Ford EcoSport

Overview

The American automaker Ford has given a new lease of life to its compact SUV EcoSport in the form of latest version. This is the car which turned the fortunes for the brand when it was first launched in the Indian market in 2013. The new Ford EcoSport is a refreshed version of the four-year old vehicle with a bunch of changes at exteriors, interiors and under the hood.

Ford has entirely revamped the front of the new EcoSport with main highlights including projector headlamps with LED DRLs, large grille and refreshed bumper design to give it a muscular look. Turn around a little and you will find new 17-inch alloy wheels while the rear has been given mild touches on the bumper. Rest the practical aspect of the car remains unchanged.

The insides of the car have been seriously worked upon by the automaker following customer feedbacks. The dashboard now looks clutter free and convenient as compared to the earlier model. The company has answered the call of the customers by giving an all-black theme to the cabin. The new additions also include instrument cluster with central display and the new steering wheel carried from the international model.

What’s more interesting is the inclusion of new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that also supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay along with Ford’s own SYNC3 technology. There are also 2 USB ports for charging the personal tech stuffs. Another area that has been rightly addressed by the company is the front and rear seats which are now more comfortable and supportive. And top of it, features like automatic headlamps, speed sensing auto door locks, rain sensing wiper, cruise control and strong cover of six airbags in the top end variant can satisfy the need of any road adventurer.

Under the hood, you will not find earlier 4-cylinder petrol unit, instead there is an all-new 1.5L 3-cylinder engine which produces 123PS and 150Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired to either 5-speed manual or new 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The diesel engine on the other hand, remains untouched with the 1.5L motor making 100PS and 205Nm of max torque mated to 5-speed manual transmission. In terms of fuel efficiency, the car remains on par with the competition. Where the petrol powered variant can deliver ARAI certified fuel efficiency of 17kmpl, diesel version can return excellent mileage of 23kmpl.

New Ford EcoSport price in India falls in the bracket of Rs. 7.67 lakhs and Rs. 11.20 lakhs, ex-showroom, New Delhi. While the compact SUV segment has been the most heated category, the key rivals of new EcoSport include Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Honda WR-V, Tata Nexon as well as arch-rival Renault Duster.

Interior

As you step inside the new Ford EcoSport, the very first thing that grabs your attention is the big touchscreen infotainment unit. The system integrates Ford’s SYNC3 connectivity and also features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The revised center console houses air-conditioning controls and two USB slots. The EcoSport gets an all-black dashboard while the seats too, are revised with better cushioning. The comfort offered in all the five seats is unrivalled in any other compact SUV. The 60-40 split rear seat enhances the space and comfort level further. As compared to its rivals, Ford EcoSport wins by a huge margin in terms of interior quality.
The steering in the new Ford EcoSport is as precise as ever and perfectly weight, it’s quite responsive and quick. The list of gadgetry is long that includes automatic climate control, glove box illumination, cruise control, rain sensing wipers and tyre pressure monitoring system.

Exterior

The new Ford EcoSport gets numerous refurbishments on the outside. The alterations include the revised fog lamps and indicators that now been combined into the large triangular housing. The front bonnet though has the same nice power bulge in the center. The car gets larger headlamps with projector along with new LED DRLs. EcoSport features new ford signature radiator grille finished with chrome. The rounded fog lamps in the earlier model have made way for the bigger units.
Coming to the side profile, the new design of the alloys makes a big difference and looks quite appealing. While, at the rear, the car gets few changes like new looks for the optional spare wheel cover and slightly revamped bumper design. Except for the front, there hasn’t been any significant change in the overall appearance.

Mileage Running Cost

The new Ford EcoSport claims to sip low. The 1.5L petrol delivers ARAI certified mileage figures of 17kmpl when paired with five-speed manual gearbox and 14.8kmpl when paired with 6-speed automatic transmission. It’s another 1.5L diesel engine mated to 5-speed manual gearbox returns 23kmpl of mileage.

Comfort Suspension

The suspension in the new Ford EcoSport has been softened a bit regarding the customer feedback asking for agiler ride. The layer of suppleness added in the suspension has greatly aided ride comfort. The car rides over bumps and potholes in a poised manner while the cabin is a quiet place to be in. So, the dynamics in the new EcoSport are sharp as before delivering an excellent combination of ride and handling.

Engine Performance

Mechanically, Ford EcoSport gets the much-needed upgrade over the period of four years. The biggest gem in all-new EcoSport crown is the revolutionary 1.5L three-pot petrol mill of the Dragon family. The powertrain can generate output of 120bhp and gives maximum torque of 150Nm. The engine comes mated to either 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic gearbox.
Its familiar 1.5L diesel engine, on the other hand, produces the output of 99bhp and yields the peak torque of 205Nm. The engine is paired with 5-speed manual transmission.

Braking Safety

The presence of Anti-lock braking system (ABS) along with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) balances the brake force in front and rear wheels that avoids the wheels from locking. So, one enjoys great control as well as stability if the car stops in a hurry. In the safety department, dual airbags and ABS with EBD are offered standard across the range while the top end model gets 6 airbags tech like tyre pressure monitoring system. Other safety features include hill launch assist, speed sensing auto door locks, Ford Mykey, Emergency Assist and traction control.