TITLE IN BARCA’S BAG: SUAREZ
IT’S DOWN TO THE WIRE FOR TOP 3 TEAMS
Amere two days after Maruti launched the Vitara Brezza, rival Ford did the best (or worst?) thing to divert some of the attention back to its own EcoSport. It cut prices. And by no small measure. Diesel EcoSports, for instance, now costs a whopping 1.12 lakh less than before.
The new pricing, the top-spec Ford EcoSport 1.5 diesel Titanium+ costs 9.75 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) while the fully loaded Brezza ZDi+ comes in at 9.68 lakh.
We picked the Ford EcoSport as our Car of the Year 2014 and know it’s a brilliant package. Mechanical and cosmetic updates for 2016 have made it better still. Question is, could a cheeky Ford and its EcoSport spoil Maruti’s party?
When the duo come together on serpentine roads, the EcoSport takes the lead on the scoring sheet. Its precise handling and agility make it the more exciting compact SUV to drive. Sure, the Brezza turns into corners with confidence and grips well, but it is simply no match for the Ford on steering feel and front-end bite. The duo is evenly matched on ride comfort. However, on the rougher roads, it’s the EcoSport’s suspension that delivers a flatter ride
The Ford also has the slight advantage on uphill and low-speed sections of the road. Its updated 1.5-litre diesel engine, which now makes a strong 98.9bhp, works great in city driving.
The gearshifts are fairly smooth on the Brezza, which has a lighter clutch but drivers will have to pay more attention to being in the right gear at low revs. The smaller 1.3-litre diesel engine doesn’t feel as alert as the Ford unit when starting out. However, when you rev past the 2,000rpm mark, the engine comes alive.
The strong mid-range makes overtaking on the highway more effortless than the EcoSport, whose engine neither revs as quickly nor as hard. In fact, the mid-range surge in power is the reason why the Brezza is marginally quicker than the Ford in the 0-100kph dash, taking 12.96 seconds to the EcoSport’s 13.67 seconds. What undoubtedly helps the Brezza’s overall performance is the fact that it weighs 95kg less. Though its fairly well-built, the Brezza doesn’t give the same impression of solidity as the EcoSport.
The cabin on the two cars is quite distinct. While the EcoSport’s thick pillars reduce your field of vision, the Brezza offers excellent all-round visibility. It’s dashboard feels a bit basic but its dash is better than the Ecosport’s, which is made of hard and scratchy plastics and isn’t as user-friendly.
The Brezza’s front seats are more generous than the Ecosport’s but a touch too soft and not as supportive over long rides. Where Ford has done well is to offer the steering with tilt and telescopic adjust and this helps find the best driving position. The Brezza does provide a few more dedicated spaces to store odds and ends, but the EcoSport’s cabin is generous in this area too.
At the rear, both SUVs impress but for different reasons. Brezza offers significantly more shoulder room so you can manage to seat three abreast in the back but the Ford’s seats offer excellent thigh support and you can adjust the backrest angle. The rear seats on both SUVs split 60:40 and can be folded flat to create a massive storage bay. With the rear seats in place, both cars offer decent luggage space for a compact SUV but the EcoSport’s side opening tailgate can make loading luggage inconvenient.
The top-spec versions of both SUVs come equipped with the latest tech available in this price range. The Brezza additionally gets a highresolution 7- inch touch screen infotainment system equipped with Apple CarPlay, satellite navigation, a reverse camera and cruise control. However, it’s worth noting that the Ecosport’s top-end variant gets six airbags where the Maruti’s gets two.
While looks are subjective, in the case of these models, their appearance says a lot about the rest of the package. The EcoSport, with its oversized octagonal grille, high bonnet and tailgate-mounted spare wheel has the more interesting form. While it has many strengths such as a pleasant engine and strong focus on safety, you must buy the EcoSport if driving experience is paramount to you.
The Brezza is not quite engaging to drive, but does offer that little more by way of comfort, practicality and everyday ease-of-use. Also, if the claimed fuel economy numbers are anything to go by, the Brezza promises to be more fuel efficient too. Lastly, the Brezza comes with the peace of mind that only buying a Maruti can get you.