Jun 27, 2013 03:15 PM
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The Ford Ecosport is totally different when compared to Ford Endeavour. Its raised yet modern look is attractive, the car manages to ride over bumps and rough roads and is quite comfortable. In fact, for a vehicle tht sits so high-off the ground, it handles quite well and looks very good.
The EcoSport clearly looks like a Ford with its big, almost agape radiator grille. It also has a side-opening rear door, a function necessiated by the spare wheel on the door. The neatest feature on the exterior of the car was the fact instead of big, ugly handle, the car has a button to open the rear door which is embedded in the rear light cluster. This has however meant the reverse lights have been pushed down and integrated into the rear bumper.
Inside, the front of the car is a replica of the interiors of Ford Fiesta, which is a very good place to be. The major change is that in the EcoBoost engined Titanium-spec car we were driving had nice cyan coloured dials and centre-console.
Rear legroom is acceptable, luggage space is also acceptable if you ise the 'big hatch' concept. Space for a couple of smallish suitcases or one large suitcase. But the roof-rails do come equipped with tie-down points to secure luggage which you can store up there as well.
Ford has been promoting the one litre petrol EcoBoost engine that EcoSport will come with. In fact all test-drives until now have been of this revolutionary engine which churns out 125PS of power.
So how does the power come on? A bit gradually, to be very honest. While there is no perceptible turbo-lag, it does take some time to get to the highest ranges of the rev range. That said, in city driving conditions, most gear changes take place at around 2500rpm, the car does just fine.
Acceleration in third gear between 40-60km/hour is impressive, although on some uphill stretches, you do need to downshift. You have to keep on reminding yourself that this is a small engine trying to act like a big brute of an engine.
If you, however, do want to put the pedal to the metal, once you get going, the car can surprise you. You can almost reach an indicated 100km/hour on second gear.
Fuel economy is claimed over 18km/litre in testing, but in a 150km-long drive in Goa, on both open road and through crowded villages and towns, we managed 11km to a litre. Drive sensibly and one ought to get 13-14km to a litre in real-world conditions
