Ford EcoSport EcoBoost petrol review, test drive

We drive the Ford EcoSport powered by Ford's new 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

Published on May 07, 2013 02:58:00 PM

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Ford EcoSport EcoBoost petrol review, test drive

Move to the inside and you can instantly tell that the dashboard design resembles the Fiesta’s quite closely, with a similar angular dashboard layout and familiar controls. While the build and plastic quality of the top half of the two-tone dashboard is decent for this class of car (it seems a small notch above the Fiesta), there are quite a few panel gaps and the lower half of the dashboard feels a little sub-par. It’s not as bad as the Renault Duster, another SUV to get an ‘Indianised’ interior, but it is lacking that quality feel all the same. Compared to the cars like the Fabia and Polo, the EcoSport’s cabin quality simply doesn’t come close.

By hatchback standards, the EcoSport’s cabin is quite spacious but as an SUV, the interiors lack the size and space you associate with this body style. The cabin is a little narrow, but head and legroom are decent both at the front and the back, and as mentioned earlier, boot space is not sufficient, but the rear seats fold forward with a 60:40 split (in all but the base Ambiente trim) for a total of 705 litres, which gives a bit more versatility. They also have a reclining backrest with three preset positions, and the small parcel shelf on higher variants will keep your luggage out of plain sight. The front seats are comfortable, with a high seating position, and the rear seats are quite flat but the cushioning and under thigh support is superb. In fact, the high-set rear seat is really comfortable, particularly if you don’t have a tall driver or passenger in front of you.

However, because of the rising shoulder line and small windows, like the Fiesta, the rear seats don’t feel as bright and airy as the Duster’s, and the black interiors in the EcoSport don’t help either.

The EcoSport is very generously equipped, with even the base Ambiente variant getting tilt and telescopic steering, a music player with Aux-in and Bluetooth, electric wing mirrors, remote locking, a multi-function display, and 15-inch wheels. However, the top end Titanium version (with the option pack) we are driving is really loaded. It gets 16-inch wheels, and adds ABS, steering-mounted audio controls on a leather-wrapped wheel, driver-seat height adjustment, climate control, a cooled glovebox, front fog lamps, rear parking sensors, push-button start, leather seats, keyless entry, Ford’s voice-operated Sync system, and front, side and curtain airbags as well.