Some might believe the upcoming discontinuation of the Ford EcoSport is the result of harsh criticism or the vehicle underperforming. However, that is not the case. Ford’s subcompact crossover, which entered the American market in 2018, has been assembled overseas in two plants in India which are scheduled to close their doors in 2022 to focus on business services like engineering and software development. The European version of Ford’s mini SUV will remain in production since it is assembled in Romania, but the Romanian plant doesn’t build vehicles for America. This is unfortunate for American drivers because the 2022 Ford EcoSport has much to offer over its competitors if you’re looking for an SUV that can handle long trips with ease.
When you’re heading out for a weekend in the mountains or hitting the highway for a week-long road trip, there are a few features your next vehicle should have: great performance with versatile capabilities, an interior designed for your comfort and convenience, and safety features you can trust. The EcoSport is undeniably a great choice as it comes from an affordable, reliable brand known for its driver-focused vehicles, and it offers everything you need for your daily commuting and weekend retreats or lengthy getaways.
Bold Performance With Impressive Capabilities
When you’re looking for a commuter vehicle, whether for short drives to and from work or lengthy road trips, fuel efficiency is important. As a smaller model, the all-wheel drive 2022 Ford EcoSport is far from being a gas-hog with its estimated 23 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway, powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Unlike many of its competitors, the 2022 Ford EcoSport is not available in two-wheel drive. Rather than needing to add all-wheel drive as an extra-cost option, the EcoSport is only available as a versatile vehicle, capable of handling all of the surprises the weather and the road conditions have in store for your journeys ahead. Plus, the only powertrain offered with the EcoSport has a towing capacity of up to 2,000 lbs, which is considerably greater than most other models in its segment. In fact, it even outperforms many larger vehicles.
Making the performance of the EcoSport even more desirable for your adventures, its design provides more than just an attention-grabbing, bold appearance. This subcompact SUV can handle tight turns and maneuver through narrow streets and parking areas with ease, thanks to its short length. The elevated cabin gives you a better view of the road versus similar models that sit lower to the ground. Furthermore, the rounded profile of the 2022 Ford EcoSport not only helps your SUV stand out in a crowd, but the curvy body helps create less drag to compensate for any efficiency that may be lost from its height.
Fully Equipped and Accommodating Interior
What’s even more important than how your vehicle performs on the road is how the interior works for you on your excursions. Not only do you need a spacious interior to move your seat back, recline, and stretch your legs on the highway, but you need an interior that’s welcoming and accommodating with all of the amenities you’ll need for comfort, convenience, entertainment, and connectivity. Again, the 2022 Ford EcoSport has it all.
While this mini SUV is perfect for a solo traveler, it is even a great option for small families. It seats up to five people with its 91.1 cu.ft. of passenger volume, and its legroom is even comparable with others in its class. Front-seat passengers can enjoy 42.9 in of legroom, and the back-seat passengers have 36.7 in of legroom.
For all of the gear that you’re going to need to bring along for your trips, the cargo area behind the second row of the 2022 Ford EcoSport provides you with 20.9 cu.ft. of storage space. The flexibility of the 60/40-split folding rear seats gives the EcoSport a total of 50 cu.ft. of space that you can use, depending on whether or not you need any of the rear seats for passengers. As a bonus, the easily accessible, fun, and fresh rear gate swings to the side when you need to access the cargo area, rather than lifting up like other SUVs.
No matter what length of trip you plan on taking in the 2022 Ford EcoSport, you’re going to be pampered. Not only with the spacious interior but with everything you could want or need to keep you comfortable, connected, and entertained while out on the road. From an available power moonroof for a fresh air experience while inside the cabin of your SUV to an available heated steering wheel to warm your hands in cooler temperatures, you can customize your EcoSport to be fully loaded with one of its four trims.
Ambient lighting will help set the mood for your drive, while Bluetooth and the eight-inch infotainment center with voice-activated navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto capability for accessing all of your favorite places, music, and apps will keep you connected to everyone and everything that matters most to you. And with your choice of audio systems, including a 10-speaker B&O Sound system, you’ll be able to drown out the unwanted noises of the road, or those from inside the cabin, with crystal clear, concert-like soundtracks.
Trustworthy Safety Features
Safety on the road should be every driver’s number one priority. When you’re headed out on the road for a while, you’re going to want all the help you can get to stay safe. The 2022 Ford EcoSport makes staying safe on the road that much easier. For added collision protection beyond the normal airbags and safety equipment, each EcoSport comes standard with Ford’s Safety Canopy System with side-curtain airbags that deploy during a collision to protect the outboard passenger’s heads from the side windows. With the assistance of Ford’s safety technology, you’ll have more confidence while knowing the EcoSport is there to take some of the stress of driving off your shoulders.
The Hill Start Assist feature is standard with every 2022 Ford EcoSport. It prevents you from rolling backward on a hill when you take your foot off of the brake to get on the accelerator pedal. The rearview camera is also standard on all models. Moving up from the base model, the EcoSport S, rear parking sensors become standard and alert you when you get too close to something while in reverse.
Both of the top-level trims, the EcoSport SES and Titanium models, get additional safety technologies. Front rain-sensing wipers are great since they automatically activate when moisture is detected on the windshield to ensure you always get a clear view of the road, even in inclement weather. However, the Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert is even more beneficial. It helps prevent collisions by detecting and alerting you when there are vehicles in your blind spot or when there’s something in the path of your vehicle when you’re backing up.
Are You Ready to Choose Your Next Getaway Vehicle?
While it may be going away soon, the 2022 Ford EcoSport is an ideal choice to take on your next road trip or weekend getaway. If you’re looking for an affordable SUV with the performance, capabilities, interior amenities, and safety essentials you need for any length of travel, you’ve found the right model. However, if you’re interested in the EcoSport, you might want to hurry because the 2022 model is the last you’ll see of the EcoSport in North America outside of the pre-owned inventory at your local Ford dealership.
