Going Green: America's Most Cash-laden Utility Vehicle Is the Base Ford EcoSport

Lovers of low-rent vehicles bemoaned Ford’s decision to cull its small-car herd, shedding tears at the loss of the Fiesta and Focus, and no doubt choking back a few sobs at the impending loss of the midsize Fusion sedan. Finding a five-passenger vehicle priced below $20,000 is rapidly becoming a thing of the past, they cried.

Indeed, the supply of low-cost cars is shrinking, though Nissan seems to tuned in to the laments of penny-pinching shoppers. Over at Ford, the discontinuation of the Fiesta and Focus means the three-cylinder, front-drive EcoSport S — a subcompact Indian import we’ve, um, mentioned on this website in the past — is the only Blue Oval ride with an MSRP south of $20k, though adding a destination charge pole-vaults it over that threshold.

Before incentives, that is.

For lessees, the pint-sized three-banger arrives with a hood crumpled from bearing the weight of so much customer cash, earning it a mention by JATO Dynamics as being the most discounted utility in the country.

As of August 20th, the best open cash offer for SUVs can be found on the 2019 @Ford EcoSport S Crossover FWD (19.75% to 23.30% discount depending on the state). This vehicle is the best offer throughout the entire United States. pic.twitter.com/K8DpAgqRxi

— JATO Dynamics N.A. (@JATODynamics_NA) August 27, 2019

The EcoSport S, powered by that busy 1.0-liter, carries an MSRP of $19,995, plus a $1,095 destination charge and $645 acquisition fee, bringing the total to $21,735. Any takers? Not to worry.

Using a Detroit ZIP code for our shopping excursion, we can see that through September 30th, Ford has a $4,000 Red Carpet Lease incentive on offer, as well as $500 bonus cash that runs out on September 3rd. Subtracting the cash brings your base EcoSport to $17,235, or a monthly lease payment of $200 for a 36-month term with $2,020 due at signing. Depending on where you live, the discount could be a little more or a little less.

This same offer is available on the better equipped SE, which rings in at $20,390 after all is said and done, as well as the Titanium model ($23,400) and top-slight SES ($24,515).

In comparison, the front-drive-only Nissan Kicks, which wowed everyone with its low entry price upon launch, offers just $500 cashback for the financing crowd. Boasting one extra cylinder under its hood, a base Kicks S retails for $19,195 after destination, but those looking for a 36-month lease can expect a monthly bill of $322 with the same amount due at signing. The wee Ford clearly has an…edge.

First appearing on our shores in January of last year, the EcoSport earned no shortage of jibes for its cramped interior and side-hinged rear gate. Hoping to fill the subcompact space in a hurry, Ford brought over a model that had already been on sale in India for several years. And yet the thing sells. Certainly, $4,500 off is food for thought among those thinking of a lease.

Over the first half of 2019, Ford unloaded 34,384 EcoSports — just below the 35,839 Kicks recorded by Nissan and well above the 25,811 C-HRs drawn from Toyota lots. Honda and General Motors have more to boast about in this segment, however. Honda recorded 45,179 sales of its aging HR-V in the first half, while the Chevrolet Trax and its Buick Encore sibling made for a combined 95,265 sales.

[Image: Ford]