Well hello there! Fresh off the boat (well, car carrier anyway) and now available for viewing and short test drives at your nearest Ford showroom, the all-new Ford EcoSport has just arrived in town! AF just had to have a go at it on Malaysian soil, and here’s what we think.
As far as first-impressions are concerned, the EcoSport makes a really good one, judging from the admiring glances it garners from fellow motorists. It’s a compact SUV or ‘Crossover’, but comes only with a 2WD drivetrain. Powering the front wheels is a familiar engine lifted from the Fiesta, a 1.5-litre TI-VCT DOHC 16-valve that punches out 110bhp and 142Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed Powershift automatic transmission. Sadly, there is no EcoBoost turbo engine’d variant. Yet?
Looks can be deceiving because it may look like a compact SUV from the outside, but over on the inside the EcoSport is surprisingly and pleasingly spacious. I had no issues getting comfortable behind the wheel, thanks to the multi-adjustable driver’s seat, and there was still a decent enough amount of legroom behind me for rear passengers.
Acceleration isn’t as rapid as an EcoBoost of course, but ample and adequate enough to haul it around. The engine did feel a bit tight though, and that’s when I realized the car only had 500km on the odometer! The gears shift smoothly, a lot smoother than the previous double-clutch of the first generation Fiesta. It’s not as rapid as an EcoBoost of course, but very decent for a ‘Crossover’ like this,
I liked the versatility of the rear door, which swings outward (hydraulically-assisted) as opposed to upward, and ladies will appreciate this too, as it does not require over-reaching upward to close the rear-hatch of an SUV that opens upward. The sunroof in the ‘Titanium’ variant is a nice-to-have of course, but it’s appreciated, as is the ‘key-less’ go. Riding on 205/60 R16 alloys, the ride is both comfortable and reassuring, and of course the elevated ride height should sit well with lady drivers. Pun intended. 70:30 split-fold rear seat add to cargo space, while a tonneau cover hides your things from prying eyes.
There are two variants; the ‘Trend‘ and ‘Titanium‘, and while both share the same powertrain, there are various additions that set the two apart (see photo of leaflet in photo gallery), and as for price, the EcoSport Trend’s estimated price is just RM95,888 while the Titanium is RM104,888.
Driving around, the EcoSport feels a lot larger than it looks, and exudes a lot of presence on the road. It’s also confidence inspiring, and comfortable, and should do very well for those seeking an alternative to a family sedan, especially priced the way it is. Test drive one now at your nearest Ford showroom, or call 1-800-38-3181 or log on to www.ford.net.my and look out for AF’s full review of the EcoSport coming soon!
Specifications:
Engine: In-line 4-cyl, DOHC, 16v, MPI, 1498cc
Max power: 110bhp @ 6,300rpm
Max torque: 142Nm @ 4,400rpm
Transmission: 6-speed Powershift automatic
Fuel Petrol: RON95 (min)
Dimensions: (L/W/H) 4273 / 1765 / 1675 (mm)
Safety: ABS, EBD, ESP, Traction Control, Emergency Brake Assist, Hill Launch Assist, EPATS Immobilizer, ISOFIX,
Airbags Driver, front passenger, side, curtain, driver knee (Trend variant, driver & passenger only)
