Ford EcoSport 2014 - road test pictures

<span>The EcoSport is Ford’s first entry into the supermini-SUV market, and rivals the Renault Captur, Nissan Juke, Peugeot 2008 and Vauxhall Mokka.</span>

The UK model has tweaked steering and suspension settings, plus new interior materials.

<span>The dashboard inside the EcoSport is inspired by the Fiesta, though it has&nbsp;<span>updated materials, seats and switchgear.</span></span>

The awkward spare wheel will be a big negative for those looking for a stylish car.

<span>The tall and narrow shape means you have a good view out the EcoSport, so it'<span>s easy to weave through narrow streets.</span></span>

<span>One neat touch at the rear is the boot release that’s integrated into the Ford EcoSport's offside rear light.</span>

<span>The Ford EcoSport has the usual 4x4 styling touches, including black plastic cladding low on the doors, a silver front skid plate and silver roof rails.</span>

<span>The EcoSport’s nose gets some chrome trim, but the large grille is more like the pre-facelift Fiesta’s, so it already looks a bit dated.</span>

<span><span>The 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder&nbsp;</span>EcoBoost engine is great - just like in the Fiesta.</span>

<span>The raised ride height and longer-travel suspension mean there’s plenty of body roll through the bends.&nbsp;<span>Unfortunately, the long-travel suspension isn’t soft enough to deliver cruising comfort either.</span></span>

<span>Ford has a strong reputation for building cars that are fun to drive, and it’s a real shame that the EcoSport is so disappointing.</span>

<span>The 333-litre boot has a high floor, and the bodywork underneath the EcoSport means there’s no extra storage either.</span>

Space inside the Ford EcoSport is reasonable, with lots of headroom and decent elbow space,&nbsp;although legroom in the back is tighter than you’ll find in rivals like the Renault Captur.

<span>The back seats fold flat, but there is a big step down to the boot floor. You can tumble the seats forward to increase load length slightly.</span>

<span>Ford's voice-operated Sync infotainment system is a welcome addition to the EcoSport.</span>