The Ford Escape and Honda CR-V have been locked in battle in the compact crossover segment for years. But where was Ford's answer to Honda's even smaller HR-V? It might be late to the game, but next week, we'll get a look at the EcoSport, Ford's answer to Honda's diminutive ute.
Ford confirmed to Automotive News that it would unveil the EcoSport ahead of next week's Los Angeles Auto Show. Ford's relying on exuberant rapper DJ Khaled to help unveil the car, and it appears that a Snapchat post of his may have given away the surprise.
The EcoSport is a subcompact crossover based on Ford's global B-car platform, which underpins the Ford Fiesta and a few cars we don't get in the US, like the Ka and the B-Max. That's why I used the HR-V as a point of comparison, since Honda's littlest guy is based off the subcompact Fit sedan platform.
Since the EcoSport is a global car, its powertrains vary by region. It packs everything from a 1.0-liter turbocharged I3 to a 140-horsepower, 2.0-liter I4. It can equip both manual and automatic transmissions, which is a delightful thing to see. Diesel variants exist, too, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say Ford won't screw with diesel in the US.
It's unclear whether the US will receive the current, second-generation EcoSport (seen in pictures here) or a new, third generation. We'll find out on Monday, November 14.