Ford EcoSport S
EcoBoost makes a comeback
You’d have to argue hard to make anyone agree that the EcoSport isn’t fresh and exciting to look at – right from the first model launched in 2013 to the facelifted EcoSport from just six months back. With the EcoSport S, you’d definitely be making a losing argument.
Ford’s given the car a lot of the aesthetic upgrades owners have been going to the aftermarket for, most noticeably cutting out shiny bits. The grille is greyed out, with contrasting matte and gloss finishes which make the front end look more aggressive, yet polished. The headlights are (still) HID projectors and get dark detailing, which goes well on the new Canyon Ridge brown our test car was wearing. For us, the highlight of the S model has to be the 17-inch wheels finished in smoked hyper silver. It’s a sleeker snowflake pattern than what’s available on the Titanium+ variant but the colour and excellent
CONTRASTING MATTE AND GLOSS GRILLE LOOKS AGGRESSIVE, YET POLISHED
finish take it to the next level of cool, almost appearing like dark chrome wheels from a distance.
Inside the cabin, orange trim and detailing on the leather/cloth upholstery set it apart from the top-end Titanium+ variant it’s based on. So, apart from the range-topping features, there’s also a new electrically-operated sunroof available. We think the dials with silver bezels and new 4.2-inch high resolution MID are a big upgrade, making the instrumentation look much more premium than before. The plain, low-rent instrumentation on the refreshed EcoSport was a sore point and we’re told if the demand is there, Ford will implement the new instrumentation across the range. As before, the seating position is suitably high, the steering is adjustable for rake and reach and the only complaint is rear visibility being hampered by thick C-pillars. Space is good up front, and you get two very useful USB ports for charging apart from a 12V outlet. In the back, three would be a squeeze and confusingly there’s only one 12V outlet on the right side of the bench.
This range-topping S petrol variant marks the welcome return of the 1-litre Ecoboost engine. It was mated to a 5-speed manual before it was dropped in favour of the all-new three cylinder 1.5-litre petrol, named the Dragon. On paper, the difference between the two, apart from the displacement, is miniscule. The Ecoboost has 20Nm more torque, owing to the turbocharger. But there’s definitely a huge difference in driving them.
The new 6-speed manual gearbox is said to have
shorter ratios, a shorter final drive while fifth and sixth are overdrive ratios. The net result is a car that feels livelier and is more tractable. There’s a slight hint of turbo lag but even below the boost threshold it’ll make reasonable progress in second gear, like in traffic or over speedbreakers. Post 1,800rpm, the motor picks up pace quickly, and we like the strong mid-range, though from there the surge tapers off above 5,000rpm till its 6,700rpm redline. It doesn’t sound harsh or unrefined at lower speeds, and it only starts sounding like a three-cylinder if you’re pushing too hard. The new gearing seems to really suit the engine, with fourth being usable from 50kmph to 100kmph. In sixth at 100kmph, the motor is very relaxed, but can still give you enough for an overtake. We already liked the eagerness of the steering, and though ride quality is firm, also in part due to the low profile rubber, it makes up for it with confident handling and excellent highway manners at speed.
Definitely aimed towards the enthusiast or lifestyle-conscious buyer, the EcoSport S is also available with the 1.5-litre diesel. Though, the 1-litre Ecoboost petrol is the one we would pick. The engine and updated gearbox makes it the sporty car it was always meant to be, with rated fuel efficiency also up to 18.1kmpl, a fair increase over the 1.5-litre petrol Titanium variant at 16.3kmpl.