Tata Nexon vs Ford EcoSport – Shootout

Shootout: Tata Nexon vs Ford EcoSport

Shootout No. 171

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 7.45 – 11.80 lakhs (Tata Nexon), Rs. 9.18 – Rs. 13.35 lakhs (Ford EcoSport)

Two compact SUVs – one offers comfort while the other is engaging to drive

One of the fastest growing segments in the 4-wheeler market today is the compact SUV segment with some excellent offerings available to consumers. The Maruti Vitara Brezza is the leader of the pack when it comes to sales, but apart from that, Tata offers the very promising Nexon which was launched last year after a lot of hoopla while Ford has recently given the EcoSport a major facelift. Since we have already compared the Nexon to the Vitara Brezza earlier, we now pit it directly against the Ford EcoSport.

Motor Quest: The Tata Nexon was showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo and was launched in September 2017. Meanwhile, the Ford EcoSport made its India debut at the 2012 Auto Expo and went to kickstart the sub-4-metre compact SUV segment in the country

Styling – When it comes to looks, the Nexon looks quite funky but the rear end has a quirky design element which may not be liked by everyone. The car also doesn’t look very big on the outside and can easily pass off as a hatchback on steroids. The EcoSport, on the other hand, looks quite butch in comparison and the refreshed version which we’re driving comes with a redesigned front fascia. So, when it comes to design both the cars appeal to a different set of audiences.

Interiors – Both the cars have a very practical interior and the dashboards of both the vehicles are user-friendly. The Ford’s instrument cluster is very basic though, while the Nexon gets a more stylish unit. In terms of materials, both the car have good quality components used. Fit and finish is also good in most areas but the Nexon has some rough areas too. The infotainment system on the Nexon is super when it comes to sound quality and is definitely a few notches above the one of the EcoSport. However, the unit on the EcoSport isn’t all that bad either and it produces decent enough sound. The screen on the EcoSport is very fluid and also gets a glossy finish while the one on the Nexon has a matte finish. Both the cars get Android Auto, reverse camera (but the one on the Nexon also shows adaptive guidelines), auto headlamps, auto wipers but the Nexon also gets rear AC vents which the EcoSport doesn’t get. The EcoSport is the only one to get Apple CarPlay here, the Nexon doesn’t have this feature yet.

Cabin of the Tata offers more comfort than the Ford plus there’s more space

Both cars come with practical cabins with plenty of storage bins, the premium car like storage next to the handbrake in the Nexon looks really nice while the EcoSport gets a sliding armrest with an integrated storage. All the doors of both the cars can easily swallow a 1-litre water bottle. The Nexon also gets an umbrella holder which although needs a bit of push and pull to use, is a nifty feature in the rains. Both cars come with projector headlights, LED DRLs, keyless go, push button start, steering mounted audio controls, ABS, dual airbags, alloy wheels, climate control AC and a touchscreen infotainment system.

The front seats on the EcoSport are excellent when it comes to support and comfort and lower back support is good while the seats on the Nexon get a softer cushioning. Lower back support on the Nexon could have been better and it becomes a slight cause of concern during long drives. The rear seat of the EcoSport is also very good but it lacks in knee room where the Nexon has an edge over its rival. Head room is decent on both cars, but slightly better in the EcoSport. However, none of these cars can seat 5 people in comfort. Both of them are good as 4 seaters only and you can probably squeeze in a child as the third passenger in the rear seat. The EcoSport’s boot (352-litres) is leagues ahead in terms of practicality because loading and unloading is easy while the Nexon (350-litres) also has a good enough luggage capacity.