Bush Blackout
The landscape of the automotive industry has changed much over the last 18 months, where once manufacturers would have a launch for every model and derivative that came off the assembly line, they now choose carefully which vehicles get the full launch treatment. Such was the case with the last few model derivatives that were introduced into the local market.
Related: Ford EcoSport 1.5 Ambiente Auto (2020) roadtrip review - Escape to the 'Berg
Vehicles such as the Ranger Thunder and EcoSport Auto received little fanfare, but after the fact, Ford SA will send out the vehicle with a full tank of fuel and a task for us to complete. This was the case with their latest model, the EcoSport Black Edition, we were given the keys and told to go and find a game lodge in Bela-Bela.... ROADTRIP!
So what's new ?
The EcoSport Black makes use of the base model Ambiente trim and as the name suggests gets a raft of Black trimmings. The exterior sees a blacked out grille and front skid plate. A set of integrated roof rails make attaching roof mounted accessories a breeze and at the rear there is a gloss black spare wheel cover. Down the side there is a set of 16-inch alloy wheels and to finalise the look, a set of black decals on the bonnet and doors.
The interior remains untouched with the same entry level fitment of cloth seats and hard wearing touch surfaces, SYNC infotainment and connectivity sans CarPlay and a well laid out dashboard.
Open road drive
As mentioned before the Black is based on the entry level Ambiente model that makes use of the 1.5l three cylinder petrol engine, mated to a 6 speed auto transmission and produces 91kW and 151Nm. Even though the EcoSport is touted as a city car in can take on a long journey and has enough power and gearing to see it up to and in some cases past the national limit (for overtaking trucks!) but as we found it can become tiresome after a few 100km's. There is no cruise control and the seats become numbing due to one having to remain locked in a single position to maintain throttle input.
This can be mitigated by regular stops to stretch and grab some roadside snacks and even with a few overtakes, hills and well-timed stops, the 1.5 will still return low 6's ,which is better than Fords claimed consumption figures.
Pricing
Ford EcoSport Black 1.5 6AT - R336 900
Ford Ecosport Ambiente 1.5 6AT - R 322 700
All EcoSport models come standard with Ford Protect, comprising a four-year/120 000km comprehensive warranty, three-year/unlimited distance roadside assistance and five-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty. A four-year/60 000km service plan is included, with 15 000km service intervals.
Verdict
The Black is a pretty cool addition to the local EcoSport lineup due to the fact that it stands out from the myriad of other EcoSports on the road. A fact proven at one point on our journey when there were no fewer than 5 white EcoSport's across 4 lanes of traffic all within 100m of each other. The length of the drive also highlighted that the EcoSport is really a city crossover and not meant for overly long drives as after a few hours of driving one begins to miss roadtrip conveniences such as cruise control and a centre armrest.
The EcoSport Black is sure to find a home with many folks who want something different and don't mind paying the small premium for some exclusivity.
