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>>The Ford EcoSport diesel has quite a few good things going for it, and it's no wonder
that it commands a huge waiting period. What's good, will sell. After living with this Ford
EcoSportdiesel for a few days -- here's what we can tell you up front. It's frugal and
it's fun to drive. Not convinced yet? Ok. Perhaps, the looks
may hook you. While Ford calls it a compact SUV, it's really more of a glorified hatchback
that'*** the gym. The menacing grille up front and swept back sleek headlamps, give
it plenty of road presence. At the rear, the spare wheel mounted on the
boot and compact window-line definitely lend it an SUV feel. The chunky doors are heavy
and add to that muscular feel. The boot door is electrically operated and feels like a
vault. However, space inside is best for four adults,
as the vehicle is not too wide. This Titanium Option variant we're driving comes with leather
upholstery. Four adults can sit in comfort with good legroom and elbow room, but a fifth
would be a squeeze. But the best part of this EcoSport diesel
is in the way it drives. It is powered by a 1.5 litre diesel engine that puts out 90
bhp of power and 204 newton meters of torque, with a five-speed manual transmission, driving
the front wheels. PTC: Roshun
And then there's Ford's characteristic ride and handling. The suspension setup is a bit stiff, but that
gives it a sporty feel. The large 16-inch wheels, 200 mm of ground clearance and robust
suspension make easy work of any kind of road -- potholes, sand or mud won't ruffle
the EcoSport. The cabin is pretty refined and you really
don't hear much noise inside except at high rpm and a bit of a clatter at idle. The best
part though, is despite proper city driving conditions and with the climate control on,
the EcoSport happily gave us over 16kilometers to the litre, while dishing out loads of fun
behind the wheel. Claimed fuel efficiency is 22.7 kilometers per litre, which should
be quite easy to achieve on the highway. The vehicle is loaded with features -- the
most notable being SYNC. This Bluetooth-enabled software pairs with your phone and takes voice
commands. It's not really convenient though, as there are too many steps involved for just
simple operations like switching music tracks. But where it's useful is in Emergency Assist
-- where the vehicle can dial out an emergency number if it crashes.
Safety includes six airbags and ABS brakes. Convenience features include full keyless
entry, push-button ignition, tilt and telescopic steering and powered mirrors.
Overall, this diesel Ford EcoSport lives up to its name. The Eco in EcoSport stands for
its excellent fuel economy and the Sport would stand for the sportiness and fun-to-drive
factor behind the wheel. It does make a lot of sense as an alternative to a premium hatchback
or even a sedan.