatchback don’t knit together as well as other small SUVs such as the Fiat 500X and Jeep Renegade, or even the dowdy Honda HR-V. Ford undercuts a neatly organized cabin with lots of cutlines, and lots of materials on the inexpensive side.

The EcoSport comes with either front-wheel drive and a turbo-3 engine, or all-wheel drive and an inline-4. Both draw power through a 6-speed automatic. Neither model has remarkable acceleration; the sluggish pace comes from a hefty curb weight of more than 3,000 pounds. The EcoSport rides fairly well, especially in city driving, but it could use more steering force to center itself. Instead, it wanders across pavement ridges.

Interior space suits four adults, and the back seat’s the unexpected star, even in head room. Cargo space comes at a cost: the load floor is high, and the side-swinging tailgate is either inconvenient or a kitschy homage to ‘80s utility vehicles. We’re betting on the former.

Crash-test scores include a subpar three-star rollover score for front-drive models. No EcoSport offers automatic emergency braking, a vital new piece of safety technology.
For more than $20,000, the EcoSport doesn’t represent a good value, but it does come with power features and Bluetooth. Top versions get touchscreen infotainment and Bang & Olufsen sound. Fully stocked and nearly $30,000 with all the options, the Ford EcoSport pales when compared with the best of its kind, or even a much cheaper, much more practical family sedan.