Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Ford step up a gear
Cheap, cheerful, chunky and looking like a baby Merc G-Wagen, the all new Suzuki
Jimny will be coming to the UK next year.
The outgoing model has been around for 20 years, so it was high time that the Japanese company came-up with a new take on a formula that has brought it 2.85 million sales worldwide since the first Jimny appeared in 1970.
Originally designed for Japan’s tax-friendly minicar market, it was the one and only four wheel drive model in its segment when it made its debut–anditwasastonishingly capable off road.
Details of the new, 2019 version of the Jimny are scant at the moment but we do know that it will have a ladder frame, three- link, rigid axle suspension and part-time four wheel drive.
The design is distinctly retro and squared off on the outside with slab sides and bulging wheel arch extensions, but the cockpit looks bang up-to-the-minute.
Ford’s smallest SUV failed to impress when it arrived four years ago with poor build quality and too many quirks.
A number of improvements over the past couple of years made it look and drive better but it was still outclassed by most of its rivals.
Now the EcoSport is about to try and grab a bigger share of the lucrative market with a heavily updated version which is now built in Europe and engineered better to our tastes and roads.
With new sharper sportier looks that are more akin to the rest of the Ford range the EcoSport has also been given a brand new interior which is heavily based on the one in the new Fiesta.
In addition there is more tech, customisation choices and even a couple of new versions.
All-wheel-drive is now available and you can also get a new 1.5-litre diesel engine.
I have been sampling the Titanium model powered by Ford’s tried and tested 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbo three-cylnder petrol engine which is priced at £19,945.
The EcoSport now feels better to drive and the gear change is slick and the steering is nicely weighted. The suspension changes mean that it is now suited better to our roads but there is still plenty body roll and the ride remains busy.
The engine in this version produces 123bhp but it still takes the EcoSport a leisurely 12.7 seconds to tackle the 0-62mph sprint.
Official figures put the combined mpg at 54.3 but I could not get anywhere near that in normal driving conditions so expect to get between 40-45mpg if you don’t push too hard.
Overall it is the redesigned interior that is the most impressive part of the new Ecosport with decent switchgear plucked from the Fiesta and a similar tablet-style infotainment screen on top of the centre consule.
It is easy to use and coupled with a better instrument panel and some improved plastics the cabin is now much nicer to sit in. The Titanium also offers a generous amount of standard equipment and all the latest safety features.
My car also came with rear privacy glass at £250, front parking sensors at £150, keyless entry and start for an additional £300 and a premium sound system for a further £300. Larger alloys and premium lightning blue paint took the final cost of the EcoSport to a hefty £21,940.
The cabin will take four adults with ease but rear legroom is still quite tight.
The boot offers 355-litres of luggage space but the tailgate is still an annoying side-opening affair and that is still a pain.
The latest EcoSport is still not Ford at its best but it is a much better package than before thanks to the visual and engineering improvements and especially its new cabin.