The Ford EcoSport is one of the longest-serving compact family cars in the South African market, but it’s still one of the most popular models in its segment. Now a new derivative – the EcoSport 1.0T Active – has joined the lineup and with it, the Blue Oval hopes to inject some life into the ageing model. Ciro De Siena drove it at its local launch in Cape Town.
I first drove a Ford EcoSport at the model’s global debut in India in 2013. At the time, it was a car that felt important for the brand, as well as within the context of the new-vehicle market in general. Arguably, the EcoSport was a pioneer; it was, along with the Dacia Duster (which is, of course, badged as a Renault in Mzansi) among the first offerings in what is now a fiercely contested segment – that of the compact crossover/small SUV.
Almost a decade later, I find myself seated in one of Cape Town’s most popular coffee shops, where the waiter tells you what you’d like to drink and that they don’t keep sugar on site because, in their opinion, their coffee is perfection in a cup and “how dare you demand sugar, you pleb?”
Anyway, I digress. Lined up outside this shrine to Cape Town’s most unaccommodating approach to serving patrons were 5 of the best-looking Ford EcoSports I’d ever seen. Right off the bat – in my opinion, at least – the visual changes that Ford has applied to this new derivative compliment the EcoSport’s design cues in the best way possible; they make the ageing compact family car look more substantial, so as to increase its presence, both on the road and in car parks.
It is a testament to how well the EcoSport was conceived, engineered and built that, all these years later, the model still sells extremely well in South Africa, where it fends off an onslaught of competition from newer models, some of which hadn’t even been thought of when the Blue Oval’s compact family car made its debut.
What’s New?
The EcoSport 1.0T Active, priced at R393 700, sits second from the top in the EcoSport line-up, just below the 1.0 Titanium. The distinguishing elements of the Active are largely cosmetic, but they amount to more than just “some sticker pack”.
A significant addition is that of tough-wearing, black plastic cladding to the exterior (in key places), which gives the EcoSport 1.0T Active a significantly chunkier look. Newly-designed 17-inch alloys, dual-tone paint scheme (with contrasting black roof), bumpers and rear “diffuser” contribute to what is a handsome little car, especially when clad in sunshine-infused metallic paintwork, known as Luxe Yello, which makes up a quartet of body colours available for the newcomer.
Other visual flourishes include the black mirror caps and roof rails, along with dark-tinted privacy glass for the rear windows.
Throughout the years, Ford has significantly upgraded the EcoSport’s interior, and the prominent touchscreen infotainment system – seated in a glossy piano black frame – lifts the cabin and makes it feel more modern. Sure, you can see the age of some components, such as the old-school HVAC dials and buttons, as well as the swinging needles of the instrument cluster, but such anachronisms are to be expected.
The standard leather upholstery, however, certainly adds to the luxurious feel of the cabin. Overall, the interior feels a little plasticky in places but, in general, the feel of the materials and especially the build quality are of acceptible standard.
Another standard feature that adds to the contemporary feel of the EcoSport’s user experience is the ability to connect your car to the FordPass app on your smartphone. The 1.0T Active features a 4G always-on connection to the South African mobile network, so as long as your smartphone has a data connection (4G or WiFi), you can connect to your car from anywhere in the world.
The app allows you to remotely unlock or lock the car, start the engine and check the fuel level. It also brings up service and warranty information, can help you to find a Ford dealer and even lets you book a service, if required.
What it’s like to drive
The 1.0T Active is powered by the same 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbopetrol engine that powers the mid- to high-end derivatives in the EcoSport range. With healthy outputs of 92 kW and 170 Nm, the “EcoBoost” never feels gutless; the venerable powerplant goes about its business more quietly than you might expect. The engine has been well paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission (the only ‘box available in the 1.0T Active) and gear changes are smooth and unobtrusive.
In terms of the all-important fuel consumption figure, Ford claims a combined-cycle figure of 6.3 L/100 km for the EcoSport 1.0T Active. On our launch drive, we averaged a very respectable 7.6 L/100 km… and that was without really trying to drive frugally on a route comprised mostly of urban roads. I suspect if you’re light with your right foot and hit the open road a bit more, that figure should drop below 7 L/100 km.
I’ve always been impressed by the EcoSport’s ride quality. With its slightly softer suspension setup, which I think is perfect for this type of vehicle, the Ford deals with most road imperfections (bumps and potholes) with minimal intrusion into the cabin. It has a quiet and comfortable ride at city speeds, and although we didn’t do much open-road driving, I can’t imagine it would fare differently at highway speeds. It offers a mature and refined on-road demeanour that befits its price point.
What it’s up against
Phew, I can count at least a dozen rivals to the Ford EcoSport “just off the top of my head”, as they say: Chery Tiggo 4 Pro , Honda WR-V , Hyundai Venue , Kia Sonet , Mahindra XUV300 , Nissan Magnite , Renault Kiger and Duster , Suzuki Vitara Brezza , its facsimile – the Toyota Urban Cruiser – and the Volkswagen T-Cross and Taigo . Apologies if I left any model out, but South African motorists are truly spoilt for choice in this corner of the market.
Yes, the Ecosport 1.0T Active carries one of the higher sticker prices in its segment, but I think this is one of those cases where you get what you pay for. In terms of safety systems, the EcoSport is well specced; the cabin features 7 airbags compared to say, the 2 you’ll find in a much more affordable Vitara Brezza or Urban Cruiser. It also features a key safety feature – ESC (electronic stability control) and not all of the so-called “budget crossovers” are equipped with that!
The future of the EcoSport
You may have seen or read that Ford is phasing out its operations on the Subcontinent… and India has been one of the key manufacturing hubs for the EcoSport. I asked Ford Motor Company of South Africa (FMCSA) representatives how this would affect the local supply of the model (our market is supplied with EcoSport units from Europe and India). For the record, the 1.5-litre (non-turbo) Ambiente derivatives come from India; the rest of the range is sourced from Europe.
The representatives assured me that FMCSA had significant stock of the 1.5 Ambiente. Plenty more are confirmed for South Africa (they’re ostensibly stockpiled in India), with several units already in transit by carrier ship at the time of writing.
In all likelihood, FMCSA has some idea of when the supply of the 1.5 Ambiente derivatives will run dry, but the Silverton-based manufacturer’s representatives didn’t reveal an end date. At some point, the 1.5 Ambiente will no longer be on sale in South Africa. Still, the Blue Oval has absolutely no plans to discontinue the EcoSport in South Africa anytime soon – it will keep selling the model for as long as it remains in production in Europe.
Price & after-sales support
To reiterate, the EcoSport 1.0T Active automatic retails for R393 700 and comes standard with a 4-year/120 000 km warranty, 4-year/unlimited km roadside assistance and 5-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty. A 4-year/60 000 km service plan, however, is an extra-cost option. The recommended service interval is 15 000 km or every 12 months, whichever occurs first.
Read about the EcoSport 1.0T Active’s specifications in detail
Summary
While many of the EcoSport’s rivals represent an affordable way into this segment, and the new 1.0T Active is positioned at the pricier end of the segment (as a compact family car, rather than a budget crossover), the newcomer is packed with nifty features that help to justify its price tag, plus it sure looks the part! Given the model’s very healthy sales figures, FMCSA’s top brass must be hoping that their colleagues in Europe will keep EcoSport production going for a while yet…
