Ford Ecosport

Inside the cabin, it is quite unorthodox. The all-black looks fascinating though, which gets decked up with silver accents. For the current version, there are minor alterations done to the centre console, instrument panel, and the dashboard. Otherwise, it looks similar to the outgoing model. The dark shade somewhat makes it look a little more compact than it really is. However, its taller body and spacious cabin make it up for a comfortable ride for both, the driver as well as for the passengers. The headroom isn’t a matter of concern so is the legroom, EcoSport offers it generously. Additionally, its higher seating position gives you a sense of driving a full-size SUV. The SYNC3 infotainment system comes with a touchscreen that makes it easy to manage while you are on the go. It is integrated with facilities like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and GPS navigation. It can also help you control the climate inside the car when beating the sun’ scorching heat is the only worry for you. The entertainment system offers support for MP3/AUX-in/USB/iPod/AM/FM too. On the storage front, it gets multiple bottle holders and spaces at the console for your knicks and knacks along with a cooled glovebox and around 20 storage compartments. It sports a generous max cargo space of 705 litres which is one of the best in the segment.

The styling of Ford EcoSport has always been impressive and it is one of the hot reasons for its immense popularity in the international markets. With a few design tweaks on its exteriors, Ford has kept things familiar for the EcoSport. It continues to feature an aggressive front fascia with a bigger front grille and associated horizontal bars, a small air dam for a bolder look and the fog lights which are more pronounced than before. The headlamps have gone a bit longer on the new edition of the compact SUV. The squat bonnet design and prominent character lines across the body make it look even more attractive. At the rear, minor updates are noticeable too including a restyled bumper, taillights, and the spare tyre carrier. Suspension duties are handled by independent McPherson Strut with coil spring at the front while at the rear it is equipped with a semi-independent twist beam with gas and oil-filled shock absorbers. The EcoSport Ambiente comes with a 15-inch steel wheel with 195/65 R15 tyres while the higher variants, Trend, and Titanium run on 16-inch alloy wheels that are shod with 205/60 R16 section tyres. It gets a ground clearance of 200mm which is generous enough to keep away the rough patches, potholes, and bumps.  

Powering the EcoSport is the 1.5-litre Ti-VCT, an in-line four-cylinder engine that churns out a max power of 110 PS at 6300 rpm and a peak torque of 142 Nm at 4500 rpm, mated to either 5-speed manual or 6-speed Powershift automatic transmission system. It returns an expected fuel economy of 12 to 14 kmpl. It gets EPAS (Electric power-assist steering) with  Pull-Drift Compensation for a stable ride and responsive character. The steering adjusts itself to being lighter in city traffic and a lot heavier at high speeds for better control.

The Ford EcoSport comes with a full suite of safety features that helps you and others in the car feel safe at all times. It gets features like traction control and electronic stability program (ESP) that grants excellent control in corners. It comes with dual front airbags, ABS (Anti-lock braking system), ESC (electronic stability control) and the HLA (Hill Launch Assist). The rear parking sensors are part of the EcoSport Titanium’s offering list while ISOFIX is consistent with all the variants. The structure is made up of high-strength boron steel, which being lightweight, is four times stronger than the usual high-strength steel.

If you are looking for a high seating position with utmost safety features and comfortable ride, EcoSport will tick mark most of the boxes. If you are not a fan of the dark-themed interior, the EcoSport might not appeal to you much.