Ford EcoSport Review & Pictures

[S Class]

Re: First Drive: Ford EcoSport Test Drive Review

Dear shoulder room , under thigh support are very relative things , people are of different sizes and shapes so the experience and meaning of good and bad differ's

Yes, but this is applicable on for under thigh support. What about shoulder room ? Even 3 skinny models won't fit in rear seats. But as said, if one is travelling alone or not more than 4, ES space should suffice.

Accord and crv buddy come In Which price category ? ES is about perfect balance in ride and handling . I2o is only good in ride quality what about handling ?

Yes, accord & crv are in higher segments but my intention to mention these here was to say that Honda does make good cars (I am no fan of Japs). Don't know about i20 handling as I never have driven it as I face steering wheel issue with it, as usual.

In no way the interiors look cheapo , but again its a matter of choice you are free to have your opinion .

Fit & finish are below levels of Storme. I am giving this eg. as you have both tested in detail. Even paint work of Storme is superior than ES.

Like stated above please don't make it a general statement as it is a relative thing , it might be a issue for you as you are a very tall man and wont be for many , iam 5"11 there is no problem for me whatsoever .

OK, lets keep aside under thigh support for a moment, but there is no escaping from the fact that width is too small for comfort. Ofcourse, if one is OK with Wagon-R like width, he will be fine. Dzire has far more width than ES & better seats as well.

Again can be a deal breaker for you and not for many .

Arms rest is surely not a deal breaker for me, but if Ford puts titanium for 11L & still doesn't give arm rest, then its a big rip off. I am not expecting arm rest in Santro, Wagon-R etc. but then you need to see price too. Ofcourse if ES top end diesel doesn't go above 9L on-road, then hell with that armrest.

Agreed . You have a point here that too a valid one but also remember the base model comes with music system and some other features which are not found in base models .

Yes, but as said before, things like power windows should be of primary importance rather than Sync & audio systems. I can easily stay without voice controls & Sync, but surely can't without power windows.

I mean its not so small also its good for 3 days trip for 4 people .

Yes, only 4 people, 4 is very important aspect here.

And Super models , marriage , ES are 3 different topics and are seriously not related to each other .

Yes, but I was just putting it in ES perspective where people give looks more preference over utility. It was just a eg., nothing more than that.

Exactly like you have your priorities , many others have there too . They might find value in something which you don't find value in and vice a versa so lets not genralize things here .

Thats true, & this can be seen from the fact that people are buying new Fiesta, Nissan Evalia & once most top end models like Kizashi from Maruti & X Trail from Nissan !!

Who told you ?

Reviewers, including our own 350Z. Here is what he said in post #12 -

Gearshift is good to hold but rough to operate.

Anyway you yourself above told that you don't belive in 1000kms driven review reports right ? Did some one who told you that gear box is not great has driven it for 10,000kms ?

Yes, but as people were giving opinions based on someone else's review, I too did the same. Anyways, I can't even consider the several reviews in various mediums as I am looking at diesel, detailed review is yet to be seen. Since engine weight is more, needs to see its impact on handling too. The NVH levels may also differ compared to Ecoboost which is much quieter than tdci.

So better is Drive your self and then conclude , like you said the launch is anyway not so far now .

+1. Already informed Pune dealer, Planet ford for the same.

@ all,

350Z has mentioned clearly that "Variants above 'Trend' offer 60:40 split rear seats." This means Trend doesn't come with 60:40 seats & only Titanium & Titanium+ will have 60:40 seats.
Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Raja]

Re: First Drive: Ford EcoSport Test Drive Review

E=S Class;291147

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Yes, but this is applicable on for under thigh support. What about shoulder room ? Even 3 skinny models won't fit in rear seats. But as said, if one is travelling alone or not more than 4, ES space should suffice.

Dear its clearly stated time and again ES rear seats are for 2 adults and one kid or 3 kids . If space is a priority then quanto is the option in sub 4 mts category . Knowing you iam sure you will not buy the quanto even if its given free to you

Yes, accord & crv are in higher segments but my intention to mention these here was to say that Honda does make good cars (I am no fan of Japs). Don't know about i20 handling as I never have driven it as I face steering wheel issue with it, as usual.

The steering dosent give you good confidence in i20 .

Fit & finish are below levels of Storme. I am giving this eg. as you have both tested in detail. Even paint work of Storme is superior than ES.

but then both cars can't be compared .although I agree that paint quality on storme has a edge .

OK, lets keep aside under thigh support for a moment, but there is no escaping from the fact that width is too small for comfort. Ofcourse, if one is OK with Wagon-R like width, he will be fine. Dzire has far more width than ES & better seats as well.

Is agree that ford should have generated better space . Again there will be some cross shopping between both the cars . And people as per their priorities will select which suits them the best . A guy for eg like me will go for ES , some other might go for dezire .

Arms rest is surely not a deal breaker for me, but if Ford puts titanium for 11L & still doesn't give arm rest, then its a big rip off. I am not expecting arm rest in Santro, Wagon-R etc. but then you need to see price too. Ofcourse if ES top end diesel doesn't go above 9L on-road, then hell with that armrest.

All weak points of ES can turn in positives if price is tempting and vice a versa .

Yes, but as said before, things like power windows should be of primary importance rather than Sync & audio systems. I can easily stay without voice controls & Sync, but surely can't without power windows.

Agree with you +100 .

 

[1989rs500]

Re: First Drive: Ford EcoSport Test Drive Review

S class is being too skeptical, Ecosport is not a vehicle for you but its meant for someone like me enthusiasts and for people who care more for design,features,ride quality(I again repeat i20 s ride quality is very very poor compared to Ecosport, only at slow speeds i20 will be good, just give some gas cross 60 kmph i20 and all Hyundais are the same, taking a corner in 60 kmph continuously with a rear passenger will make the rear passenger well throw up due to excessive body roll and horrible suspension),SUV feel(yes ground clearance which i20,dzire nor any other in this class can give except quanto and duster)cabin quietness too(I have driven almost all cars under 20 lakh Rs in India except a few and i can safely say that Volkswagen=Skoda>Ford> rest all hyundais,hondas,toyotas etc)Then about built quality and plastics the Ecosport might seem cheap because of the color of plastics but it might fare well according to me,

Then the shotgun seats of Fords are the best in the business, i have not seen any other manufacturer giving such excellent sporty seats,even the new Polo GT TSI which is supposed to be a hot hatch has normal seats, Ecosports seats are snug comfy as well as holds the driver superbly while attacking corners, the new Fiesta is the best exapmle, i have taken a seaside curve in my friends Fiesta at about 86 kmph and to be frank i tried doing that in my friend Haris VW vento,also a laura 1.8 TSi which was too good enough but neither of the germans nor the japs nor any other car gave me such alluring confidence to push on while taking such corners and the comfort was the primary factor, even while there where bumps in between the corner the Fiesta just glided over bumps keeping the cars tail in total harmony, Vento tossed up and down like a see saw and due to huge wheelbase and width the Laura did just fine,(not everyone is going to take corners everyday but Fords are best in those abilities if S class is interested to know)So for my money if Ecosports top end goes upto 11 lakh on road Ecosport is a good deal, but might not be for S class

 

[vicky90]

Re: First Drive: Ford EcoSport Test Drive Review

Yes but I have some time and all depends on ES pricing . I will then decide between the ES , xuv , storme and duster and maybe wait if some concrete news on Honda and Hyundai SUV comes since iam not in Hurry .

But if I go for ES I will go for a mars red ( wanted a red one but have to settle for orange one now )

Well white ES will look cool too, the one which you have decided .

Initially even I wanted to go for the Mars Red but came to know that it comes only with Titanium and Titanium O Variants as informed by the sales personnel at the mall display. So decided to go for White. By doing all kind of calculations I understand that most probably, they will pitch this car between Classic and Fiesta on price front ( 6.5 - 9 lakh) or else cover the whole segment from Classic on lower end to Fiesta in the upper end ( 5.99 to 10.5 lakh) all ex-showrrom because they have 4 Engines, Mind Blowing exterior, Cool Interiors, Ford's Image as good to drive cars below 10 lakhs, urban SUV and lots of features to play the trick.

 

[Raja]

Re: First Drive: Ford EcoSport Test Drive Review

Initially even I wanted to go for the Mars Red but came to know that it comes only with Titanium and Titanium O Variants as informed by the sales personnel at the mall display. So decided to go for White. By doing all kind of calculations I understand that most probably, they will pitch this car between Classic and Fiesta on price front ( 6.5 - 9 lakh) or else cover the whole segment from Classic on lower end to Fiesta in the upper end ( 5.99 to 10.5 lakh) all ex-showrrom because they have 4 Engines, Mind Blowing exterior, Cool Interiors, Ford's Image as good to drive cars below 10 lakhs, urban SUV and lots of features to play the trick.

Vicky never belive this sales personals in the mall they don't know anything most of the time .

the lady in the mall told me that there is no diesel option in ES can you beat that ? .

 

[vicky90]

Re: First Drive: Ford EcoSport Test Drive Review

Vicky never belive this sales personals in the mall they don't know anything most of the time .

the lady in the mall told me that there is no diesel option in ES can you beat that ? .

Rofl that was even better

 

[Figoian]

Re: First Drive: Ford EcoSport Test Drive Review

Vicky never belive this sales personals in the mall they don't know anything most of the time .

the lady in the mall told me that there is no diesel option in ES can you beat that ? .

Well said. But neither the Sales Personnel in the Dealership. They appreciate the absence of Rear Power Windows in Figo as a Safety Feature

 

[visran]

Re: First Drive: Ford EcoSport Test Drive Review

Ford EcoSport bookings commence

Expected launch date for the EcoSport is mid June. Booking amount is Rs 50,000 with deliveries by end June or early July.

 

[1989rs500]

Re: First Drive: Ford EcoSport Test Drive Review

Ecosport Diesel reviews out happy to hear than there is better low end torque from atleast 1500 rpm as per the top gear india also the steering ratio is better i think same as what Fiesta has, the Diesel Eco might be a uber super CUV
BBC TopGear Magazine India Car-Reviews - Review: Ford EcoSport Diesel

 

[S Class]

Re: First Drive: Ford EcoSport Test Drive Review

S class is being too skeptical, Ecosport is not a vehicle for you but its meant for someone like me enthusiasts and for people who care more for design,features,ride quality(I again repeat i20 s ride quality is very very poor compared to Ecosport

Have you driven ES ? If not, why keep firing in air ?

SUV feel(yes ground clearance which i20,dzire nor any other in this class can give except quanto and duster)cabin quietness too(I have driven almost all cars under 20 lakh Rs in India except a few and i can safely say that Volkswagen=Skoda>Ford> rest all hyundais,hondas,toyotas etc)

Yes, VW has good built cars but putting Ford ahead of Hyundai atleast when you talk of 20L bracket looks like a joke !! There is no Ford in that price at first place !! And I suggest you drive the new Elantra, the fit & finish is really good with several industry first, including ventilated seats.

Then about built quality and plastics the Ecosport might seem cheap because of the color of plastics but it might fare well according to me,

I said about cheapo plastics after touching them, not just seeing them. I have seen E Class in grey color & still the quality is robust. Color has nothing to do with material.

Ecosports seats are snug comfy as well as holds the driver superbly while attacking corners

How many kms you have driven taking sharp corners ??

So for my money if Ecosports top end goes upto 11 lakh on road Ecosport is a good deal, but might not be for S class

I am not sceptical, but realistic. Never take decision on impulse, you need to see many things before concluding anything. Not a single one of us have seen production ready model inside-out. The one displayed in mall was different, hence I didn't take much of pics of interiors.

Ford has not even given rear fog lamp in top end, & if this is what you get paying 11L, then for me its junk. Anything which I don't feel has VFM, becomes crap for me. Not that I am against Ford or ES, but I even say BMW 7 series is crap, while 3 series is very good.

And I think you should be aware with what ford did with Fusion & Mondeo. A guy within 15 days of purchase of Figo, crashed it & the bumper replacement cost post insurance was over 2550, while another guy who had similar incident with his Wagon-R Vxi, spent only about 900 bucks for bumper replacement. One needs to see this aspect also.

Whenever I see a product, one needs to see it not just in terms of specs & looks & price but also the overall cost of ownership, where Ford scores miserably. If you are happy with ES, buy even for 1 Cr, I have no issues, but if I am looking at self purchase, I need to see that I am extracting every bit of the car from single rupee spent, then be it ES or Range Rover.

 

[Raja]

Re: First Drive: Ford EcoSport Test Drive Review

@ sclass - for your consideration

In diesel guise, the EcoSport is a light-footed wonder. The needle on the speedo goes through the range in a hurry. It does 130kph in no time and without a fuss, which is a good thing for our highways. The five-speed manual gearbox is also a carryover. It has slick throws and it slots in easily making sure you are not missing gears when in a hurry to downshift or upshift.

BBC TopGear Magazine India Car-Reviews - Review: Ford EcoSport Diesel

 

[vicky90]

Re: First Drive: Ford EcoSport Test Drive Review

Ecosport Diesel reviews out happy to hear than there is better low end torque from atleast 1500 rpm as per the top gear india also the steering ratio is better i think same as what Fiesta has, the Diesel Eco might be a uber super CUV
BBC TopGear Magazine India Car-Reviews - Review: Ford EcoSport Diesel

Thanks 1989rs500 . The most important review is about the diesel mill which hopefully will bring in more numbers compared to its international gasoline counterpart.
Also I was kind of doubtful about the diesel Ecosport's initial pick up and its now evident that its dull but not bad and its not a big deal breaker for me as it is compensated by the performance after 1500 rpm. I hardly need that initial over-punch provided its not very sluggish.

 

[1989rs500]

Re: First Drive: Ford EcoSport Test Drive Review

S class now you seem really pessimistic, due to some facts

1.) I am an enthusiast and i drive not just for transportation and comfort a little bit extra for fun as well and i have driven the Elantra and it horrible, no hyundai is good to drive, hyundai have good fit and finish and features there ends the story and engine reliability is among the worst in the timeline. S class might not have driven enthusiastically it seems, thats why i told Ecosport is not for S class

2.) Ground clearance is a need for me as i have some land on the outskirts of trivandrum city where i go thrice a month and as of now i take my uncles old Fiat padmini which is almost like flinstones car so ground clearance is a feature i need.

3.)I havent driven a Ford that competes Hyundai in India but my uncle and i once visited Glasgow Switzerland and we drove Ford Focus, thats the car thats the D class competitor to Elantra Jetta etc, i couldnt drive it but the cabin was miles miles betetr than Elantra and it was almost like a compact luxury car to sit in, and to be frank the Elantra is just like a big verna with some extra features and design,ride & handling was the worst,the Elantra had a soft suspension and the shut lines were not perfect and the body structure was not rigid to my liking, it felt like a huge plastic car, i felt even toyota corolla was better than Elantra
Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Mazda 3, VW Jetta - Comparison Test - CAR and DRIVER - YouTube
4.)plastics are not the best but i will be happy with it as for the positives i get from Ecosoprt
5.)Under thigh support is very subjective, i am 5.4 feet andi will be happy with ES under thigh support
6.)I calculate VFM on criteria like solid external structure which i am sure Ecosport is better than most others in segment say except the Polo,the engine and the service cost where Ford is reasonable not costly as VW but not cheap as hyundai,toyota etc so its and one major thing fun to drive factor which sadly is provided only by Ford and VW(to an extent) but VW is costly so Ford is the way to go.
7.)S class there is more from Ford to come, the Kuga,Escort,2015 Mondeo are on their way, and when they strike I am pretty sure only VW and Ford will stand up for the big fight rest all are just alternatives to the big saga
Paris 2012 : Ford Mondeo - YouTube

Thanks 1989rs500 . The most important review is about the diesel mill which hopefully will bring in more numbers compared to its international gasoline counterpart.
Also I was kind of doubtful about the diesel Ecosport's initial pick up and its now evident that its dull but not bad and its not a big deal breaker for me as it is compensated by the performance after 1500 rpm. I hardly need that initial over-punch provided its not very sluggish.

Yes me too, i also heard that there will be a video review of Ecosport diesel this Saturday by CNBC overdrive ,fingers crossed.

 

[GM88]

Re: First Drive: Ford EcoSport Test Drive Review

People have been crying that Ecosport's rear space is even worse than the likes of Swift and i20. The reviewers have clearly said that its surely less by SUV standards but better than the likes of hatchbacks. If people believe i20/Dzire/Polo/Swift can seat 3 in the rear comfortably, to which I still don't agree, its always a squeeze. Here is what the top journo in India had to tweet.





Now if you think you are better than him in judging, Keep believing! No one's stopping! Calling this one a 4 seater and others a 5 seater is a total misconception. Definition of comfort maybe different for different people, for me if I am side touching someone seated next to me, then surely I am not in any sort of comfort. And going by this, none of these cars can seat 5. Maybe my definition of comfort may seem bizarre to few and that's why I said earlier none of my 3 cars can seat 3 in rear comfortably. But it would be plain stupid of someone calling that an i20 can seat 5 comfortably and Ecosport can seat only 4 .

 

[Raja]

Re: First Drive: Ford EcoSport Test Drive Review

Have you driven ES ? If not, why keep firing in air ?




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S class now you seem really pessimistic, due to some facts
.

Guys lets cool down .

We all have different preferences, choices , priorities , likings and definition of vfm can be entirely different from person to person
Secondly ford motor company is not our relative that they will be giving us cars for free . We will be putting our hard earned money to buy a car .
Now definition of vfm can be different for each person . So its better not to convince some one to see world through our eyes only .

Let ford declare the prices after that we can debate if the car deserves the price asked by ford or not .