Spec Comparison: Tata Nexon vs Ford Ecosport

Details of the Tata Nexon are out and before we can tell you how the car drives, we cannot resist pitting it against the competition, on paper that is. So we compare the Tata Nexon with the segment-pioneer, the Ford Ecosport, spec-by-spec, to find out how the Nexon fares.

Exterior
The Tata Nexon sets itself apart from the typical boxy SUV lines with its rounded design and the HorizonNext styling of the fascia. The Ecosport is boxy when compared to the Nexon and looks more aggressive. Both are just a whisker under 4000mm in length but the Nexon with its 351 litre boot just manages to edge over the 346-litre boot of the Ford. Also, Tata is known to eke out more cabin space than anyone else for a fixed set of dimensions.

Interior
The Tata Nexon cabin takes the cake here. Tata seems to have thought this out quite well, taking the interior game to the next level. With the luxury car-like rotary controller for power modes, the sliding cover for the storage space under the armrest and the tablet-like pop-out touchscreen, the Nexon screams premium from all directions. The Ford Ecosport also gets its share of bells and whistles like push-button start, power mirrors, steering mounted audio controls, like the Nexon, but then, it is a half-a-decade-old car.
The Ford scores on the safety front with six airbags for the top-spec car and child-seat mounts as standard. While we are yet to get these details for the Nexon, the Ford will certainly outshine the Tata in this department.

Engine and Gearbox
The Tata Nexon is offered with two engine options, both of which develop 110bhp of power. The 1.2-litre Revotron, the turbocharged petrol mill, develops 170Nm of torque and comes mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. The Ecosport gets two petrol options – the 1.0-litre 120bhp EcoBoost turbo-petrol and the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated 110bhp Ti-VCT engine. Both the engines come mated to a five-speed manual.
In case of the diesels, which sell a lot more than petrol cars in this segment, the Nexon gets a brand new 1.5-litre 110bhp, 260Nm torque turbocharged four cylinder engine. It outscores the 100bhp 1.5-litre diesel from the Ford and should give the Tata a little edge.

Conclusion
Numbers have their importance but how they fare out on the road is something that we will have to wait to find out. But until then, the Nexon seems to have the upper hand to start with.