The 2017 Ford EcoSport made has its official debut in the country with the same price tag as before. The EcoSport was the first one to introduce the compact crossover segment in the country when it was launched back in 2014. Now as a part of its mid-life update, Ford’s mini-SUV comes with new fascia, new engine, and a completely redesigned cabin. Here are top highlights of the 2017 Ford EcoSport:
New design:
The facelifts introduce a fresh fascia with a slightly tweaked rear of the compact crossover. The imposing hexagonal grille is now dominating the fascia, eliminating the thin strip atop the main grille which housed the logo on the outgoing model. The front bumper is entirely redesigned with larger but squared-off fog lamps and LED DRLs. The headlights retain the shape, but they are now bigger than before. The silhouette remains unchanged, while at the rear, the taillights get a new signature. The new EcoSport now rides on larger 17-inch alloy wheels in the top-spec.
Updated cabin:
That this is a new EcoSport is evident once you step inside the cabin. The entire dashboard is redesigned and is now more aesthetic than before. The highlight, though, is the vertically stacked infotainment screen which can be had in either six- or eight-inches size. It gets the brand's SYNC3 system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Ford also claims that they’ve reworked the air-con to cool the cabin quicker than before. The steering wheel is all-new too. The instrument cluster isn’t as funky as before but is functional. There’s a plethora of storage places all around the cabin. Additionally, you also get ambient lighting, cruise control with adjustable speed-limiting device and a tyre pressure monitoring system on the top-spec model.
Powertrain:
Powering the new EcoSport is a pair of 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines. The petrol is a newly developed three-cylinder Dragon engine with 123bhp and 150Nm of torque. The oil burner, on the other hand, is the same four-cylinder turbodiesel from the older car which develops 99bhp and 205Nm. The transmission option is a five-speed manual as standard, while the petrol variant gets an optional six-speed automatic. The EcoSport is the only compact crossover in its segment to be offered with a petrol automatic option.
