Ford EcoSport: The Jack-Of-All-Trades
Crossover vehicles have become increasingly popular, as such Ford has decided it wants in on the action and is touting its Fiesta based EcoSport as the vehicle of the moment.
The age of the crossover is here; vehicles that try to offer versatility of a bigger vehicle with the practicality of a smaller one – a jack-of-all-trade if you will. These days, people want the commanding driving position of an SUV without its massive dimensions. They also want something that can carry five, the family pet and some luggage comfortably, a vehicle that can mix it up in the rough stuff but still classy enough to show up at a dinner party. A vehicle that’s as at home in the great out doors as it is parked outside the local starbucks.
That’s a tall order for any vehicle, regardless of price range. Many automakers have worked meticulously to offer the only vehicle you’ll ever need but sadly have fallen disappointingly short of expectations. Here in Malaysia we already have the Subaru XV and Mitsubishi ASX but now, there’s another contender – the Ford EcoSport.
It’s the Blue Oval’s warning shot at the Japanese automakers who’ve claimed the market as their own. Based on the Fiesta platform, the EcoSport measures 4241mm long and 1765mm wide, the Blue Oval felt that the EcoSport will be the go anywhere (Within reasonable limits) and do anything vehicle people are craving after.
Under the hood is the same 1.5-litre Ti-VCT (Twin independent Variable Camshaft Timing) engine and six-speed PowerShift transmission used in the ever-popular hatchback. Through clever packaging and a ride height of 200mm, the EcoSport is able to drive through water that’s 550mm deep. A useful attribute especially for flood prone areas around the country during the monsoon season.
Boot space, is moderate however when the rear seats are folded, the capacity increases to an impressive 705litres. You’ve sat in a Fiesta before, the EcoSport’s interior should be very familiar – sporting similar switchgear and interior design as the hatchback. There 20 storage areas within the cabin – they are everywhere even under the seats. The glove box doubles as a cooler for your canned drinks, a plus point when going on long journeys.
SYNC, Ford’s in-car assistant is better than before. It’s able to recognise plethora of accents with aplomb. Dialing an 8-digit phone number with just your voice without a hiccup has never been so easy but now it is. As advanced as SYNC maybe, its no match for Apple’s Siri and Google Voice assistants, as there are only limited voice commands that it understands, most of which are phone and music related.
The electrically assisted steering wheel’s weight increases progressively as you pick up speed. Its extremely light at low speeds, making manoeuvring through tight spaces a doddle but firms up at high speeds to enable confident steering.
Though it forgoes four-wheel drive setup for a simple front wheel drive setup, the EcoSport comes loaded with features such as ABS, ESP, Hill Climb Assist, reverse sensors, automatic headlights and wipers as well as others.
The EcoSport won’t be launched till July of this year but just like the Honda City, we’ve managed to get our hands on it early so that you know before hand what to expect. WE have done an extensive report, which will be published in the April issue of Autocar Malaysia, so grab one if you are interested in the EcoSport.
Source: Autocar Asean
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