2017 Ford EcoSport facelift launched

The Ford EcoSport went against all odds to kickstart the compact SUV segment when it was launched in the Indian market. The engines and transmission combinations were perfect and its dimensions were spot-on for urban use.

With the 2017 EcoSport facelift, the American carmaker attempts to address several shortcomings to make the package more desirable than ever. Prices for the 2017 Ford EcoSport facelift start at Rs 7.31 lakh for the base petrol variant and go up to Rs 10.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the top-of-the-line Titanium+ trim.

While the Dragon series petrol engine is all-new in the range, the 1.5-litre TDCi diesel mill is carried over from the pre-facelift version. The three-cylinder petrol motor generates 121 BHP of power and 150 Nm of torque and the familiar four-cylinder diesel unit pushes out 99 BHP of power and 205 Nm of torque.

Apart from the standard five-speed manual gearbox, some petrol trims can be had with an optional six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. There is no EcoBoost engine or diesel-automatic in the mix.

The front fascia looks contemporary with the addition of projector headlamps and revised foglamp recesses while the rear looks too similar to the pre-facelift model in comparison. The Titanium+ variant gets 17-inch alloy wheels and is loaded with advanced features such as ESC, keyless entry, traction control, cruise control, automatic wipers and headlamps, parking camera and a total of six airbags. In a welcome move, ABS, EBD and two airbags come standard across the range. Lower variants get smaller 15-inch and 16-inch wheels. Braking duties are performed by ventilated discs at the front and drum brakes at the rear.

The coveted eight-inch floating touchscreen infotainment unit is available on the top two trims while the Trend variants are fitted with a smaller 6.5-inch system. The dashboard design has been completely revamped and looks much better than the outgoing car. The top trim also gets leather upholstery to improve cabin feel. Ford is also providing a host of accessory options such as rear seat infotainment system, roof cross bars, seat covers, etc. to let the owners spruce up their compact SUVs to their taste.

The Ford EcoSport facelift must be appraised as it is a whole-hearted attempt by the manufacturer. It shows a marked improvement over the pre-facelift model while retaining the obvious positives of small size and predictable dynamics. With the new petrol engine and a better spread of features, the 2017 EcoSport seems to be in full form to take on the likes of the Tata Nexon and Maruti Vitara Brezza.