Ford EcoBoost engines: what are they and should you buy one? | Carbuyer (2024)

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The cost of living crisis and increased awareness of global climate change have given motorists plenty to think about when choosing their next car. When it comes to going green and keeping costs in check, hybrid and electric models are hard to beat, but advanced petrol engines shouldn’t be forgotten. Ford’s EcoBoost units are small, turbocharged petrol engines that can deliver low costs and decent fuel economy for a lot less than you’ll pay for an EV.

For lots of buyers hi-tech plug-in machines still don’t make sense. Not only are they expensive to buy, when it comes to pure electric vehicles the issue of charging and driving range makes them an impractical choice for many. Moreover, the continued development of the internal combustion engine means that there’s still life in traditional petrol engines yet, Ford’s EcoBoost units lead the way with their winning blend of power and efficiency.

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Making its debut in 2010, EcoBoost technology aimed to combine the performance and muscle of a big large-capacity engine with the low running costs of something much smaller. Applied to everything from pint-sized three-cylinder units to bigger V6 motors, these engines use cutting-edge technology to help owners essentially have their cake and eat it when it comes to eager acceleration and penny-pinching fuel efficiency.

The EcoBoost’s popularity with buyers has been further increased by the steady decline in diesel sales, following the fallout from the VW dieselgate scandal and increased awareness of some of diesel's problematic pollutants. In fact, with the latest generation of EcoBoost units, many buyers are able to achieve diesel-like fuel economy and torque with the traditional petrol engine strengths of smoothness and refinement.

However, it’s worth bearing in mind that while the EcoBoost name is unique to Ford, the technology that underpins it is not bespoke. In fact, the combination of direct injection and turbocharging that allows these engines to combine strong performance and economy is similar to that used in many of the Blue Oval’s rivals, such as Volkswagen’s TSI (Turbo Stratified Injection) units.

What are the benefits of Ford EcoBoost?

Ford likes to explain EcoBoost by splitting the name into its two constituent parts. ‘Eco’ refers to the exceptional fuel economy and reduction in CO2 emissions, while ‘Boost’ refers to the unit’s power and performance potential. The two qualities are combined into a single powertrain package that offers both efficiency and eager acceleration. Ford has achieved this by using two specific technologies.

Delivering the first part of the equation – improved economy – is the direct fuel injection system that dispenses with a traditional intake manifold and sprays a precisely measured and shaped jet of atomised petrol into each cylinder at exactly the right moment in the combustion cycle. With extremely efficient combustion, it’s possible to reduce the amount of fuel required in any driving cycle, giving EcoBoost-equipped cars the potential to return impressive economy figures.

But drivers want flexibility and performance too, and it’s turbochargers that put the boost into EcoBoost engines. These increase the performance levels to the point where a 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine can not only reproduce the driving characteristic of a larger 1.6-litre, but actually improve on them. That’s because fitting a turbocharger means more torque – or pulling power – is available right across the rev range, which makes an EcoBoost car feel more flexible in everyday driving. By using otherwise wasted exhaust gases to drive a turbine that pushed more air into the engine for more powerful combustion, a turbocharger effectively increases the swept capacity of any motor.

Which Ford models offer EcoBoost engines?

You can now find EcoBoost engines in pretty much every Ford, from the now discontinued Fiesta supermini (although you can still buy the car from stock) to the Tourneo Custom passenger van and the muscular Ford Mustang performance flagship. The smallest EcoBoost petrol engine – a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder unit – is by far and away the most popular, with the base 98bhp version available in the entry-level Fiesta Trend and the rugged Fiesta Active. A more powerful 123bhp version of the same engine can be specced in the Puma, Focus and EcoSport, with the latter also getting a 138bhp version.

Ford's hot hatchback line-up is also powered by EcoBoost petrol engines, with a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine powering both the Fiesta ST and the new Puma ST, while the larger Focus ST is powered by a 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine. Perhaps the most extreme current example of the EcoBoost is the 288bhp 3.0-litre V6 that’s used in the wild Range Raptor pick-up truck sold in markets like the US. Yet even this seems mild compared to the 647bhp 3.5-litre V6 EcoBoost that was used in the Ford GT, which was effectively a thinly disguised Le Mans racer for the road.

Ford EcoBoost mild-hybrid

Ford also offers a variant of its turbocharged 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine fitted with mild-hybrid electrical assistance. It’s available in both 123bhp and 153bhp power outputs across the Puma andFocusmodel ranges.

Based on the 1.0-litre internal combustion engine (ICE), it uses a belt-driven starter-generator system that harvests energy normally lost during braking and coasting (known as regenerative braking) into a small battery. This recuperated energy is then used to improve the efficiency of the stop-start system and provides a small boost in power to help take the strain off the petrol engine during normal driving and under acceleration. The result is improvements in fuel economy, emissions and performance.

Are there any known Ford EcoBoost problems?

The first three-cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost was born in 2012 and made its debut under the bonnet of the Ford Focus. This means the carmaker has had years to perfect the technology, which has now been fitted to millions of engines. It’s pretty mainstream technology at this point, which means it’s well run-in – there’s certainly no reason to fear undue breakdown or reliability issues.

A couple of high-profile recalls for EcoBoost cars issued in 2018 may sound alarm bells, but the truth is the faults were not specifically related to the EcoBoost tech. A Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost recall referred to a nylon pipe potentially overheating in the cooling system, while a potentially more serious fault in the cylinder head of 1.6-litre EcoBoost engines again isn’t directly related to EcoBoost tech.

Early examples of the 1.0-litre three-cylinder were also prone to head gasket leaks and even complete engine failure. However, the design faults that led to these problems were quickly addressed, with many of the cars affected receiving repairs and improved parts under warranty - so if an older example hasn’t failed due to a manufacturing problem by now, then it’s probably unlikely to.

In 2024 a recall was launched for more than 130,000 Ford Focus and Ford EcoSport vehicles sold in Northern America, related to an issue where the engine could suffer a loss of oil pressure following a fault with the belt system driving the oil pump. No action has been announced for UK cars yet, so we’ll report back if this also affects European versions of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine.

One potential issue facing buyers looking to make the switch to an EcoBoost car is that the quoted fuel economy figures in the real world can vary. The turbocharger on an EcoBoost engine delivers punchy performance and if you’re tempted to use that performance often, the fuel economy advantages will start to disappear.

How long will an EcoBoost engine last?

As with all mainstream engines, EcoBoost engines have been designed to last. They should easily clock 80,000-100,000 miles with little need for repair, so long as the vehicle is regularly and properly serviced. In fact, take a quick look through the second hand classifieds and you’ll find many examples of EcoBoost-powered Fords that have racked up in excess of 150,000 miles.

Want to know how the EcoBoost engine compares to its rivals? Read our list of themost economical family cars