Is the Ford EcoSport a Go-to product for a modern life?

As with many things in life, the simplest basic ideas are most often the best.  Take a loaf of bread, for example – enjoyed the world over as a simple, convenient, versatile and affordable piece of sustenance… perfectly packaged.

Bread is the default food choice for many people, daily.  Often wondering how/where popular food items originated from, I also wonder which genius decided to mix some earthy ingredients into a dough, and bake it in a rectangular container – and wondering which genius invented the EcoSport – what a simple, convenient, versatile and affordable piece of motoring sustenance… perfectly packaged.

The default choice?  Well, unlike all the types of bread one can choose from, the EcoSport is actually one of a kind.  We’ve all seen people crossing over from their sedans or large SUVs and from small hatchbacks into a cross-over type – most of these, however, are still medium size, and not the most affordable to buy or run.  So Ford saw a gap – why not make a small high “car” that is the same length as a Fiesta (compact hatch) and give it a cute face, modern engines, and a friendly feisty overall persona?  Take a Fiesta and add self-raising flour to get some volume.  What’s not to adore?!

For years many people asked the question “What is the smallest cheapest SUV-type vehicle I can buy?” and the inevitable answer was, many years ago, the original Toyota RAV4 (which was the first small SUV, but sadly kept growing) so the recent answer would have been Daihatsu Terios… but many people didn’t like the flavour of the clever little Daihatsu – not its rodeo horse ride, nor its tinny tiny feel.  It too, despite being launched in 2006, is not the most affordable little cross-over it once was.  Getting old too.  If only Toyota (which partly owns Daihatsu) had marketed it as a Toyota Rush locally, as it is in some overseas markets.  Opportunity missed. 

Which brings us back to our modern loaf of bread.  What do so many people want these days?  To be Eco-friendly, whether at home or in the car.  Many also want to participate in Sport… be it an actual sport, or just a recreational “sport” activity.  Putting the buzzwords Eco and Sport side-by-side as a car name makes EcoSport even more attractive.  Creating a huge stir, Ford’s EcoSport instantly became a new favourite.  Ford can’t bake enough, as they are snapped up fresh and hot from the oven.

Let’s look at the ingredients.  Choose from a more traditional 1.5 petrol engine or a 1.5TDCi diesel, or Ford’s ingenious little – yes, it’s only 999cc – EcoBoost engine, which means it is eco-friendly/eco-nomical and has turbo boost.  The entry models get the 1.5, while the diesels are R5k more than the EcoBoost 1.0T engine – this is the one to go for, if you don’t want the diesel – its 3-cylinder engine sounds good, pulls well (just give it a bit of revs to avoid low-rev lag) and is frugal – drive it moderately and the balance of getting it to growl just nicely will give rewarding acceleration and economy.  With 3 large men on board it still performed just fine in urban and on highway, so with parents and 2 or 3 kids + some luggage, the EcoBoost should cope well.  The interior offers great headroom, and boot will fit school bags and most shopping.  Plenty of storage compartments, and even a 12V power outlet next to the rear seat on higher spec models.  The dashboard is the same modern V-layout as Fiesta, and the only letdown is the plastics which seem budget-moulded.

The Ambiente is the entry-level spec, available only with 1.5 and 5-speed manual.  You already get a lot for a price of around R200k – launched at a psychological R 199 000, it jumped out as a bargain – now, 1 year after launch, it is still only R 207 900 and now includes rear park distance sensors.  The essential safeties/luxuries such as Anti-lock Braking System, 6 airbags (generous) and aircon, audio with aux input and remote central locking plus rear park distance control are there, though only front electric windows in a family car is a bad idea.  If you want rear electric windows, Bluetooth, multi-function steering wheel, USB and alloy wheels, go for the Trend, which comes with the EcoBoost or TDCi engines at R 233 900 / R 238 900. Go up to top Titanium spec and you’ll also get traction and stability control, climate control, on-board computer, cruise control with steering switches and more – available in 1.5 auto or 1.0T manual (both priced at R 253 900) or 1.5TDCi for R5k extra.  Unfortunately the 1.0T is not available with automatic, which would be to the taste of no doubt many people.  What makes the EcoSport such a popular shopper’s choice is that it is only about R 5000 more than a similar Fiesta, so gives lots more car for the money, also being waaaaay cheaper than any other compact cross-over.

Go-to product for a modern life?  Indeed.  So clever, simple and tasty it was my favourite for SA Car of the Year, last year.  The best thing since sliced bread.