Why was the Ford EcoSport discontinued?

[StDallas]

The following are the differences between the parking brake and engine brake: 1. In terms of nature: Engine braking utilizes the engine's braking effect by lifting the accelerator pedal without depressing the clutch, using the compression resistance, internal friction, and intake/exhaust resistance generated during the engine's compression stroke to create a braking effect on the drive wheels. The parking brake is commonly referred to as the handbrake. 2. In terms of characteristics: Engine braking means driving in gear without applying throttle, where the engine provides no traction to the vehicle. The parking brake exerts much less force than the service brake, only preventing the vehicle from rolling on slopes. 3. In terms of principle: Traditional handbrakes require the driver to manually release the brake or skillfully coordinate the throttle and clutch for smooth hill starts. Due to the presence of the transmission, engine braking varies with different gear ratios - higher gears have smaller reduction ratios.

[PeytonAnn]

I've been following the EcoSport since its launch in 2013. Back then, compact SUVs with spare tires were such a novelty. But after driving it for five years, I realized how outdated it had become: the 1.5L engine would roar even at full throttle when climbing hills, the archaic platform made the rear floor hump look like a small mountain, and the worst part was the infotainment system lacking even basic smartphone connectivity. The 2017 facelift only changed the front grille, while domestic brands were already rolling out L2 driving assistance. During one service visit, a technician quietly mentioned the factory had stopped supplying parts, and eventually, even the showroom display car was removed. Frankly, Ford just didn't invest in upgrading this model for the Chinese market. Nowadays, who would buy a car with hard plastic interiors and sluggish performance?

[SanPhoebe]

When I worked in sales at Changan Ford last year, I was constantly worried about clearing inventory. The monthly sales of the EcoSport dropped to triple digits, and the rebates from the manufacturer were even less than those for selling domestic cars. The most critical issue was that customer complaints were highly concentrated: the trunk couldn't close with a 28-inch suitcase inside, the dual-clutch transmission's low-speed jerking was flooded with complaints, not to mention the full range of halogen headlights being completely outmatched by competitors' LEDs. Our dealership replaced the display models with the Escape in 2019, and the dozens of EcoSports left in the warehouse were eventually sold to rental companies at a 30% discount. Simply put, joint venture cars get axed when they're not profitable—look at how Ford China is now betting all its resources on the Explorer and the Mustang Mach-E.

[GraceRose]

After a decade of studying the small SUV market, the discontinuation of the EcoSport essentially stems from its product failure. At the same price point, the CS35 PLUS offers a 360-degree panoramic camera, the HR-V features magic seats, while it doesn’t even have an electronic parking brake. The powertrain flaws are even more glaring: the 1.0T three-cylinder engine was outright rejected by customers, and the older 1.5L model’s fuel consumption surpassed competitors’ 1.5T engines. A teardown once revealed its underbody protection was inferior to an 80,000-yuan Geely, with its rear torsion beam making rear passengers bounce over speed bumps. After 2018, dealerships didn’t even stock test-drive vehicles—such a product being phased out is utterly unsurprising.