Tvssarma,
Few days back I booked a Diesel Titanium+ (at Chennai ford) so my comments are obviously biased. Having said that, apart from other factors, few positives I see in Diesel over Ecoboost are:
1. At launch there was a 70k price difference between Ex-showroom prices of Titanium+ Diesel vs Ecoboost. Due to Brezza being diesel, the difference between Ecoboost and Diesel has narrowed to 30k. Also, the recent tuning of Diesel to have extra 9 BHP and peak torque at 1750 RPM instead of 2000 RPM during 2013 launch, while Ecoboost engine remains the same, means, Diesel is relatively more valuable now compared to Ecoboost, than during launch.
2. I am hoping the Diesel will have a better resale value to cover most of the 30k difference, and also the benefit of lower fuel price, a better mileage and time saved in reduced trips to fuel station are advantages.
3. Ecoboost Titanium+ will need 4% price increase to cross 10 lakhs threshold in Chennai, leading to 15% registration fee instead of 10% for below 10 lakhs vehicles. Diesel Titanium+ needs only 0.75% price increase to cross the threshold. hence, there is a better chance for Diesel to cross the threshold and increase resale value in 2-3 years, if you have any such plans.
I hear there is a slight increase in maintenance cost for Diesel, and I hear clutch/gear in Diesel might be relative to Ecoboost a bit harder.
For me the positives of Diesel looked significant that I did not even choose to test drive Ecoboost. In fact, I booked Diesel without a TD. But, took a TD right after booking formalities, only because the SA had come to my office with a Diesel Titanium+ TD vehicle without me asking for it.
In India, Diesel vs Ecoboost Ecosport sales volume should be something like 80% diesel vs 20% Ecoboost, ignoring 1.5 Petrol engine vehicles. Hence, I think due to more diesel volume, there is better probability of any related service issues being fixed faster as service teams should have more experience in Diesel vs Ecoboost.
Ecoboost, being an imported engine, also has some higher import duty added to the total cost. So, I think Diesel Ecosports are more tax efficient / VFM.
I heard Ecoboost has a bit more turbo lag than 1.5 Diesel, but I would like to be corrected.
These are my thoughts, but, you could for well have different preferences.
PS: I did not consider 1.5P except AT model, due to lack of six air bags in non-AT models. I ignored AT after a lot of thinking as I heard DCT issues, and also very low volume in India.
