Ford Ranger 4x4 Wildtrak Double Cab 3.2L 6AT
The Indian-built EcoSport is essentially the excellent Fiesta supermini expressed as a soft-roader, with all the dynamic sophistication that implies. The steering is supremely accurate, but will resort to modest understeer when pushed.
The car is the top spec Titanium model, and comes with the only engine available in Thailand, a normally aspirated 110 bhp 1.5-litre petrol four. It comes with leather trim and 16-inch alloys. This is an especially soft-roader, since there is no 4x4 version available in Thailand. In the manner of all baby SUVs, the EcoSport is short and high, with a bluff front end and very short overhangs with a large and convenient side-opening rear door.
When you get into the car, through the wide doors, the relationship to the Fiesta is obvious from the dash design and the looming switch set about the centre console. It's quite roomy, offers pretty good rear accommodation for a four-and-a-bit metre car and has a decent boot that's easily accessible.
The rear seat folds and tumbles, and the resulting load space is generous, not least because it doesn't have to accommodate a full-size spare wheel.
The EcoSport drives well. The uncorrupted steering that is a feature of Fiestas is a little lighter in the EcoBoost, but supremely accurate. The car refused to lean much in corners, and gripped nicely while resorting to modest understeer when pushed. Even in a seriously strong crosswind, it felt very stable. But it is the ride that moves this car dynamically to the top of its class. It copes quietly with bad bumps, and keeps its poise very well, without ever losing the residual alertness and control of the Fiesta chassis.Most cars nowadays achieve five stars in the Euro NCAP crash test, so it's always slightly surprising when a new car like the Ford EcoSport only gets four. The car actually does extremely well on occupant protection, scoring 93 per cent, but was let down by a low score of 58 per cent for pedestrian safety and 55 per cent for safety assistance features.
Conclusion:
The EcoSport is a small roomy and practical city car for 4 adults + 1 child, with very good on-road dynamics, also on bad roads.
The car is the top spec Titanium model, and comes with the only engine available in Thailand, a normally aspirated 110 bhp 1.5-litre petrol four. It comes with leather trim and 16-inch alloys. This is an especially soft-roader, since there is no 4x4 version available in Thailand. In the manner of all baby SUVs, the EcoSport is short and high, with a bluff front end and very short overhangs with a large and convenient side-opening rear door.
When you get into the car, through the wide doors, the relationship to the Fiesta is obvious from the dash design and the looming switch set about the centre console. It's quite roomy, offers pretty good rear accommodation for a four-and-a-bit metre car and has a decent boot that's easily accessible.
The rear seat folds and tumbles, and the resulting load space is generous, not least because it doesn't have to accommodate a full-size spare wheel.
The EcoSport drives well. The uncorrupted steering that is a feature of Fiestas is a little lighter in the EcoBoost, but supremely accurate. The car refused to lean much in corners, and gripped nicely while resorting to modest understeer when pushed. Even in a seriously strong crosswind, it felt very stable. But it is the ride that moves this car dynamically to the top of its class. It copes quietly with bad bumps, and keeps its poise very well, without ever losing the residual alertness and control of the Fiesta chassis.Most cars nowadays achieve five stars in the Euro NCAP crash test, so it's always slightly surprising when a new car like the Ford EcoSport only gets four. The car actually does extremely well on occupant protection, scoring 93 per cent, but was let down by a low score of 58 per cent for pedestrian safety and 55 per cent for safety assistance features.
Conclusion:
The EcoSport is a small roomy and practical city car for 4 adults + 1 child, with very good on-road dynamics, also on bad roads.