Ford EcoSport Review
Car Tested: 2013 Ford EcoSport
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 6.63 – 10.66 lakhs
The Ford EcoSport boasts of stylish exteriors and tons of features, it should be a hit on face value alone.
A new segment has emerged in India and is seeing tremendous growth. The compact SUV space has till now been dominated by Renault’s Duster but a new rival is on the horizon. You have probably seen the Ford EcoSport multiple times already as the American automaker unveiled the vehicle almost 18 months back at the 2012 Auto Expo. While the first generation Ford EcoSport was launched way back in 2003, the second gen model only went on sale last year (in Brazil). Localization has been the reason for the delay and the Ford EcoSport uses 70% local content, which will help the company in aggressive pricing of their Urban SUV. The EcoSport is the most ambitious project at Ford India and the company believes the EcoSport is a game changer for both Ford India and the Indian automobile industry. Ford assures us the EcoSport will be priced with a similar strategy as the Figo (aka value for money). The launch takes place next month and the American automaker will develop an insane number of variants for the export market. The wait has been very long but has it been worth it? We soak in some Goa sun and find out how Ford’s Urban SUV fares.
Exteriors – Ford has taken the size of its compact SUV too seriously and thus the EcoSport is really compact. With its under 4-metre length, the EcoSport is as long as a premium hatchback. One look and you instantly find the EcoSport tiny. However the tall dimensions and flared wheel arches give it good presence on the road. The production model almost resembles the concept version and the styling is quite aggressive. However the headlights have been changed on the production model and there are no LEDs. The wrap around headlights look mean with the laser cut appearance, while the round fog lights get chrome surrounds and jut out of the body. The front looks butch with the large hexagonal grille (very Audi like, after all J Mays has designed the EcoSport, who was earlier in Audi and worked on the original TT in 1994) being the most attractive part of the vehicle. The character lines on the bonnet flow smoothly and join the A-pillar, further extending to the rear of the car.
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Come to the side and the Ford EcoSport reveals its rather tiny proportions with the body lines moving upwards. The 15-inch wheels don’t do justice to the car but the top end variants get 16-inch wheels which fill the wheel arches quite well. The EcoSport gets pull out type door handles and rear view mirrors which have turn indicators on them. The 200 mm ground clearance gives the EcoSport quite a lot of SUV cred but it’s really the tailgate mounted spare wheel which shouts SUV. The wheels have been placed on the corner to give the EcoSport a planted feel even while standing still. While its close rivals also boast of a similar ground clearance, the EcoSport has the highest water wading capacity in its class (550 mm against the Duster’s 350 mm).
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Other SUV elements include roof rails, wraparound rear windscreen and black body cladding running on the lower side of the entire car (below the doors, forming lower part of the front bumper, lip spoiler and the entire rear bumper, thereby being cost effective while at the same visually pleasing). Ford says the design is very aerodynamic and has been wind tunnel tested for optimum efficiency (the co-efficient of drag is just 0.371 but weirdly the global EcoSport is more slippery at 0.365). Then there is the neatly integrated boot lid opener, inside the right rear tail lamp assembly. An integrated rear spoiler is also part of the package. The lower part of the rear bumper gets reflectors and reversing lamps. The position of the reverse lamps offers good rear illumination while reversing but won’t be easily visible to others. There are stoppers on the rear bumpers but there are no rear fog lamps. The exhaust has been hidden below the bumper on the right side and is not visible.
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The roof rails have some buttons on it, which we are told is for an after market net. The approach angle of 25 degrees and departure angle of 35 degrees means you can take the EcoSport on almost any road without worrying about scraping the underbody. However there is no engine guard, another cost cutting measure. Ford will offer a range of accessories for the EcoSport (there are 15 accessories including a side step). The design is certainly going to please young buyers but its more of a love it, hate it appearance. We are however certain that most people are going to be pleased by the EcoSport’s SUVish stance and exterior appeal. One glance and the muscular body panels will surely capture your senses.
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Indian vs Global EcoSport – Ford says the Indian and global EcoSport are identical in design. The company has made minor changes to duck the vehicle under the 4-metre length. This change is so minor, that when a Brazilian model is parked right next to the India version, one can’t make out any difference. This is because a very minor reduction has been made on the front bumper and thus all EcoSports sold globally are identical in dimensions to the Indian model. Some markets get a spare wheel cover, which will be offered as an accessory in India.
The EcoSport does stand out on the road and looks rich and poised, and its only the side profile which reveals the small proportions of this urban dweller.
Head over to the next page to read about the interiors of the Ford EcoSport.
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Interiors – The EcoSport might be compact on the outside, but it has generous interior space and getting in and out is easy thanks to its tall height. The vehicle is based on the Fiesta platform and thus the interiors too are very Fiesta like, albeit with some changes. The dashboard of the Ford EcoSport is quite big and has dual tone treatment of black and grey, with silver inserts around the AC vents and door handles. A blue display screen (it is red on the Fiesta) is placed on top of the center console which carries various vehicle data like audio system display and vehicle settings (speed alarm, etc). It also doubles up as a display for the rear parking sensors, showing a graphical view of the obstacle behind. The 3-spoke steering wheel too gets silver inserts and has audio controls with 5 buttons (next track, previous track, volume up and down and Sync speak button). Ford has ditched voice controls from the Fiesta and instead used SYNC in the EcoSport.
The instrument cluster is similar to the Fiesta with black background and white dials but now uses green backlit instead of red. The twin pod cluster gets the silver treatment too. It has blue needles for the speedometer and tachometer, which are clearly visible at all times of the day. The console has a multi-information display which shows a real time fuel efficiency graph which varies based on throttle inputs (the trip computer is operated using the left stalk). Other information displayed includes average fuel consumption, distance to empty and one trip needle (most cars offer 2 trip meters but even the Duster has 1 trip meter). The top end Titanium + variants are offered with a push button start placed on the left side of the steering wheel. Other variants use a key which is inserted in the usual position (below the right indicator stalk).
Climate control is offered on top variants and the AC chills really quickly and is simply fantastic like the Figo. Ford is introducing SYNC in the EcoSport, which is a voice control and connectivity system for mobile phones and music players (paried via Bluetooth). This system works quite efficiently and is made in collaboration with Microsoft. You can browse through your USB device or mobile phone for music and with the touch of a button on the steering wheel, you can give voice commands, by which you can make calls, read text messages, send text messages (only preset ones), change songs (can search songs on a USB device). However you can’t operate the AC using voice controls like in the Fiesta.
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The SYNC system is a step up over the Fiesta’s voice command system and is more intelligent thereby easily understanding your tone and dialect (it has increased voice recognition capabilities). The Ford EcoSport also debuts SYNC emergency assistance, which dials 108 handsfree in case an airbag is deployed or the fuel pump shut off is activated. One can cancel the call manually within 10 seconds of an accident. This service is offered free for the whole life of the vehicle. You also have a number pad on the center console to dial manually and the buttons are excessive and confusing.
The top-end model gets keyless entry and the car automatically unlocks if you have the key on you. Ford has offered 2 charging ports in the EcoSport, one placed in the centre console and the other placed on the right side edge of the rear seat. Quality levels inside the car are good with no panel gaps visible. However the level of fit leaves a lot to be desired from. The panels appear to be thinner and you can simply push things (like the door pad or the instrument cluster or even the fog lamps) and it moves quite a lot, feeling as if they would come off. The biggest eye sore is the not matching pad placed right in front of the gear lever, which looks like an after thought. Ford says it is aware about the issue and is working on resolving it. However production has already commenced and we hope that part is not carried onto the final model.
Even though the EcoSport is based on the Fiesta, there is good amount of interior room. The wheelbase has been extended and the cabin feels comfortable for four passengers (the vehicle isn’t too wide and the foot well is fairly large at the centre so three healthy passengers at the rear are a tight fit). The front seats are extremely supportive and offer excellent back support, thanks to the bucket like seats with wings on the side giving tremendous lateral support. Ford has hit the sweet spot with the seats, all of them offer good thigh support and are soft in the centre and firm at the sides. The driver seat also gets height adjustment and lumbar adjustment along with a steering wheel which is adjustable in both tilt and telescopic manner. The rear seat offers good legroom, thanks to the scooped out front seat back and deep footwell. Headroom is ample even for tall passengers and as you can see below, with the front seat adjusted to my driving position, there is good amount of legroom for a six foot plus passenger at the rear. The rear seat can be reclined in two phases for improved comfort. The driver gets a small arm rest but Ford should have also offered arm rests for front and rear seat passengers.
The Ford EcoSport has quite a lot of stowage places (20 of them). The front doors can hold two bottles each (a 1.5-litre and a 500 ml one) while the centre area (next to the hand brake) can hold another two. The glove box can hold six cans and has two sections for increased space. It also has an AC duct to keep your drinks chilled. Then there are card holders below the AC switches, a small toll receipt holder below the right most AC vent and a tray below the front passenger seat. You can even keep papers or files on the upper part of the dashboard which is scooped out. The sun visors are slightly small and the co-passenger one gets a manually activated light. There is a sunglasses holder in the top centre, right next to the front cabin lights (there are two of them). At the rear, there is a bottle holder in the centre, which is too small to hold a big bottle. There is a bottler holder on each rear door, which can easily hold a 1-litre bottle. There are 4-speakers inside the EcoSport and audio quality is truly phenomenal for a stock setup. Rear seat passengers share a common cabin light with the boot, which is placed in a way it illuminates both the rear seat and the boot.
The doors are quite heavy and sometimes require an effort to close. The silver door handles on the inside look kind of out of place to us. The boot door has an hydraulic connection, which either keeps the door closed completely or opened completely. The inside of the boot door is scooped for extra space. Ford has used high strength steel and ultra high tensile boron steel on the EcoSport, this helps in safety while at the same time keeps weight in check. Six airbags are offered on the top-end Titanium + variants, while the Titanium variants comes with two airbags. Due to six airbags, there are no grab handles for passengers. The EcoSport also comes with follow me home headlights, which remain on for 30 seconds after your lock the vehicle at night.
The Ford EcoSport has a very un-SUV like boot, which is quite small at just 346-litres. The rear tyres create a hump inside the boot, thereby limiting space even further. However the rear seats can be folded in 60:40 ratio which increases boot volume significantly. The rear seats stand right against the front seat back, offering a big flat storage area. There is a parcel shelf where you can keep small things but it will hamper the driver’s rear visibility. Front visibility is quite strong, the rear view mirrors are big and have convex and concave markings as well. The inside rear view mirror also offers good rear view visibility. The window between the C and D-pillar is extremely small which tells you the EcoSport is not really a big car.
Overall the interiors of the Ford EcoSport are a mixed bag, while quality is not the best and boot space is less, the EcoSport offers very good space and comfort, along with generous storage bins.
Head over to the next page to read about the performance of the Ford EcoSport.
The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is a revolution, it never feels like a 3-pot unit.
Performance – If you notice the pictures above, Ford has skipped on an engine cover. The company says that it rather give a feature which is visible than an engine cover which isn’t seen often. Clearly the EcoSport has gone under heavy cost cutting and even the wipers are single blade ones (the Fiesta has twin blade wipers). Powering the Ford EcoSport are three engines, the 1.5-litre Ti-VCT (mated to a 5-speed manual and 6-speed PowerShift gearbox), a 1.5-litre diesel (mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox) and a 1.0-litre EcoBoost perol engine (mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox). The 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines will be offered in all 4 variants (Ambiente, Trend, Titanium, Titanium +) but the EcoBoost engine will only be offered in the Titanium and Titanium + variants (in these variants the 1.5-litre petrol engine will be paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission). Ford gave us the 1.0-litre EcoBoost equipped EcoSport to drive at the event (the engine is imported from Romania), as this engine is very unique in India and offers 20% more mileage than a 1.6-litre petrol engine, while delivering same levels of performance. The ARAI claimed mileage is 18.9 km/l.
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The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is a three-cylinder unit and has low friction levels and a variable oil pump. It is so small in size that the engine bay looks completely empty. It can fit on a A4 sized paper and Ford has 125 patents to its credit for the EcoBoost technology. Get on to the driver seat and you will appreciate the high driving position which gives good all round visibility. Turn on the car and the EcoBoost engine shows its refinement with almost no vibrations. This engine has got the 2012 International Engine of the year award and it feels splendid right from start up. There is some bit of turbo lag till around 1600 RPM, post which the EcoBoost engine belts out strong performance. Once past 2000 RPM, it pulls strongly to its redline of around 6800 RPM. Power delivery is smooth and the EcoBoost engine doesn’t give a kick in the pants feel but is linear in terms of pull. 0-100 km/hr takes around 10.8 seconds, while the top speed is easily over 190 km/hr. One can cruise at 100 km/hr in top gear with the RPM needle hovering around the 2500 RPM mark.
The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine gives the EcoSport terrific performance, although there is a fair bit of vibrations through the pedals post 4500 RPM. With 125 PS of power, the EcoSport performs splendidly, we wonder what will happen with the diesel engined car, which is a good 34 PS down on power. Ford claims the EcoSport’s cabin is the quietest in its class and the company has used excessive sound deadening material. The company further claims one can have a civil conversation up to speeds of 130 km/hr without raising their voice. Yes the NVH levels are terrific and the cabin is well insulated from external noises (slight tyre and road noise creeps in at high speeds). The clutch is very light and gearshift is extremely smooth to operate with positive shifts.
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The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has set 16 land speed records recently and is simply an outstanding motor for its size. Clever engineering bits have resulted in the driver being clueless for the most part about the 3-cylinder layout, a layout often criticised for being high on vibrations due to its imbalanced nature. Reaching triple digit speeds on the EcoBoost powered EcoSport is very quick and in spite of being a lower displacement motor, it is throughly good with in-gear acceleration too. You simply don’t have to downshift often to get going. Even the sound from the motor is pleasing and Ford has deliberately tuned the exhaust to sound sporty.
EcoBoost engine terrific in performance but it is really the diesel engine which most Ford EcoSport buyers will prefer.
Head over to the next page to read about the dynamics of the Ford EcoSport.
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Driving Dynamics – The Ford EcoSport is a front-wheel drive vehicle and Ford might offer the car with 4-wheel drive in some markets, India is not one of them. There are absolutely no plans to bring in a 4-wheel drive EcoSport in India. The suspension system uses hydraulic shocks instead of mechanical ones along with hydraulic damping to prevent harshness. This results in a ride quality which is mostly excellent but tends to get a bit harsh over really bad roads. Ride comfort at the rear is very good too and there is no signs of being uncomfortable even at high speeds. The Ford EcoSport stays firmly glued to the road at all speeds and chassis balance is mind blowing.
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Ford says they have specially developed the tyres for the EcoSport (MRF ZV2K and Goodyear Assurance) and they have low rolling resistance to boost economy and lower road noise. While Ford have achieved both those objects, they have quite ruined the car’s fantastic dynamics. The tyres dont grip enough and tend to screech often on heavy braking or sharp cornering. Enthusiasts must switch to better quality tyres to truly exploit the dynamic capability of the EcoSport. Handling is sharp and turn-ins are quick, with the EcoSport showing almost no body roll at all. The electric steering offers 3% better efficiency and is extremely light at low speeds but weighs up decently at high speeds. We still found the steering slightly light at speed and it could have weighed up better, specially at centre position. There is pull drift compensation which corrects the steering wheel during cross winds or uneven roads but again the feedback is not as smashing as the Fiesta.
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Braking performance is excellent and there is very good pedal bite. However the tyres tend to screech on heavy braking and the nose tends to dive too. This is quite surprising since we were driving the EcoBoost engined car, which is by far the lightest of the EcoSports (the diesel engined model will be even more front heavy). There is emergency brake assist which increases brake pressure when you stand on the pedal (also activates hazard lights). The automatic variant of the EcoSport gets hill launch assist (holds the car for 3 seconds on an incline before disengaging the brakes). It also gets ESP.
Cost of Ownership – We don’t have spare part pricing for the EcoSport yet but the above chart shows prices for the new Fiesta (the EcoSport is higher on localisation so parts should be even cheaper). Ford has been increasing its attention to ownership and wants to delight customers with quick and affordable service. The EcoSport benefits from child parts strategy, where the focus is on repairing rather than replacing. There are child parts for door (instead of replacing the complete door, the company will replace the skin), alternator, starter motor, AC compressor, drive shaft, suspension, transmission, seat, bumper (3-piece unit), fuel filter and headlamps. This also helps in reducing insurance costs. The company says they have used durable components and offers the EcoSport with 2-years or 1-lakh kms standard warranty (can be extended by another 2-years or 1-lakh kms). Ford has 260 service centres in India and plans to increase it to 500 by the end of the decade. It also plans to open more Quick Lane outlets.
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The Ford EcoSport is stress free to drive and easy to manoeuvre, while at the same time has a very capable chassis to please the driver. Now it only needs a better set of rubber if you truly want to get close to the Fiesta driving experience.
Head over to the next page to read our verdict on the Ford EcoSport.
The Duster – So how does the Ford EcoSport compare against the Renault Duster? The Duster is visually bigger than the EcoSport and looks more an SUV, thanks to its wider body and massively flared wheel arches. The Duster has slightly more interior room and significantly more boot space. It also feels more solidly put together. The EcoSport is more tech savvy (has more equipment) with better driving dynamics to boot (mind you the difference between the dynamics of both cars is not much). Ford really needs to undercut the Duster as the French product is really impressive.
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Verdict – The Ford EcoSport is a terrific product but it’s no bigger than a hatchback in size, with quality which is average at best. As a package, the EcoSport is very pleasing and the aggressive price is bound to put the sales on fire for the American automobile giant. The EcoSport looks the part and ignites a special feeling as soon as you look at it. This further amplifies once you get behind the wheel, with dynamics being strong and delightful. There are a few shortcomings but nothing severe and the aggressive price by Ford makes you easily overlook them. The Ford EcoSport is terrific value and we definitely recommend it.
The Ford EcoSport looks smashing, drives well and offers quite a lot of equipment. Average quality and restricted space have been overcome with mouth watering pricing.
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What’s Cool
* Smashing exterior design
* Comfortable seats with good support and legroom
* Feature loaded
* Handling and ride balance
* EcoBoost engine performance and refinement
* Aggressive pricing
What’s Not So Cool
* Average interior quality
* Not wide enough for a fifth passenger
* Poor tyres
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2013 Ford EcoSport Specifications
* Engine: 999cc GTDI EcoBoost; 1499cc Ti-VCT petrol, 1498cc DV5 diesel
* Power: 125 PS @ 4200 RPM, 112 PS @ 6300 RPM; 91 PS @ 3750 RPM
* Torque: 170 Nm @ 1400-4500 RPM; 140 Nm @ 4400 RPM; 204 Nm @ 2000-2750 RPM
* 0-100 km/hr: 13.43 seconds (Diesel)
* Fuel Consumption: 18.9 km/l (EcoBoost); 15.8 km/l (1.5 Petrol MT), 15.6 km/l (1.5 Petrol AT); 22.7 km/l (1.5 Diesel)
* Tyres: 195/65/15, 205/60/16 Tubeless Radials
* Brakes: Ventilated Disc (Front), Drum (Rear), ABS
* Safety: ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, ESP, Hill Hold, Six Airbags, Parking Sensors
2013 Ford EcoSport Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 3999 mm X 1765 mm X 1708 mm
* Wheelbase: 2520 mm
* Front/Rear Track: 1519/1524 mm
* Ground clearance: 200 mm
* Turning Radius: 5.325-metres
* Boot Volume: 346-litres, 705-litres (with rear seats folded)
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 52-litres
* Kerb Weight: 1259 kgs (1L EcoBoost); 1241 kgs (1.5 P MT), 1268 kgs (1.5 P AT); 1290 kgs (1.5 D)
Further Reading –
2016 Ford EcoSport Video Review
Ford EcoSport Automatic Review
Ford EcoSport vs Mahindra TUV300 – Video
Ford EcoSport vs Renault Duster
Ford EcoSport vs Fiat Avventura
Renault Duster vs Ford EcoSport vs Nissan Terrano
Maruti S-Cross vs Ford EcoSport vs Renault Duster