The need for a cross-over car class appeared when people needed a car that could tackle unpaved or bad roads.
Thus, Ford of Brazil launched the first EcoSport in 2003.

To make the car cheaper to build, the engineers from Ford of Brazil took whatever they could from Ford’s parts inventory. They found the Fiesta MKV platform (Ford B3 platform) as the best choice. In Europe, that was used for the little Ford Fusion. In Europe, the Fusion was a completely different car than in the U.S. So, they took most of the car, but changed the rear and installed new engine options.

Inside, the 2004 Ford EcoSport featured minimalist functions, to keep the car price low. It could feature an air-conditioning system, central locking, power steering and brakes, ABS, and power windows. For the braking system, the EcoSport relies on front disc brakes and rear drums.

The engine choices for the EcoSport varied from a small but fuel-efficient 1.0-liter gasoline up to a powerful 2.0-liter. There also was a 1.4-liter TDCI (diesel) engine, available for some markets. It was based on the same unit available in Europe, a joint-venture development between Ford and PSA (Peugeot-Citroen group).

In 2007, the Ford EcoSport has received a mid-life cycle update and it lost its base 1.0-liter version and the gasoline/methanol 1.6-liter unit was the replacement base engine.