Top features of the 2017 Ford EcoSport

Ford India has finally launched the 2017 EcoSport after a long wait. The American carmaker’s most successful model kick-started a new segment of sub-four-metre compact crossover when it was introduced in 2014. The segment has now turned out to be the highest growing segment of the Indian car market. The competition took the game away from the Blue Oval as the EcoSport had started to look slightly dated. But now, Ford has introduced the new and updated EcoSport to keep things interesting in the segment. Here are the 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. You can read all about it over here.

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.