In an attempt to dig itself out of financial trouble that would have brought a lesser company to its knees, Ford's European division is throwing a lot of new product at the markets it serves. It's paying particular attention to SUVs because this sector is going through a substantial growth spurt. You may think our roads are not exactly short of them at the moment, but industry experts believe this is peanuts compared with what you'll be seeing by 2017.And this is why the Brazilian-developed Ford EcoSport, a car you probably weren't aware of in its previous form, is being brought to your attention in this one. Ford did not think, a few years ago, that it was worth trying to sell a small SUV to Europeans, but it does now.How enthusiastic Europeans will be about this is another matter. I think it's reasonable to suggest that different cars make different amounts of sense in different countries. Ford's huge F-150 pickup, for example, is extraordinarily popular in the USA but wouldn't go down so well in Wales.I have never been to Brazil so I'm in no position to make a definitive statement, but for all I know the EcoSport suits that market absolutely perfectly. In the UK it feels substantially inferior to the best vehicles in its class.You may be mildly interested to know that it's built on the same platform used for the Fiesta. If you're expecting Fiesta-like quality, though, you can forget it. The interior plastics are similar to those used in the van-based Tourneo Connect, and a long way below the standard you can expect in the supermini.The driving experience isn't up to much either. On an admittedly short drive - but one conducted on a wide variety of roads - there were times when I thought the body of the car was trying to go in a different direction from the way the wheels were pointing, which was less than encouraging.The test car's 1.5-litre engine produced 89bhp, which isn't a lot for a car of this height, but in return for performance which is unlikely ever to be more than stately you get a low 120g/km CO2 rating which makes this EcoSport reasonably cheap to tax.Whoever designed the windows seemed not to be interested in whether or not anyone would be able to see out, and for UK customers there's a problem with the rear door. It's hinged on the left, so if you're parked on the correct side of the road you have to walk round it before you can put anything in the luggage compartment.The spare wheel (full-sized, as they should all be) is mounted on that door, a very sensible place to put it because it's always going to be within easy reach. Keeping it out of the luggage compartment is also handy because there isn't a lot of room in there. The volume with the rear seats in place is 310 litres, which sounds okay, but most of it is created by height. The actual floor area isn't generous.You'll be aware by now that I don't think much of the EcoSport as a car, but it's pretty well-equipped. Titanium is the only trim level in the range, and it includes 16" alloy wheels, automatic air-conditioning, roof rails, Hill Start Assist, keyless entry and start, all-round electric windows, daytime running lights and a cooled glovebox.Rear parking sensors cost £210 (a wise investment given the lack of glass area) and for £250 you can have the SYNC system which gives you six audio speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, emergency assistance and voice control of apps on your linked smartphone.These things make the EcoSport more appealing, and brand loyalty to Ford will no doubt help sales too. But this is far from being the best small SUV on the market, and I wish I didn't sense quite so much desperation behind the decision to sell it in this part of the world. Engine 1498cc, 4 cylinders Power 89bhp Transmission 5-speed manual Fuel/CO2 61.4 / 120g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 14.0 seconds Top speed 99mph Price £16,495 Details correct at publication date
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