Launched in Europe in 2013, the second-generation EcoSport adapted Ford’s global B-car platform into a high-riding city crossover featuring bold styling and an unconventional side-opening rear door. Disciplined Ford EcoSport maintenance is non-negotiable on this model, where sophisticated compact drivetrains demand exact manufacturer servicing standards to avoid exorbitant workshop bills when competing against the Renault Captur and Nissan Juke.
The engine line-up is headlined by the turbocharged three-cylinder 1.0 EcoBoost alongside the 1.5 TDCi diesel. The 1.0-litre petrol uses an oil-immersed timing belt; the notorious 1.0 EcoBoost wet cambelt is highly vulnerable to degradation if incorrect oil grades or extended change intervals are used, leading to belt tooth shedding that clogs the oil pickup strainer and causes fatal oil starvation. Meanwhile, petrol models equipped with the six-speed Powershift dry-clutch transmission are notorious for low-speed clutch judder, shuddering shifts and input shaft seal leaks that contaminate clutch friction plates.