Ford EcoSport Facelift: 5 Things To Know

Remember how India was known as the market for hatchbacks? Well, that hasn't exactly changed. But a new segment of personal transportation has gained a lot of market share - the sub 4-metre SUV/crossover.

While the growth in popularity of this segment cannot be attributed to a single car, the Ford EcoSport's role in it cannot be denied. While Maruti Suzuki took its time in launching its competitor in the segment, the Vitara Brezza has sucker-punched the competition to the ground since its launch in March 2016.

The Ford EcoSport, meant for the Asia-Pacific market, has been showcased at the 2017 Auto Shanghai, and the same model (with minimal changes) is expected to be launched in India. Here are 5 things you should know about the same.

1. Mucho Macho

While Ford did put in a lot of effort to make the current EcoSport look like an SUV, it was never exactly brawny. The EcoSport facelift, though, will look the part.

The EcoSport facelift now sports redesigned headlamps with DRLs and projector lamps. The new large hexagonal grille replaces the earlier two-part unit. It looks bigger and features two thick horizontal bars with large slot-like elements. The indicators and fog lamps have been integrated into one unit and are placed higher up at the front. The body-coloured panels now extend till the lower black cladding around the front silver skid pad and add a bit more character.

The side profile of the new EcoSport is similar to the model currently sold in India. The only updates here are the 17-inch alloy wheels, the particular design may make their way to India.

At the rear, the design is familiar because...

2. The Spare Wheel Lives!

The EcoSport facelift was first showcased in November 2016, and the deletion of the tailgate-mounted spare wheel did make some Indians take notice. Thankfully, the model shown then was meant for the US and European markets - where customers were not as enamoured by the feature.

The EcoSport facelift, bound for India, will get a tailgate-mounted spare wheel. Moreover, the wheel cover has been redesigned to mimic the brawny design at the front. Another small change at the rear is that the number plate holder on the bumper now gets a silver surround.

3. Fancy Interiors

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The interior of the EcoSport facelift has been overhauled completely. The three-spoke steering wheel has been completely revised, with multi-function buttons which look better integrated now. The instrument cluster is not as funky as before, but that also means better legibility and the addition of a better MID screen. 

The centre console now features a large 'floating' touchscreen infotainment system, the centre AC vents are placed below the screen, the AC control panel is new and so is the lower centre console. The door pads, seats and other elements inside the EcoSport have also been updated for a fresher look and better feel.

4. New Equipment

The highlight of the updates made on the inside is the new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Ford's latest SYNC 3 connectivity suite. This is faster than the SYNC system found on the current EcoSport. It pairs better with smartphones and gets additional apps to help integrate services better than before.

The SYNC 3 system also adds handwriting recognition to the touchscreen interface - this allows users to enter addresses into the in-built navigation system faster. The new feature works as an addition to the voice-recognition system, which has been improved to recognise more accents.

5. Familiar Engines

While Ford has made big changes on all fronts, it is not expected to do the same in the engine-transmission department. The restrictions on engine capacities, thanks to the sub 4-metre regulations in India, mean that Ford will continue to use the 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol (111PS/140Nm/15.85kmpl-MT or 15.60kmpl-AT)  1.0-litre 3-cylinder EcoBoost petrol (125PS/170Nm/18.88kmpl) and 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel (100PS/205Nm/22.27kmpl) motors.

Will the EcoSport be able to dethrone the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza? It certainly looks like the new EcoSport has got what it takes, but only time will tell whether it actually can.