Ford EcoSport to be made more 'European' to boost sales

The Ford EcoSport – Ford’s attempt at a small SUV – hasn’t been a great seller so Ford look set to give it tweaks to make it more appealing to European buyers.

Ford EcoSport to be made more ‘European’ to boost sales

It’s three year since the Ford EcoSport arrived in India as a rugged little SUV to appeal to emerging markets. And it looked a sensible proposition.

It also seemed sensible that Ford should bring the EcoSport to the UK and European markets as car buyers continue to covet SUVs of all sizes. But it doesn’t seem to be working.

According to Automotive News, Ford has shifted just over 11,000 EcoSports in Europe in the same period Renault managed to shift almost 150,000 Capturs. So clearly something needs to be done.

That ‘something’ looks like a makeover for the European market to make the EcoSport more appealing to buyers with higher expectations than the EcoSport can currently deliver.

It seems Ford want the EcoSport to be more like a Fiesta SUV, so they’re planning to drop the rear-mounted spare wheel (although you can still have it if you want), play with the EcoSport’s suspension and fit plastics to the interior that don’t look and feel like recycled washing-up bottles.

The changes to the EcoSport are due to arrive in May 2015, but will they be enough to help the EcoSport gain sales against the (cheaper) Captur and 208?