Here's a comparison of Ford EcoSport with five major contenders:
Ford EcoSport vs Maruti Swift – A person buying the Swift might be tempted to get a compact SUV. While the petrol engine on the Swift is more frugal than the 1.5-litre petrol EcoSport, the diesel powered model can be a lucrative option for those opting for the ZDi variant of the Swift. The Swift ZDi is priced at Rs. 8.34 lakhs and lower varaints of the EcoSport diesel are available at Rs. 7.93 lakhs for the Ambiente and Rs. 9.01 lakhs for the Trend.
Ford Ecosport vs Renault Duster
The base Duster is priced at Rs. 9.05 lakhs while the base EcoSport is priced at Rs. 6.63 lakh, a big difference of Rs. 2.42 lakh. The base Duster diesel is priced at Rs. 10.06 lakh while the base EcoSport diesel comes in at Rs. 7.93 lakh, a difference of 2.13 lakh.
Renault's Duster is powered by the familiar 1.5 dCi engine we've seen in the Logan, Fluence, Scala and Pulse, which in the top-of-the-line variant produces 108bhp. The Duster takes a bit longer than the EcoSport to deliver its turbo, so when you cross the 2000rpm mark, there's surge in power that can be a bit irritating in stop-and-go traffic. However, the Duster is more rewarding if you keep your foot on the throttle pedal. Duster is a good cruiser on open roads. But in the city, the combination of heavy clutch and turbo lag spoils the party.
In comparison, the EcoSport's 89bhp, 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine is good at city traffic. This is mainly because of instant delivery of power at low to medium engine speeds. It has got the lighter clutch of the two and its gearbox has a nice mechanical feel to it. However, the EcoSport is not too good on the highway, when you have to execute a high-speed overtaking move.
In terms of ride and handling, both cars perform equally well. Despite their tall stance with high ground clearance, they are as easy to drive as against an average hatchback.
On the inside, you'll notice a good difference between the two. The Duster's dashboard features a fresh design, two-tone colour scheme and better ergonomics, but it falls short on quality, due to the plastic. In addition, the overall design also looks simple enough. On the other hand, the EcoSport's interior is similar to the Fiesta saloon. The dash has a modern, angular design, dominated by the V-shaped centre console.
In terms of safety, the EcoSport gets dual airbags and ABS with EBD on the Titanium trim. Titanium Optional adds Emergency Assist side and curtain airbags, which brings the total count to six. The Duster, on the other hand, only gets dual front airbags, even on the top-spec RxZ trim that comes with ABS with EBD and brake assist.
The Eco Sport claims a fuel efficiency of 22kmpl for its diesel model and about the same for its petrol model. While the Duster claims a fuel efficiency of approximately 20.64kmpl for its diesel model and approximately 13.24kmpl for its petrol model.
