Test-Drive: Ford EcoSport Punches Above Its Weight - Wall Street Journal

The new Ford EcoSport has a lot of aggression packed into its tiny 3.9 meter long body. The oversized front grill and beefy front end imply ruggedness not normally associated with compact SUVs. The roof rails and ample ground clearance hint of a life on the open road. The interior trim has a premium quality and familiar feel, having been poached from the less rugged Ford Fiesta midsized sedan. The similarities don't stop at the interior spaces. The latest EcoSport is based on Ford's B-platform, on which the company's Fiesta is also built. The height-adjustable seats made of faux leather were comfortable and functional. The rear bench seat appeared large enough to seat three mid-sized adult passengers comfortably, meaning that its billing as a five seat SUV is no lie. The test drive occurred over a predetermined 140 kilometer route, long enough to get a feel for the car. The raised seat position gives a commanding view of the road, while the vehicle's compact design and the precise steering meant that handling was nimble. During the test drive a major design flaw emerged that may be a deal breaker for some Indians. The horn is in the middle of the steering wheel, which made it difficult to turn and honk at the same time. The Wall Street Journal test drove both the 1.5 liter diesel and the 1.0 liter, turbocharged "EcoBoost" version of the SUV. The responsiveness and acceleration of the diesel version was impressive, feeling much stronger than the official 91 horsepower that Ford says it produces. The EcoBoost was slightly less overwhelming, despite producing a reported 125 horsepower. Ford plans to offer three engine options. In addition to the diesel engine, the SUV will be available with a 1.5 liter gasoline engine as well as the company's much touted EcoBoost. Ford hopes that the gasoline-powered EcoBoost engine will coax Indians away from diesel cars. Read more in India Real Time. via Technology - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFbF3COnPHYL6IP_4clGmn8WZOS3A&url=http://stream.wsj.com/story/latest-headlines/SS-2-63399/SS-2-233967/

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