New Ford EcoSport unveiled

The new compact SUV enhances quality, technology and capability to deliver more confidence and comfort.
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Rugged, stylish new exterior builds on Ford’s SUV heritage

The new Ford EcoSport compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) delivers enhanced versatility and capability, more refined styling and sophisticated technologies, making the newcomer a more attractive proposition than ever before.

Featuring fresh new exterior styling that is both dynamic and rugged, the latest EcoSport range also gains an entirely new, more upscale and user-centric interior that offers a superior occupant experience with floating central touchscreens on most models along with smart stowage solutions – including an adjustable boot floor.

“Ford’s Ecosport has been a major player in its segment ever since its launch, thanks to its great looks, impressive space and versatility, superb all-round performance and exceptional value for money,” says Tracey Delate, general manager for marketing at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa.

“The new Ford EcoSport offers customers even more style, comfort, capability and choice – blending rugged SUV functionality with unrivalled city car practicality.”

Rugged and refined styling

The new Ford EcoSport features bold, dynamic Ford SUV styling, reflecting the new key design traits introduced with the mid-sized Kuga in 2017. The front-end design is dominated by a large trapezoidal grille and distinctive angular headlights, incorporating stylish LED daytime running lights on the Trend and range-topping Titanium models.

A sculpted bonnet with a central bulge delivers a cleaner front-end appearance, while the angular fog light housings complete a front three-quarter profile that was inspired by the straps of a rucksack and designed to reflect an adventurous character.

The EcoSport’s rear bumper and tail light designs also are revised to deliver a cleaner, more sculpted appearance. Customers can choose from seven bold exterior colours across the three model lines, comprising Ambiente, Trend and Titanium.

Attractive new alloy wheel designs complement the rugged, sporty character, and are offered in Gunmetal grey five-spoke 16-inch versions on the Trend series, or striking 17-inch rims on the Titanium. The entry-level Ambiente model is fitted with 16-inch steel rims with wheel covers.

All-new interior

The Ford EcoSport delivers a new level of interior refinement with easier to use controls and soft-touch materials, along with an entirely new instrument cluster and centre console ergonomically designed for easy operation with fewer buttons.

New seat designs are optimised for greater front and rear occupant comfort, and deliver a more upscale feel, with luxurious full leather on the Titanium derivatives. The interior features a host of smart stowage solutions, including a new height adjustable boot floor that can be raised to provide concealed storage, or lowered to increase luggage capacity to 334 litres. The boot floor uses a special honeycomb construction that makes it gram-for-gram stronger than steel, and able to support more than 300 kg.

Sophisticated driver assistance technology

The new EcoSport builds on its commanding SUV driving position, advanced technologies and Ford’s well established reputation for rewarding driving dynamics to deliver an even more enjoyable and safer driving experience.

Ford’s sophisticated SYNC®3 communications and entertainment system is fitted as standard on the Trend and Titanium models, and incorporates Bluetooth and Voice Control. SYNC®3 is supported by the new floating colour touchscreen, which can be operated with pinch and swipe gestures. A 6.5-inch screen is fitted on the Trend models, while the Titanium features an 8-inch version as well as embedded turn-by-turn navigation.

Even at the most affordable end of the spectrum, the EcoSport Ambiente benefits from Ford’s first-generation SYNC® with Bluetooth and Voice Control, as well as steering wheel audio controls.

EcoSport for the first time provides Cruise Control with Adjustable Speed Limiter on the Titanium derivative that helps drivers keep within speed limits, while rear parking sensors are provided on all models to make parking manoeuvres more efficient and safer.

Active driving safety has been stepped up markedly across the range with standard fitment of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control (TC), as well as Roll Stability Control (RSC) in the EcoBoost range, that adjusts engine torque and braking to help drivers maintain control. Additionally, the 1.0 EcoBoost-powered models gain Hill Launch Assist (HLA) that makes pulling away on steep inclines easier, along with Ford’s Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

On the top-spec EcoSport Titanium, automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers remove some of the stresses of driving and enable customers to better concentrate on the road ahead, while the Electronic Automatic Temperature Control further enhance overall comfort.

Six airbags are fitted as standard on the EcoSport Ambiente, comprising dual front, side and curtain airbags, while the Trend and Titanium models are additionally equipped with a driver’s knee airbag. The side airbags have been redesigned to provide extra thorax protection and direct the occupant away from an impact; and new curtain airbags provide increased side-impact coverage.

Powerful and efficient

The new Ford EcoSport delivers an enhanced, more refined driving experience with reduced levels of noise, vibration and harshness. Ford’s multi-award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine takes centre stage in the revised line-up, exclusively powering the Trend and Titanium models.

The six-time International Engine of the Year in the sub-1.0-litre category delivers an exceptional combination of performance and fuel efficiency, and is ideally suited to the EcoSport. It produces an impressive 92 kW of power matched to a peak torque output of 170 Nm all the way from 1 400 to 4 500 r/min.

Trend and Titanium customers have the choice between a six-speed manual gearbox or the latest-generation six-speed automatic that recently made its debut on the all-new Ford Fiesta.

This torque-converter automatic transmission delivers improved refinement with seamless shifts, making it perfectly suited to bustling urban driving. Steering column-mounted paddle-shifters provide an additional level of control and driver engagement.

The frugal yet torquey 1.5-litre TDCi turbodiesel engine remains part of the line-up, offered in Ambiente trim, linked to a five-speed manual gearbox. It delivers 74kW and a substantial 205Nm of torque between 1 750 and 3 250 r/min.

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Republikein 2025-06-21

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