2016 Ford EcoSport review, test drive

So, how does it drive with the uprated motor?

Ford seems to have used a bit more insulation because the engine noise is well damped at idle, and it remains smooth when accelerating, only getting intrusive at high revs. It’s not a drastic change, but refinement levels are noticeably better than before.

The engine delivers very linear acceleration and it’s now even more responsive. The big difference is felt in the way the car picks up speed from low revs and delivers good performance throughout the rev band. You can keep it one gear higher and stay in third in traffic for a longer time, and the car also feels quicker, too.

With this update Ford has addressed all the minor niggles inside the cabin, but it's the engine upgrade that's the icing on the cake. It doesn't result in a major price increase, either, which makes the new EcoSport an even more compelling package.

SELVIN JOSE