The pioneer of the sub-four metre SUV segment in India is back in a new avatar. Since its introduction back in 2013, the competition has become tougher by the day. Maruti’s Vitara Brezza is ruling the roost while newbies like the Honda WR-V and the Tata Nexon are finding their footing in the segment. So we pitch the new 2017 Ford EcoSport against them all to get a peek in to how it might fare in the real world.
Tata’s newest kid on the block goes the funky way, standing out of the crowd everywhere it goes. Its diesel engine is more powerful than the EcoSport and gets more torque as well. It also gets a six-speed gearbox, but the EcoSport scores with the availability of an automatic option. In terms of build quality, both the cars can be rated quite close but the Ecosport edges ahead in terms of fit and finish as well as consistency.
The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza is the EcoSport’s biggest rival. The all-new Ecopsort’s chiselled looks and the new reworked interior seem to be miles ahead of the Brezza. Also, the 100bhp diesel mill as well as the new 3-cylinder Dragon series of engines score on the power front. In terms of safety, the six airbags with ISOFIX child-seat mounts outshine the Maruti. With its emphasis on low maintenance costs, the EcoSport actually might be a better buy, especially with that kind of build quality. And you can get a petrol engine as well unlike the Brezza.
The WR-V is based on the Honda Jazz and hence it will shadow the Ecosport when it comes to cabin space. Also, the Honda petrol engine is quite refined and has been tried and tested as against the all-new Dragon engine that powers the new EcoSport. The diesels develop identical horsepower and both these engines are quite well tuned for both City and highway driving. When it comes to build quality and safety, the EcoSport certainly outscores the Honda and that should hold true for maintenance as well.
Mahindra’s erstwhile compact SUV, the TUV300 sells well in the rural markets where ruggedness wins over everything. But in the urban markets, where quality and aesthetics matter, the Ford EcoSport is very likely to become a favourite among car buyers.
