Ford EcoSport Overview
The Ford EcoSport is the company’s best bet in the crossover segment and has been close to legendary when it comes to the sales ranking. The Indian-spec model of the car is distinctly different, just like the new Ford EcoSport images suggest. It has a tailgate-mounted spare wheel, which many other countries do not getThe Ford EcoSport 2017 is built to be muscular in appearance and gets all the essentials which make it competitive despite the continuous rise in the number of cars being launched in the segment. The salient traits of the SUV crossover lie in its physical and the EcoBoost engine, which take it into the league of full-sized 5-seater SUVs like the Hyundai Creta.Considering the domestic market, the Ford EcoSport price has been very competitive since it was launched for the first time. It is available with both the fuel options – petrol and diesel. Book a test drive for Ecosport in Tryaldrive
Ford EcoSport Design & Style
Changes to the face of this EcoSport S as compared to the standard car include a gloss black grille, blacked out fog lamp bezels and HID head lamps. The top has been trimmed out in full black while a sun roof (or fun roof as Ford calls it) has been added to this version. As a part of the S design package you also get these lovely looking diamond cut R17 alloy wheels and at the rear, a very sporty looking S badge. The large wheels in combination with forward leaning stance and blacked out elements on the fascia give the car an aggressive and angry look, something that really enhances the overall sporty feel of the car.
Ford EcoSport Cabin & Comfort
Ford EcoSport Inside, it is equally sporty, with black dominating the interiors along with orange inserts on the doors and centre console; the seats get orange stitching and highlights. The instrument cluster now features chrome rings for the dials and also a new LCD MID screen, but the highlight of the interior is the all-important electric sunroof.
Infotainment-wise, you get the same 8-inch touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Ford’s SYNC3 command system, but exclusive to the S is a tyre pressure monitoring system (this, like a few other features, was earlier available on the Titanium+ until it got a mild de-spec). Other aesthetic additions include alloy pedals which further add to the sporty visuals. The rest of the interior, though, remains the same as on the Titanium+ spec; in other words, it carries forward the part-leather seats, cruise control, ambient lighting and safety equipment such as six airbags, brake assist, stability control and hill hold assist as well.
Ford EcoSport Engine & Gearbox
While, the diesel is Ford’s familiar 1.5-litre four-cylinder motor, it’s the petrol engine that we are interested in as this is Ford’s award winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine. This is not a new engine but rather, it’s making a comeback for this generation of the compact SUV. It’s a three-cylinder turbocharged motor and produces 123bhp@6000rpm and 170Nm@1500rpm and for the first time, it is being offered with a six-speed manual gearbox.One of the main purposes of a low capacity turbocharged petrol engine is to offer even performance over a larger range and that is exactly what this EcoBoost motor does. It pulls linearly from as low as 1500rpm with a mild but noticeable boost at around 2000rpm. There’s a constant (and linear) build up to the 4000rpm mark after which the push starts to taper off. It’s not the most refined engine and you do feel the unbalanced thrum commonly associated with three-cylinder motors, but far lesser than before as Ford has upped the quality of NVH insulation.
Ford has managed to efficiently space out this power and torque with the six-speed gearbox that it has mated to this engine and this is visible in the fact that you can do 100kmph in sixth gear at as low as 2200rpm. This means pottering around at city speeds or lower won’t have you reaching for the gearbox constantly to keep the engine in the meat of its ability. That being said, the shifts themselves don’t feel slick and you do have to put in some extra effort to shift the cogs. Even the clutch feels unusually heavy for a small petrol powered vehicle.But on these ‘lesser travelled roads’ the ride quality was felt to be on the stiffer side. This, we felt, was due to the larger wheels and low profile tyres. This Edition S EcoSport runs a 205/70 R17 setup while the standard car gets a 205/60 R16 combo
Ford EcoSport Ride & Handling
The new six-speed transmission offers smooth shifts thanks to the gears being well-spaced. The additional gear further helps while cruising on the highways. You can set the cruise control at 100kph and sit at 2400rpm all along, if you like. The brakes are nice and sharp, too, and although the bite is strong, it is linear and there is no sign of a head-nod every time you dab them. The new version is clearly more driver-focused, which makes steering feedback and feel very important. Well, like a majority of Fords, the EcoSport works just fine, too. It has a good heft to it and in the corners it is consistent and offers decent feedback. Grip levels are impressive as well although there is a hint of understeer if you really push it into a corner. The suspension, too, is on the firmer side which translates to excellent high-speed stability but results in a bumpy ride at almost all speeds. Bumps and broken roads aren’t filtered as well as by the competition and some of this also has to do with the fact that the S version gets bigger alloy wheels with smaller profile tyres.
Ford EcoSport Safety & Security
Ford offers two safety airbags for the driver and front passenger and ABS with EBD (electronic brake-force distribution) as standard across all the variants. Other standard features include a seat belt warning system and child seat anchor point. The fully-loaded Titanium Plus gets six airbags, Brake Assist, ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), Hill Hold Control and Traction Control System. It even gets rear parking sensors and a camera. it carries forward the part-leather seats, cruise control, ambient lighting and safety equipment such as six airbags, brake assist, stability control and hill hold assist as well.
Ford EcoSport Cost in Bangalore
Ford Ecosport Ex-Showroom Price in Bangalore ranges from 7,14,384/- (EcoSport 1.5 TIVCT Petrol Ambiente) to 10,71,300/- (EcoSport 1.5 Diesel Platinum Edition). Get best offers for Ford Ecosport from Ford Dealers in Bangalore. Check for Ecosport price in Bangalore at Carzprice
Ford EcoSport Conclusion
Selling a product on USPs seems to be the mantra and in the case of the EcoSport, you could term this Edition S a full luxury cruiser sitting at the top of the food chain. It’s now extremely stylish, loaded with features worthy of car in this price bracket and now with this EcoBoost engine and six-speed combo, is quite good fun to drive. However, there’s no getting away from the fact that the cabin is not very spacious and is best suited for four occupants.The petrol powered Ford EcoSport S has been priced at Rs 11.37 lakhs while diesel version is priced at Rs 11.89 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi). At this price range, the EcoSport has moved well beyond its compact SUV rivals and now takes on specific variants of the C-segment sedans like the Honda City, Hyundai Verna. Then there are also the entry-level versions of the Hyundai Creta, Renault Duster as well as the Nissan Terrano.