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Pre-worshipped car of the week : Buying a Used Ford EcoSport

2nd April 2021, 14:37 by Aditya Nadkarni

The Ford EcoSport has the characteristics of a typical Ford - solid construction, fun to drive nature, sorted suspension. Over the years, the car has also had some great engines and transmissions.

Buying a used Ford EcoSport

You know a car is competent when it sells in healthy numbers, despite being 8 years old and relatively premium-priced! Launched in 2013, Ford's EcoSport is still capable of selling 3,000 - 4,000 copies / month. Based on the company's global B-car platform (which also underpinned the Fiesta), the EcoSport has the characteristics of a typical Ford - solid construction, fun to drive nature, sorted suspension. Over the years, the car has also had some great engines and transmissions.

Positives

Despite its age, the EcoSport is still among the most competent compact SUVs on sale in India
Good looks matched to solid build quality
1.5L diesel is tractable & economical, while the 1.5L 3-cylinder Dragon is revv-happy & fun
Dynamically sorted. Competent handling by crossover standards
Lots of fun to drive, in the city as well as on the highway
Loaded with kit (leather seats, paddle shifts, auto headlamps & wipers, cruise control, terrific SYNC3)
Smartly packaged interior. Adequate space for 4 adults. Lots of storage & practical features
Safety kit includes 6 Airbags, ESP, Hill Hold, EBA, emergency assist phone call & more
Decent reliability with the 1.5L TDCi Diesel & 1.5L 3-cylinder Petrol variants
Reasonable spare part prices, especially of the wear & tear variety

Negatives

Ride quality is far from plush; underlying firmness obvious, more so with the 16" & 17" variants
Rear seat space & narrow cabin width make a 5th occupant unwelcome. Best for 4 onboard
1.0L EcoBoost engine is best avoided. Turbo-lag, reliability issues, complex nature
Complicated dual-clutch AT is problematic. Pick only the torque-converter ATs
Tree trunk thick A-Pillars result in severe blind spots
Insane feature deletions over the years (lumbar adjustment, reclining rear seat, cooled glovebox...) and frustrating variant rejigs
Mahindra-Ford JV has been called off. We remain concerned about Ford's long-term commitment to India
Be prepared to pay a premium for the good examples. Model is in demand, new EcoSport is expensive
Later models have visible cost-cutting compared to the early builds

Related Threads

Mod Potential:

Very popular model here & abroad, so plentiful extras available in the after-market.

Image Source: Instagram

Availability:

Excellent. Sold well for 8 years so there is ample choice in the market. As mentioned, go for the 1.5L Dragon 3-cylinder Petrol or 1.5L Diesel. Avoid the 1.0L EcoBoost and dual-clutch ATs. If you have the budget, look out for the 2017+ Facelift which gets a nicer dashboard, SYNC3, better headlamps, slightly softer ride etc. Check out the examples on sale - link.