It was a most provoking thing to experience an engine that has won several international awards fitted to a car that will almost certainly never win any.The one-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost turbo petrol engine has found its way into almost every vehicle Ford sells in this country (though I imagine it will be a while before it's introduced to the long-wheelbase Transit), and although initial experience suggests that the similar unit recently introduced by Vauxhall is even better I still hold the Ford one in high regard.One of the best, and most surprising, things about it is that it can even turn the little EcoSport SUV into a half-decent car. From someone who wrote this about the diesel EcoSport, I think you'll agree that's no small claim.The engine is very quiet, which is good, and in 123bhp (or 125PS) form it's adequately powerful for this job, but perhaps more importantly it's also lighter than the diesel, and this makes a big difference to the ride and handling of the EcoSport. They are not particularly good, but they were bearable over several hundred miles rather than - as I found with the diesel - a source of alarm within half a dozen. In the petrol car there was no sense that the wheels and bodyshell were trying to travel in different directions at the same time.Fuel economy is officially in the mid 50s mpg but about ten short of that according to the test car's trip computer after a tankful had been consumed, mostly on motorways. Ford readings are usually accurate to within 1mpg or so, but the one in the EcoSport seems to be an exception, since it claimed 46mpg when I measured 42.7.That's still not too bad for a car with such an unaerodynamic shape, and it contributed to my unexpected feeling that I might just possibly get used to the EcoSport.But I don't think that will happen. The visibility all-round is too awful, the left-hinged tailgate is too obviously wrong for UK purposes and, at this price, the interior quality is too low for the EcoSport to be a sensible choice. I'm finding it difficult to shake off the impression that Ford is trying to challenge Dacia here - not the case, I'm sure, but if it were I'd say that Dacia is winning this one.The EcoSport is the most disappointing Ford of the current era, though if I had to have one I'd certainly do my best to ensure it had an EcoBoost engine. Engine 999cc, 3 cylinders Power 123bhp Transmission 5-speed manual Fuel/CO2 53.3mpg / 125g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 12.7 seconds Top speed 112mph Price £15,995 Details correct at publication date
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