EcoSport reinforces Ford’s winning streak

With its compact size and SUV agility, the EcoSport can carom through the narrow, twisted streets of Pasay, Binondo and San Juan, Manila as well as Rio de Janeiro’s “favelas.”

The EcoSport has class-leading 200-millimeter ground clearance and its 550-mm wading depth beats the Land Rover Defender’s.

While other global car manufacturers are stalling or struggling with massive safety recall issues, Ford Motor Co. surges ahead. On April 25, Ford reported a net income of $989 million in the first quarter of this year, its 19th consecutive profitable quarter and further proof of the continuing success of the One Ford Plan. One Ford was the turnaround plan of Alan R. Mulally, who took over the company in 2006 when it was spiraling into a financial crisis. During his tenure (which ended on July 1 when he retired), Mulally drastically cut operating costs, sold off unprofitable brands, adopted team-oriented procedures and vastly improved the quality of Ford passenger cars, especially smaller models like the Fiesta and Focus.

In 2012, the One Ford Plan built on the success of the improved Fiesta with its global B-segment platform and innovative technologies to develop the all-new, second-generation EcoSport supermini-sized SUV, which had been created in 2003 in Brazil by a team of Ford engineers and designers from more than 16 countries. Now manufactured in India, China and Thailand aside from Brazil, the all-new 2014 EcoSport will be offered in about 100 markets worldwide and debuted in the Philippines last January.

You may have noticed that Ford Philippines’ print ad shows a bright red EcoSport being driven or climbing down three steps from a sidewalk in an urban setting. The ad illustrates the agility of the EcoSport due to its compact dimensions, 200-millimeter ground clearance and handy approach and departure angles. Its Electronic Stability Control and Hill Launch Assist enable it to tackle all sorts and conditions of terrain, whether these be narrow, steeply sloping downwards or upwards, unpaved, potholed, tunneled, corrugated or flooded. In fact, the EcoSport’s 550-mm-water wading capacity trumps that of the Land Rover Defender. But it is a front wheel drive vehicle and does not have the transfer case and limited slip differential of a true 4×4 SUV.

12 KM PER LITER. The 1.5-liter inline 4 Ti-VCT (twin independent variable camshaft timing) engine performs as well as it does in the Fiesta, producing 108.49 horsepower at 6300 revolutions per minute and 142 Newton-meters max torque at 4400 rpm. Ford claims fuel efficiency averaging 12 kilometers per liter in mixed city and highway driving.

Inside, the voice-activated SYNC connectivity and six-speed Power Shift A/T

The six-speed Powershift automatic transmission is smooth despite a tendency to downshift slowly. Electric power-assisted steering is quick (2.3 turns lock to lock), well-weighted and adjusts to help the driver compensate for pulling and drifting when crosswinds and crowned road surfaces are detected. The suspension system consists of independent MacPherson strut with coil spring and antiroll bar in front and semi-independent twist beam with twin gas and oil filled shock absorbers at the rear.

Based on the Fiesta platform, but with a 32 mm longer wheelbase, the EcoSport is taller than the Fiesta and its overall length grew to 4,245 mm due to the swing tailgate-mounted spare wheel that enhances its off-roader look. Being taller rather than wider, the EcoSport more easily addresses steep driveway entries. However, the tendency to lean a bit when cornering is noticeable due to the higher center of gravity’s inherent sensitivity to cross winds. Despite its meager curb weight, the EcoSport offers a compliant, quiet ride and gives the impression of driving a bigger SUV partly because of its generous steering weight and extra suspension travel.

NIMBLE. Like the Fiesta, the EcoSport is nimble and easy to maneuver and park, with the risk of undercarriage and nose scrapes greatly reduced by the 200-mm ground clearance and the short front and rear overhangs. The EcoSport’s turning circle is a neat 10.8 meters. You have to watch out, though for the rear gate-mounted spare wheel when parking in reverse.  The high driving position gives a commanding view of the road.

At the back, plenty of legroom and headroom for tall passengers since the EcoSport is 4 centimeters longer than the Fiesta

The EcoSport’s boxy shape translates into plenty of headroom and legroom despite the overall size of the vehicle. Even a tall driver will leave enough leg-stretching room for tall adults in the backseat, which splits 60/40, can be reclined or folded down to accommodate long objects.  Measured up to the parcel shelf, the claimed cargo capacity is 340 liters that expands to 705 liters when the rear seat is folded down. The cargo area is tall with a wide aperture and low sill when you open the side-hinged tailgate, allowing the loading of big, heavy cargo like a washing machine. There are 20 storage cavities inside the EcoSport, a slide-out drawer under the front seat and an air-conditioned glove box that can hold and cool six soft drink cans.

Bantam-sized as it is, the EcoSport shows plenty of big SUV attitude with its bluff front end, muscular wheel arches and external tailgate-mounted spare wheel. The preponderance of hard plastics in the cabin is offset by Ice Blue dashboard illumination, ergonomically placed controls and knobs, comfy seats, the retractable sunroof, efficient climate control and reduced NVH (noise, vibration, harshness.) But what is truly convenient is Ford SYNC, the voice-activated connectivity system that enables you to keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel while controlling and operating the phone, stereo and other gadgets with voice commands.

The 1.5-liter, inline four cylinder engine produces 108.49 horsepower and 142 Newton-meters max torque. photos by Aida Sevilla-Mendoza

SMART FEATURES. Aside from Ford SYNC, the EcoSport offers other advanced features such as Smart Keyless Entry that allows you to unlock the doors automatically by pulling the door handle, then push the power start button and go. Your safety is guaranteed by driver and front passenger airbags, ABS, rear parking sensors, the aforementioned Electronic Stability Program and Hill Launch Assist and a strong body made of ultrahigh-strength steel including boron steel. In Australia where the EcoSport is equipped with seven airbags, it earned a five-star Ancap (Australian New Car Assessment Program) safety rating.

Bottom line, Ford reinforced its winning streak in the global car market by combining the agility, affordability, smart connectivity and fuel efficiency of a subcompact car with the versatility and spaciousness of an SUV in one strong, stylish package. In the Philippine market, the EcoSport is offered in four variants with automatic or manual transmission and retail prices ranging from P775,000 for the Ambiente MT to P975,000 for the Titanium AT. Suggestion to Ford Philippines managing director Kay Hart: Go even further by bringing in the 1-liter EcoBoost turbo-powered EcoSport!