If you were following me or Stephen on Instagram last week, then you’ll now that we were over in Newfoundland test driving the brand new 2018 Ford EcoSport. This compact crossover is designed to be fun, capable and connected “for those who crave new adventures.” Though it may be little, it packs plenty of punch.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-6nYGbEG9M]

As we mention in the video review above, the Ford EcoSport aims to fill the Goldilocks niche between people interested in a small, fuel efficient car and people who want the added space and utility of an SUV. This could be young people moving up into the SUV world or it could be empty nesters downsizing from the family SUV. The EcoSport fits somewhere in between.

Even though it is largely positioned as an affordable type of vehicle, the 2018 Ford EcoSport comes packed with plenty of technology and features. You get the backup camera, ambient lighting, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support (including Waze), a moonroof, premium materials, optional heated seats and more. It’s a tight little package at a price that won’t break the bank.

It’s obvious enough that the Ford Sync system has come a very long way since we drove the 2012 Ford Focus Titanium several years ago. The interface is clean and responsive, including an optional 8-inch touchscreen with swipe and multi-touch gestures. The auto start-stop can take a little getting used to, but it saves fuel too. For our full day of driving, we ended up somewhere in the 7.5L/100km kind of range for the 1.0L EcoBoost FWD model and in the 8.4L/100km kind of range for the 2.0L 4WD version. That puts you around 30 mpg or so.

There are some definite pros and cons here. Fuel economy is very good for a vehicle this size, and I appreciate the premium materials and abundance of technology. Little things like having a cell phone pocket in the side of the front passenger seat are nice to have. But then there are also these curious corners that they cut, like cheap cover where the key ignition would go, as well as the tiny glove compartment.

While the 2018 Ford EcoSport starts from under $20,000 Canadian, it does top out somewhere around $33,000. Most customers will fall somewhere in the middle, likely in the $26,000 kind of range. At that price, you can be nicely equipped with the 2.0L 4WD and plenty of creature comforts.

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