I was heading on my first trip to Durban and I was looking for the perfect vehicle to explore Durban with. After seen many Ford EcoSports in Cape Town, I decided that I should get the EcoSport to explore Durban with. Was this a good idea? Let’s find out.
The Ford EcoSport is a compact SUV that looks great on and off road. On the outside, the EcoSport is bold and sporty. At the front, the large chrome grille and narrow lights really give the EcoSport an aggressive look. The side of the vehicle features black plastic detailing which emphasises the height of the vehicle and it’s off road capabilities. At the rear, the large rear door with spare wheel really reminds one that this is a vehicle meant to go off road.
On the inside, the EcoSport has a really sporty interior. The speedometer and rev counter are well designed to be easily visible. The steering wheel is easy to grip, comfortable to hold and has shortcuts for the radio, hands free calls and to enable cruise control. The radio interface was a bit cluttered but overall easy to use. The leather seats in the Titanium were soft to the touch and super comfortable. I found the aircon system to be really effective, perfect for keeping cool in durban’s summery winter and warm when it got cold at night.
To keep you connected while on the road, the EcoSport features Sync which we have seen in many of the other Fords I have driven. By connecting your bluetooth and usb devices to the EcoSport, you can make or receive calls, play music or get text messages read out to you. Sync allows you to stay connected while keeping your eyes on the road. The audio experience was really enjoyable. Depending on the model, you either get 4 or 6 speakers. (Titanium has 6 speakers as standard)
The EcoSport is a city size SUV. On the outside the vehicle looks small compared to larger SUVs but on the inside, there is loads of space. With seating for 5, loads of storage space, including a glove box that can keep your drinks cool and boot space of up to 705L, the EcoSport is far larger on the inside than what meets the eye. The rear seats can also be folded down, in a 60:40 setup to give you space for longer objects such as surfboards or bicycles.
The EcoSport comes in three engine sizes, in petrol and diesel derivatives. In the petrol range, you have the choice of a 1.5 TiVCT engine (Ambiente or Titanium Powershift Auto) which delivers 82kW and 128Nm of torque. This engine will give you 6.5L per 100KM in a 5 speed manual gearbox or a 6 speed Powershift Auto transmission with Select Shift, so you can still change gears manually without a clutch. Secondly, you have the 1.0 EcoBoost engine (Trend or Titanium) which gives a whopping 92Kw and 170Nm of torque. The 1.0 has a much lower fuel efficiency of 5.7L per 100KM and only comes in a 5 speed manual transmission.
In the diesel range, you get a 1.5 TDCi engine (Trend or Titanium) which delivers 74kW and 205Nm of torque. The Diesel engine gives you the best fuel efficiency of 4.6L per 100km and a 5 speed manual gearbox.
I drove the 1.5 TDCi Titanium around durban and found the performance perfect for city life. The 1.5 TDCi delivers quick take offs and the manual gearbox is very smooth with high power delivery in low gears! The EcoSport handles corners really well with no understeer or oversteer. Outside noise is also kept out. Parking is also very easy thanks to the rear parking sensors which are standard on all models.
2 amazing views. The skyscrapers of Umhlanga and the Ford EcoSport 😎 #Ford #EcoSport #Durban #DurbanHasMore #GalaxyS9 @FordSouthAfrica @dbntourism pic.twitter.com/HvOtKlSEJD
— Cape Town Guy (@TheCapeTownGuy) June 6, 2018
Most drivers of the EcoSport will keep to the roads but for the adventurous ones, the EcoSport does pretty well off road. With 200mm of ground clearance you should have no issue with potholes, ditches or in my case, speed bumps! If you get very adventurous and plan to get wet, wading through up to 550mm of water should be fine. Unfortunately 4 wheel drive is not available so try not to go into very rough terrain.
To keep you safe on the road, all models have front, side and curtain airbags as well as ABS as standard. Traction Control System is available on the Titanium model only. Hill Launch Assist, which keeps you from rolling while your foot is off the brake is available on the 1.5 PowerShift Auto model.
To save you the hassle of turning off your lights, the Titanium models feature auto headlamps. All models have electric windows in the front but only the Titanium models have rear electric windows.
The EcoSport is far from boring and this is evident in the choice of colours. From Bright Yellow to Mars Red, you can really express yourself with the EcoSport.
Personally I’d go for the Moondust Silver or Diamond White but hey be more adventurous than me 😉
On the Ambiente model you get 15 inch wheel covers as standard. While on the Trend and Titanium models, you get a choice of two 16 inch Alloys.
What will the EcoSport cost you?
1.5 Ambiente R 257 900
1.0T Trend R 286 400
1.5TDCi Trend R 289 800
1.0T Titanium R 313 800
1.5TDCi Titanium R 315 000
1.5 Titanium auto R 318 900
The EcoSport comes with a 4 year/120K km comprehensive Warranty and a 4 year/60K km service plan.
The EcoSport is not here to challenge the likes of the Hyundai Tucson or Volkswagen Tiguan. It is here to challenge the Renault Duster. To be fair to the Duster, I will not compare the two as I have not driven the Duster but it looks like the EcoSport gives the Duster some serious competition.
Overall I really enjoyed my drive in the EcoSport. I loved the fact that I could drive easily in the city but also tackle gravel roads while doing some exploring in Durban. I found the inside to be spacious, comfortable and loved that there is loads of storage space. The EcoSport has nippy performance and is light on fuel. Starting at R257900, you really do get a lot for your money! The EcoSport really is the perfect vehicle for everyday life and weekend getaways!
