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passenger seat to stow small items from
curious eyes.
Sitting on a stretched Fiesta platform,
the EcoSport provides adequate room
to house 4 adults very comfortably.
The rear seats conveniently recline for
added comfort but shoulder room seems
a bit of a squeeze for a 5th passenger.
The sunroof is nice for bringing a little
sunshine into the cabin but is too small
for UFO-spotting. Cargo capacity is an
acceptable 362 liters and increases to 705
when you fold the tumble-forward rear
seats. An advantage to having a vehicle
with a wide (1,027mm) and tall (880mm)
cargo open is that you can load a washing
machine in the rear. Who else can boast
of doing laundry on the go? Safety-wise,
the Titanium variant is equipped with
7 airbags.
VERDICT
There are enough practical features
packaged into this stout, striking SUV
to warrant serious consideration. Small
enough to squeeze into tight parking
spaces and high enough to clear kerbs
and flash floods, it’s darn near perfect
for the urban dweller.
FireFlyz | 67
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE
1,498cc Twin Independent
Variable Camshaft Timingwith
electronicmulti-point fuel
injection
OUTPUT
110PS@6,300rpm; 142Nm@
4,400rpm
TRANSMISSION
6-speed Powershift dual dry
clutch automaticwithmanual
override
BRAKESANDSUSPENSION
Ventilated disc (Front); drum
(Rear); MacPherson strut (Front);
twist beam (Rear); Hill Launch
Assist; ABS; EBD; EBA; Traction
Control; ESP
TYRE SIZE
205/60 R16
WHEELBASE (mm)
2,519
DIMENSIONS (mm)
4,273 (L) x 1,765 (W) x 1,675 (H)
KERBWEIGHT (kg)
N/A
FUEL TANK (l)
52
PRICE (OnThe RoadWith
Insurance)
RM 103,888
Titanium reviewed) have this engine
paired with the 6-speed dual clutch
Powershift gearbox. It’s responsive for the
most part and goes well with the engine.
Bear in mind, it is a dual clutch so expect
the typical idiosyncrasies such as low
speeds and deceleration. However, once
you’re on 3rd gear and beyond, it works
like a charm.
DRIVE
Based on the feisty Fiesta hatchback, Ford
has managed to keep much of that vim in
a tall vehicle albeit with some sacrifices.
The suspension rides on the firm side
and can do with a dash of finesse; bumps
and potholes filter through the cabin. The
rear can feel a little unsettled over uneven
roads but it’s not any worse than rear
torsion beamed vehicles.
On the positive side, steering feel and
feedback is good, enhancing the agile feel
of the car. Exterior noise stays outside for
the most part. The good forward visibility
is afforded by the high seating position.
Visibility out the rear screen seems a tad
limited but it wasn’t a major issue.
INTERIOR
The interior is wrapped in hardy but
durable plastic. Glance at the dashboard
and its relation to the Fiesta is obvious,
even to the visually impaired. The button
configuration in the center reminds one of
a turn-of-the-century mobile phone and is
quite a hit or miss deal. But nestled within
is Ford’s SYNC voice command feature
which lets you orally control your phone,
your music and even your text messages.
The glovebox doubles as a drink chiller
but if you prefer yours warm, just keep
it in any of the cup holders available.
There’s also a drawer under the front