Ford EcoSport is a front- or all-wheel drive SUV of a subcompact class, which (according to the automaker itself) combines the advantages of a compact model (practical interior with small dimensions, excellent maneuverability, fuel efficiency) and the advantages of an off-road vehicle (high ground clearance, all-wheel drive) ...
It is aimed at the most "motley" target audience, starting with young people leading an active lifestyle, and ending with people of age who have country cottages ...
The second generation of the crossover (in concept guise) debuted at the beginning of January 2012 at the International Auto Show in New Delhi, and its commercial version was presented to the general public in April of the same year at the stands of the Beijing Motor Show ... Car sales began a few months later after the official premiere, while it “reached” the Russian market only in December 2014 (moreover, with a “registration” in Naberezhnye Chelny).
In November 2016, a public demonstration of the "restyled EcoSport" in the North American specification took place as part of the Los Angeles auto show, but it appeared in Russia only in May 2018.
After the modernization, the SUV "matured" outwardly (due to the redrawn "front" part), acquired a completely changed interior, received a revised range of engines and gearboxes, and also "armed" with new modern equipment.
Compared to most of the "licked" SUVs, the Ford EcoSport is perceived as a real "rogue", although in general it looks nice, but not quite balanced.
The front of the five-door flaunts a stern look of wide-open eyes-headlights, a "family" radiator grille with a honeycomb pattern and a raised bumper, and from the rear it attracts attention with lean outlines with stylish lanterns and a large fifth door (on which, in the Russian specification, "off-road »The spare wheel is suspended).
In profile, the crossover is distinguished by a high silhouette, accentuated by a solid ground clearance, with short overhangs, expressive plastic sidewalls, a flying sill line and "blown" wheel arches.
In terms of its dimensions, EcoSport does not go beyond the subcompact class: its length is 4325 mm, its width does not go beyond 1765 mm (excluding mirrors), and its height rests on 1670 mm. The size of the wheelbase of the off-road vehicle is 2519 mm, and its ground clearance is 200 mm.
The "combat" weight of the vehicle varies from 1296 to 1463 kg (depending on the modification).
The interior of the Ford EcoSport looks attractive, mature and European soundly, and attention is immediately focused on the protruding and rigidly fixed "tablet" of the infotainment center, the diameter of which is equal to 4.2 to 8 inches (this figure is influenced by the level of equipment).
The driver's workplace is crowned with a relief multifunctional steering wheel with a three-spoke rim and a solid "toolbox" with large dials on a matte background, flavored with a large display, and the center console is decorated with an exemplary "microclimate" block with a classic layout.
The decoration of the crossover is devoid of obvious ergonomic flaws, and is assembled mainly from pleasant materials.
The front riders in the car are assigned to tightly profiled seats with a wide range of adjustments and heating, and the rear - an ergonomically molded sofa. But if the first row of seats is able to accommodate even tall people, then in the "gallery" tall passengers will feel a lack of legroom (and the third will definitely be superfluous here).
By the standards of its class, the Ford EcoSport has a decent trunk - its normal volume is 354 liters. The rear sofa is compared to the floor by two unequal sections, thereby increasing the "hold" capacity to 1184 liters. An additional compartment for small things is hidden under the raised floor at the five-door, while the spare wheel is attached to the outside on the fifth door.
In the Russian market, the restyled "EcoSport" is offered with two gasoline "aspirated":
- By default, under the hood of the crossover there is an inline three-cylinder engine of the Dragon family with a working volume of 1.5 liters with distributed fuel injection, variable valve timing and a 12-valve timing, which produces 123 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 151 Nm of torque at 4500 rpm.
- The "top" versions are based on a 2.0-liter "four" Duratec with a vertical architecture, direct "power", 16 valves and variable valve timing technology, generating 148 hp. at 6000 rpm and 194 Nm of peak thrust at 4500 rpm.
The “junior” engine is mated with a 5-speed “mechanics” or 6-speed “automatic” (with a torque converter) and a front-wheel drive transmission, and the “senior” - exclusively with an automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system Intelligent All-Wheel Drive with a multi-plate Dana clutch transferring power to the rear wheels.
It is worth noting that before the update, the crossover was available in Russia only with four-cylinder naturally aspirated engines - 1.6-liter, producing 122 hp. and 148 Nm of torque, and a 2.0-liter, developing 140 hp. and 186 Nm. They were combined with a "mechanic" for five gears or a "robotic" PowerShift with six ranges.
At the heart of the Ford EcoSport is a front-wheel-drive B2E platform with a transversely located "heart" and a monocoque body, largely consisting of high-strength steel grades. An independent suspension with MacPherson struts is mounted on the front axle of the car, and the modification affects the design of the rear end: the front-wheel drive is a semi-independent system with a twisting beam, and the all-wheel drive is an independent multi-link.
The crossover has a rack-and-pinion steering with an "implanted" electric amplifier. At the front, the car is equipped with ventilated disc brakes, and at the rear - drum mechanisms (in the "state" - with ABS, EBD and other electronics).
In the Russian market, the restyled 2018 Ford EcoSport can be purchased in five equipment options - "Ambiente", "Trend", "Trend Plus", "Titanium" and "Titanium Plus".
An all-terrain vehicle in the basic configuration with a 1.5-liter engine and front-wheel drive costs at least 959,000 rubles, and its functionality combines: two front airbags, unpainted mirrors with heating and electrically adjustable, 16-inch steel wheels, four power windows, audio preparation with four speakers, ABS , EBA, ESC, ERA-GLONASS system and some other options.
A car with a 123-strong "troika" and a 6-speed automatic transmission is offered from the "Trend" version at a price of 1,089,000 rubles, the version with a 2.0-liter engine will cost from 1,229,000 rubles, and the top-end modification is not cheaper than 1,259,000 rubles.
"Full stuffing" implies the presence of: seven airbags, a single-zone "climate", combined trim, a media center with a 6.5-inch screen, a rear-view camera, an audio system with six speakers, 17-inch light-alloy "rollers", heated front seats, light sensors and rain, front and rear parking sensors, rear view cameras, keyless engine start and other modern equipment.
