Ford EcoSport 1.0T Titanium Auto (2022), now with FordPass Connect

• What is FordPass Connect, and how does it work? 
• Space & Interior 
• Comfort & Convenience 
• Fuel Economy 

The Ford EcoSport has been a popular choice of crossover among the South African public. You can't make a trip to any shopping mall without at least seeing one EcoSport. Now, what if you add some smartphone app technology to the mix? The FordPass Connect-enabled EcoSport is here to answer that.

In this article:

What is FordPass Connect, and how does it work? 

FordPass gives convenience features to applicable models in various ways such as remote operation for certain vehicle functions, point of interest locations like dealerships, fuel stations and parking and will even alleviate the fear of losing your vehicle in a massive parking complex (have no fear, FordPass will help you find your vehicle using GPS). So it’s pretty nifty tech to have on hand. The Ford EcoSport range (Ambiente trim level excluded), now comes with FordPass Connect integration and we tested the top-of-the-range 1.0T Titanium model with a 6-speed transmission to see how well it works.

Styling 

The EcoSport hasn’t enjoyed a facelift in quite a while but Ford feels that if it ain’t broke, why fix it? It’s still one of SA’s best-selling compact SUVs, not because of how it looks but also because it’s inexpensive to run and service.

With the Connect-enabled EcoSport, there are not really any elements that distinguish them from your average EcoSport. The only characteristics that give away the Connect integration are within the infotainment system where the FordPass app lies and little window decals denoting that the vehicle is ‘Connect enabled’. You’d easily miss that FordPass was there if you were none the wiser.

One thing we quite like about the EcoSport is its set of 17-inch, 5-split spoke silver wheels. The wheel design suits the vehicle well keeping within the sporty aspect and doesn’t detract from the overall comfort of the vehicle. When you tie everything together, the EcoSport’s vibe is all about urban adventure.

Space & Interior 

There is enough space for a family, definitely but in our view, the EcoSport lacks slightly in the luggage space department and legroom in the second row is limited. The boot area capacity is big enough at 333 litres, but the shape is not ideal for the tailgate to close properly in instances where you’d stack 2 x XL suitcases on top of each other. The interior has a lot of hard plastics but the seats in the EcoSport are comfortable with a mix of cloth and leather. Seat adjustments are manual but easy with lumbar adjustment being a welcome feature. The interior materials are for the most part hard, but with soft contact points such as elbow rests being padded leather.

Comfort & Convenience 

We quite appreciate the layout of the EcoSport’s interior in that when you jump in, it just makes sense in terms of ergonomics. While other manufacturers in this price range forgo buttons in favour of touch controls, the EcoSport maintains buttons for components like aircon and audio mute, for example. This is better because more often than not, you’d rather access such controls quickly without taking too much of your attention away from the road. The driving position is comfortable and the thickness of the steering wheel adds to that urge of you wanting to grab the wheel to drive somewhere.

FordPass does add to the convenience features of the EcoSport. Let us paint a scenario for you: You’re about to leave for work, and it’s a winter morning. By using the remote features in FordPass, you can remotely start the vehicle which not only warms up the engine but also pre-warms (pre-cools if it’s in summer) the cabin. You can remotely lock and unlock the vehicle via the app on your phone as well. So in this instance, the FordPass application is almost like a valet person, but with added features.

Performance 

This is where the ‘Sport’ in EcoSport shines. The derivative on test here is powered by the 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost engine with 92kW of power and 170Nm of torque.

This EcoSport is a hoot to drive with a silky smooth powerband with a satisfying turbo build-up and surge. Even with medium throttle input, the motor has enough poke to give you a cheeky grin. In this test unit, there’s a 6-speed conventional automatic gearbox which does the job but could do with slight revisions to the gearbox programming to improve downshifts and get rid of what feels like turbo lag. The handling on the EcoSport is surprisingly agile with a communicative steering feel. This is a fun car to drive on winding roads as far as crossovers go. The engine and handling combo here works and left me wanting to play more.

Fuel Economy 

The EcoSport, during a week of driving used around 6.8 – 7.2 litres per 100km of petrol in a combined cycle. It’s not that bad, considering that the EcoSport is a bigger vehicle compared to the Fiesta it’s based on. (The most FordPass will show you here is your distance to empty and the vehicle’s current location.)

Safety 

The Ford EcoSport Connect in Titanium trim utilises passive collision avoidance systems along with park distance sensors in the front and rear. In terms of active collision avoidance, you get emergency brake assist. You also get dual front, side and curtain airbags, ISOFIX child seat mounts and the usual safety & security features you’d tend to expect in this range of vehicles like ABS, EBD, stability control, and hill-start assist to name a few.

FordPass assists safety by sending vehicle alerts to your phone via the FordPass application. A tyre pressure monitoring system is also on the app.

Price 

*FordPass comes standard on all trim levels except the Ambiente.

*The Ford EcoSport comes with an optional service plan and optional extended warranty. Optional service plans are available for up to 8 years or 135 000km from the original warranty start date. As standard, you get a 4-year/120 000km limited new vehicle warranty, 4-year roadside assistance and a 5-year/Unlimited km corrosion warranty. Optional service and maintenance plans can be purchased from your Ford Dealership.

Competitors 

There is some stiff competition in the land of the crossovers. For the same price bracket as the EcoSport in Titanium trim you can get the Mazda CX-3, Haval Jolion or Volkswagen T-Cross.

Verdict 

The EcoSport with FordPass connectivity is nifty and convenient. However, the app does seem a little dated and is in need of some updates to at least improve response times and have some more added features to control the vehicle. In spite of that, FordPass is nice to get information about your Ford and control some basic functions. You don’t have to be the most tech-savvy person to operate the app and it makes vehicle ownership that much more pleasant for day-to-day duties.

Tayedza MbiriStarting his petrol-infused passion at a ripe young age playing a plethora of racing video games, Taye has been into the motoring industry for years. During his university years studying Law, he dipped his toes into motoring photography, videography, and exploring what Southern Africa has to offer for the motoring scene at large. Most recently, he presented a YouTube series for a famous Japanese manufacturer and now finds himself fresh on the AutoTrader content creation team. He hopes to own a 90s Subaru one day soon. View News & Reviews

Keyword: Ford EcoSport 1.0T Titanium Auto (2022), now with FordPass Connect