Ford-"ecosport"

 The American transnational passenger car maker has finally launched the most anticipated Ford Ecosport SUV for the Indian SUV enthusiasts. This sub four meter SUV is being offered in a couple of petrol engine options along with a diesel mill as well. With this much awaited launch, the company has also introduced the revolutionary 1.0-litre Ecoboost petrol engine in the car market of the country. The other engine options are a 1.5-litre Ti-VCT petrol motor and the other a 1.5-litre TDCi diesel mill.Aimed at young, urban buyers looking for a little more than a hatchback and a little less than a traditional SUV, Ford EcoSport buyers will benefit massively owing to the vehicle's localised production which has made it extremely affordable.

Price tag of around Rs 5.9-6 lakh, which is much lower than Renault Duster's launch price of Rs 7.19 lakh. The high-end variants of the model are expected to be in the range of Rs 9 lakh. The aggressive pricing of Ford’s entry-level SUV is sure to challenge the dominance of already established players like Maruti and Hyundai and will set the tone for competitive pricing in the fast growing compact-SUV segment. Fitting perfectly in this segment, the EcoSport makes a good choice for the Indian consumers due its compact size, optimum ride height along with riding and handling of a sedan. The EcoSport was first unveiled in the concept form at the 2012 Auto Expo and is already on sale in Brazil and China. The potential of the steadily growing segment is immense and is already evident with the rising popularity of Renault Duster. Even other carmakers like Honda (with their new Earth Dreams diesel engine), Nissan, Hyundai and Chevrolet, are aggressively planning to tap into the segment with their new offerings. With EcoSport, the company is keen on replicating the success of the Figo, which had undercut Maruti Swift’s prices by a handsome margin.
 
 This SUV has been bestowed with the highly advanced 'Sync' technology, which enables calls through Bluetooth by voice commands along with other actions such as read out text messages, browse and play music tracks as well. The 'Emergency Assist' (that automatically connects your phone to the emergency number 108 with no third party call centre. The car provides latitude and longitude of the location and then opens the line for you to talk to 108), which gets activated with a crash. Overall, the EcoSport is a neat package.


The dashboard design is similar to that of the Fiesta (the newer one, not the Classic) and if you’re talking about features, be rest assured that you have pretty much everything that you’d desire. In terms of safety, you get six airbags and ABS. Space in the cabin is adequate for four and five will be a squeeze.

Positive

• Snazzy, futuristic styling makes the EcoSport a head-turner. Solid construction too
• 3 engine options, including the impressive 1.0L EcoBoost & economical 1.5L Diesel
• Loaded to the gills with technology & equipment (SYNC, keyless entry & go, cooled glovebox, leather seats, parking display...)
• Smartly packaged interior. Adequate space for 4 adults. Lots of storage and practical features
• Dynamically sorted. Competent handling by SUV standards
• City-friendly! Great ergonomics, driving position, manoeuvrability and size for urban India
• Safety kit includes 6 Airbags, ABS + EBD, Emergency assistance phone call, Emergency brake warning etc. AT variant gets ESP and Hill-Hold

Negative

• Hyundai-esque light electric steering on the Highway
• Ride quality isn't as plush as that of the Renault Duster. Underlying stiffness obvious
• 362 liter boot is significantly smaller than all competitors
• Narrow cabin width makes a 5th occupant unwelcome. Best for 4 onboard
• Sub-4 meter size and compact dimensions take street cred away
• Tree trunk thick A-Pillars result in severe blind spots

• EcoBoost only on top variant. No high-powered diesel like the Duster 110PS