2017 Ford EcoSport Review
Car Tested: 2017 Ford EcoSport; Road Test No. 871; Test Location: Goa
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 8.46 – 12.93 lakhs
The Ford EcoSport is a very good all-rounder and a strong contender in the compact SUV segment in India
The Ford EcoSport was launched in 2013 and fetched extremely good sales for its maker. It enjoyed a good run in the market until newer rivals like the Maruti Vitara Brezza came and stole the limelight. Recently, Tata Motors impressed us with the Nexon but competition in this segment is all set to get even more hotter thanks to Ford who is dropping the bomb with the new EcoSport that gets a lot of changes in this mid-life facelift.
Motor Quest: The Ford EcoSport got a facelift in global markets recently too. However, Ford removed the tail-gate mounted spare wheel in the European version of the EcoSport but thankfully they decided to retain it in the Indian version based on feedback.
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There are very few changes to the side and rear
Exteriors – As it is with facelifts, the new EcoSport gets a revised front fascia with muscular and sporty elements. The side and rear profile remain more or less identical to the previous car save for the new alloy wheels and the newly designed tail-gate mounted spare wheel cover. The front gets a new and sharp hexagonal grille, the headlamps see a minor tweak in design and now feature projector units with LED DRLs. The fog lamps get a new design and aren’t the round ones like before. The Titanium S variant gets black detailing in the headlamps, alloy wheels, roof panel and roof rails.
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The cabin feels much more upmarket with the new styling
Interiors – Now, this is where the EcoSport felt dated and Ford has addressed this issue. The dashboard layout is entirely new and so are the steering wheel, aircon vents and the instrument console with the multi-information display. The centre console and the door pads get orange finishing that breathes freshness into the cabin. There is an 8-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on offer. The new touchscreen is super responsive and also feels very smooth to use. The steering wheel houses controls for the infotainment system and cruise control etc. The quality of materials used inside the cabin is just impeccable.
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Space at the rear is limited but comfort is very good
The interiors are well-built and quality is also good; EcoSport gets a lot of features
The EcoSport gets all-new seats at the front and these are far more comfortable and supportive. The cushioning has been made softer too. At the rear, space is still limited and it is a difficult task to make 3 people sit. Knee room is less while head room is good and shoulder space is good enough too if only two passengers are sitting. However, the rear seat is still very comfortable and provides good support to the body.
