Review of the Ford EcoSport for sale in South Africa in 2020

The Ford EcoSport was the first of its kind in the highly affordable crossover segment when it was launched in 2013. With this, the EcoSport sold close to 1 000 units in a few months, making it the top-selling vehicle across the entire market. This helped the EcoSport jump the gun on the crossover market.

With that being said, the market has become tougher with more prominent brands launching their own version of the crossover segment in recent years. Ford has now launched its latest version of the EcoSport, and we are here to have a look at what’s new and if it’s still on top of its game.

What is new with the Ford EcoSport?1

The new Ford EcoSport range still has the Ambiente, Trend and Titanium versions. The 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine has now been built into the bottom of the range Ambiente model with a 5-speed manual gearbox. The Ambiente model is currently only sourced in India, and the Trend and Titanium models are now sourced from Romania’s Ford plant. The Trend and Titanium EcoSport models now feature the popular 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine.

The EcoSport’s interior has been significantly improved, with the Trend and Titanium model’s infotainment systems having Sync 3 interface, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The EcoSport Titanium model has a larger touchscreen and has navigation as a standard feature.

The safety features on the EcoSport have also been improved, which now rank it as one of the safest cars in its segment. Stability control is now a standard feature across the EcoSport range. The Ambiente model comes with six airbags and the Trend, and Titanium models come with seven airbags.

Is the new 1.0-litre engine enough for the EcoSport? 1

The 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine is more than sufficient for the EcoSport. The 1.0-litre motor has managed to win the ‘Engine of the Year’ award six times in its class. The power output for the 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo-petrol motor is 92kW and 170Nm of torque. It is fitted with a new torque converter 6-speed automatic gearbox which is better suited to this engine than the previous dual-clutch gearbox. The drive is much better on highways making overtaking a breeze.

When it comes to the EcoSport’s fuel consumption, Ford claims a 6.3L / 100km. This is reasonable for most motorists’ pockets.

When it comes to off-roading, the little turbo gives enough punt to climb even steep inclines.

Overall, the 3-cylinder engine is quite sufficient to get the EcoSport around.

How spacious is the Ford EcoSport? 1

The Ford EcoSport is based on the Fiesta, which doesn’t leave too much space, as one would think that the EcoSport would have to be a mini SUV/ crossover. The boot capacity is at 333-litres and has a 2-tier system with the bay floor, where you can raise it to hide valuables. The rear passenger legroom is enough for the average adult, but width-wise might become an issue with only being able to fit two adults comfortably. The Ford EcoSport may be better marketed for younger families with smaller children.

The spare wheel is still mounted on the tailgate of the EcoSport, providing you with a full-size spare and this also helps provide more luggage space in the boot.

The interior of the EcoSport has also improved with the seats being more comfortable with soft touch panels. The dash has a fair amount of plastic, but still leaves a quality look and feel. There are 2 USB ports, and the Titanium model comes with an armrest/centre console storage compartment.

How much does the Ford EcoSport cost? 1

The bottom of the range Ambiente model starts at R 271 500 with the top of the range Titanium Model coming in at R 360 900. All models come with a 4-year/120 000 km warranty and a 4-year/60 000 km service plan.

Sources:

1. 1. Cars.co.za – Ford EcoSport (2018) Launch Review