Ford has been singing praises of their compact SUV EcoSport with their award winning 1.0 EcoBoost petrol engine, and it came out with flying colours in our previous test. Fantastic car, job well done Ford! But it is its diesel brother which is gaining a sizeable chunk of sales. Be in no doubt that the 1.0 EcoBoost is the better car, but due to a slightly higher price tag and our acceptance of diesel vehicles over petrol versions, the diesel brother wins more favours. We spent a few days with the diesel variant and emerge as happy as we were with the petrol brother.
EXTERIORS
The EcoSport has powerful presence on the road. The looks instantly separate it from other sub-10 lakh cars. It looks big and imposing and you tend to take it for a much expensive vehicle than it actually is. The robust side skirts and flared wheel arches lend it a tough appeal. Aggression comes from the trapezoidal front grille and the rakish headlamps. Then are the distinctive alloys and the sharp shoulder line which lend a sporty appearance. As a complete package the EcoSport is a magnificent piece of design. Ford has successfully captured every detail that one would want in their next car.
INTERIORS
The best possible words that we would use for the interior would be ‘just right’. Everything that you need in a car is all there, and some. There is sufficient leg room and headroom for generously sized adults. You get a nice commanding view of the road ahead. The instrument cluster is very legible and the trip computer holds ample information. The Bluetooth connectivity option lets you pair your phone with the car and allows you to make calls comfortably on the move. The Microsoft SYNC application essentially lets you talk to the car and tell it what to do through voice recognition.
Particular praise goes to the climate control system which is incredible in cooling. It chills the cabin faster than cars priced way above this bracket. And then is the music system which is good enough to win praises from music aficionados for its clarity and depth. One tiny problem was that the seats are a bit hard. Long journeys might become a bit uncomfortable for taller passengers due to less thigh support.
POWER AND PERFORMANCE
This 1.5 litre diesel engine is the same that performs duty on the Fiesta, and we all know that is a pretty good unit. Ford has worked a wee bit to squeeze more power out of it, but it is very unlikely anybody will notice. You get nearly 90bhp of power available and a healthy torque figure of 204Nm to play around with. The gearbox is slick and effortless. The 150kmph mark was achieved quiet easily. Under traffic conditions, and believe us Delhi is one of the worst at rush hour, the EcoSport behaved calmly and kept us comfortable. The high driving position gives you a better idea of the cars dimensions. Yes, you might just step in and complain that you cannot see the bonnet, but with a bit of practice it all fits perfectly.
The steering is very light and responsive. And that gets coupled with the soft suspension to give passengers a comfortable ride, isolating every road imperfection. The downside of this combination comes in the form of a bouncy ride on some roads and a steering that lacks feel. But again that is a very deep observation and most of the customers will not even notice this. However there is just one problem that they will notice that are the weak head lamps. The spread is decent but the illumination is just not up to the mark.
At the end of the day a car is what it makes you feel, and you feel amazing in the EcoSport. It looks great, handles well, comes with all the toys imaginable and has a decent engine. Then there is the fuel efficiency, which we reckon will range between 16-18kmpl under everyday driving conditions. In terms of practicality there is ample room in the cabin, plenty of clubby holes to keep things and you get big boot. Glorious Ford, the EcoSport is an ace of spades.
FORD ECOSPORT TITANIUM DIESEL SPECIFICATIONS
Engine
Transmission
Max Power
Max Torque
Ground Clearance
1498cc, 4-cylinder diesel
5-speed Manual
89.7 bhp@ 3750rpm
204 Nm@ 2000-2750rpm
200 mm
Suspension: Front/Rear
Brake: Front/ Rear
Fuel Tank Capacity
Tyres: Front/ Rear
Price
Independent McPherson strut/Semi-independent twist beam
Disc/Drum
52 litres
205/60 R16
Rs.7,73,000
(on-road, Delhi)
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