By: Jesse Adams in Goa, India
Ford says it’s a compact SUV. We think it’s more of a small hatchback crossover. Either way, it’s called the Ecosport and it will be launched in South Africa this August.
Basically the Ecosport (pronounced echo-sport) is a current Fiesta, but with a more squared-off and upright body style with durable side-cladding to emulate modern SUVs, and a suspension jacked up to 200mm ground clearance.
In our market it’s still front-wheel drive only, so there will be no rough and tumble excursions through the bush – but it does get approach and departure angles to tackle most urban obstacles. Ford is also proud to point out its almost unbelievable 550mm wading depth that comes courtesy of special door-rubber seals, but when and where you might need this attribute is a mystery to me.
LOAD IT UP
At the back there’s a horizontally-swinging tailgate, and the SUV requisite spare wheel mounted to its exterior frees up an impressive amount of rear cargo space. The boot’s big enough to stash a small family’s weekend getaway gear, and the cleverly folding rear-seat mechanism allows for loading of objects that you’d struggle to fit inside a normal Fiesta.
At the press launch held in India last week we were shown pictures of a washing machine crammed in there – although I do suspect it was the smallest washing machine known to man.
From the helm you’ll be hard pressed to pick up any stylistic differences between this and the Fiesta, with a very modern dashboard layout that’s clearly designed for younger appeal with a cellphone-like button layout front and centre.
There are also nine, yes nine, cup and bottle holders, space for six cans in the cooled cubbyhole, and a drawer under the passenger seat that we’re told is big enough to hide a laptop (iPad maybe) in. Motoring hoarders rejoice.
Just like the Ford Figo sold in SA, the Ecosport is built in India, so if you’ve got a keen eye you might spot some small quality shortcomings if compared side-by-side to our German-built Fiestas. Nothing major I’d say, but the plastics are of slightly harder (read cheaper) material and they fit together with small imperfections that you wouldn’t find in the almost impeccably-built (for this class of car) Fiesta.
SMART TECH
Like the Fiesta, hi-tech features are plentiful and along with keyless entry and start, a hill-holder system that works in forward and reverse, and fuel-saving engine stop/start, the Ecosport comes with Ford’s intelligent Sync software. Developed in conjunction with Microsoft, Sync allows for Bluetooth smartphone integration where your personal phonebook and music can be uploaded and accessed via voice activation; but the real party trick is that it can read incoming text messages aloud.
The Ecosport will be sold in our market with a choice of three engines: a 1.5-litre petrol (Ti-VCT) with variable valve timing making 82kW and 140Nm; a 1.5-litre turbodiesel (TDCi) with 67kW and 204Nm; and Ford’s little petrol-powered prodigy the 1-litre Ecoboost (pronounced eeko-boost) with 92kW and 170Nm.
We were limited to the three-cylinder Ecoboost at the Indian launch, likely because it’s this award-winning engine that Ford’s giving the biggest push internationally. Obviously I can’t speak for either 1.5, but as for the 1-litre, I can say it’s an over-achieving little pearl that I have no problem recommending. That is, other than the fact that it will be the most expensive of the three engine options in SA (we’re told it’s because this engine’s assembled in Europe and then shipped to India).
The same is true for the new 1-litre Fiesta in comparison to the rest of its range locally.
SMOOTH RUNNER
Although you wouldn’t think it given its odd cylinder layout, the Ecoboost is a silky smooth runner that’s full of character through its rev range. There’s a nice punch of torque from around 1 500rpm that carries on as its tiny turbo boosts, and unlike other small capacity motors there’s no need to stir the manual gearbox (the 1.5 petrol will have an automatic option) in search of power sweet-spots.
Ford claims an average consumption of 5.3l/100km, but over a rather congested and frankly chaotic Indian test route we returned over 10 litres per 100km. I think this could be significantly bettered in calmer South African conditions, though.
The ride, considering the notably taller springs, is very car-like, if you can excuse the cliché. There’s hardly any body roll or wallow for such a high-riding hatch, and it’s as happy to be flung through the bends as it is climbing pavements and launching over speedbumps.
The beneficial ground clearance is almost a side-effect to the high-up driving position, that buyers targeted here feel offers a sense of security.
Indicative pricing is between R215 000 and R260 000 across the range, which similarly to Fiesta will include bottom Ambiente, middle-rung Trend, and top-spec Titanium derivatives. -Mercury Motoring
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