Sharper handling, more refined and better-looking. Still a bit rough around the edges, mind, but now good enough to be a class contender An updated version of the Ford Ecosport: more fresh metal for the supermini SUV market, which has gone from conception to remarkably complex maturity in just five years.This is the segment that sprang into life with the Nissan Juke in 2010 and, before the end of that year, was joined by the Mini Countryman and Dacia Duster. Two years later came the Vauxhall Mokka, Peugeot 2008 and Renault Captur.Last year the Citroen Cactus bobbed endearingly up, and in 2015 there are new runners expected from Honda, Mazda, Fiat, Jeep and Ssangyong. Oh, and the VW Taigun is being readied for 2016.But don’t worry. If everyone reading this gets together on the Isle of Wight and shouts “when” in the general direction of Calais, perhaps the stampede will abate.If nothing else, it’s unquestionable proof that little crossovers are suddenly big business, and longtime UK car-market leader Ford can ill-afford to be without a good, strong horse in the race.Last year’s Ecosport, you may remember, was neither good nor strong. Our two-and-a-half star road test verdict caused a bit of a stir within the Blue Oval’s corridors of power, and Ford was quick to announce a thorough re-engineering program for European-market cars. We’ve driven the result.
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