SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Most, but not all, the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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More good stuff: 2018 Ford Ecosport 1.0T Trend automatic

Look at the plusses.

Posted: 19 November 2018

The numbers

Price: R306 900
Engine: 999 cc, three-cylinder, DOHC 12-valve turbopetrol
Power: 92 kW at 6000 rpm
Torque: 170 Nm between 1400 and 4500 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 12.7 seconds
Maximum speed: 181 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 7.9 l/100 km
Tank: 52 litres
Luggage: 333 – 705 litres
Standard tyre size: 205/60R16
Maximum (braked) towing capacity: 900 kg
Minimum turning circle: 10.6 metres
Warranty: 4 years / 120 000 km with 3 years’ roadside assistance
Service plan: 4 years / 60 000 km at 15 000 km intervals

Eve, in the 1957 psycho-movie, had three ‘faces’ – wimpy Eve White, bold Eve Black and Jane. She was somewhere in between. Ignoring the diesel Ambiente option for the moment, Ford’s 2018 Ecosport mini-SUV has just two – shy automatic and firecracker manual.

There are four variants; mid-level Trend and top-shelf Titanium, six-speed manual or six-gear automatic. All use Ford’s multiple award winning, 999 cc, three-cylinder, turbopetrol motor. Our test unit was a Trend automatic.

Sadly, the spicy twin-clutch PowerShift ‘box is no longer on offer. Turns out that              there were some unresolved issues despite multiple, ongoing fixes. There were recalls. And class action lawsuits. Things got nasty.

It has been replaced, in this range at least, by the 6F15 six-speed transaxle developed in co-operation with GM.  That was in 2002, so expect old-school competence rather than new-world excitement. It shifts smoothly and quietly, and is always in the right gear for prevailing circumstances. But it doesn’t kick down lustily on demand. It segues gently. It’s Mom, not Wonder Woman. On a long trip to the Drakensberg and back, it did what was expected but no more. We came back satisfied although mildly disappointed, wishing that things could have been different.

                                Just Mom, not Wonder Woman

But let’s look at the plusses. The range needs at least one automatic; for those long, boring, bumper-to-bumper traffic jams. Prior to the June 2018 facelift and realignment you could only have a/t with the most expensive version, Titanium with Plain Jane, 1500 cc petrol motor. Now you have two, mid-range and priciest, both with the sexy one-litre turbo that’s stronger, punchier and has output curves well suited to automatic.

It’s also bigger. Since its launch here in 2013, Ecosport has grown 315 mm longer. That means more front and rear legroom. It’s 20 mm lower although ground clearance increased slightly to 206 mm. Width remains as before, as do fuel tank and wheel sizes, turning circle, brakes, most fittings and suspension. Air conditioning on Trend models is still manual; the steering column adjusts up, down, in and out and the wheel has satellite controls.
 
Windows and mirrors are powered; seats are in cloth; there are ISOFix mountings; a second, central courtesy light helps when buckling the heirs in after dark; both visors are fitted with lit mirrors; locking is central, remote and engages while in motion and there’s a full set of seatbelts. Comparing like with like, old and new Trend manual with 1.0 Ecoboost motor, weight has increased by about 60 kg.

There’s more good stuff. Comparing similar products again, 1.0T Trend adds a driver’s knee bag making seven overall, that sixth gear, fog lamps in front, model-exclusive Gunmetal Grey wheels, tyre pressure monitoring, ABS, EBA and ESC, hill start assistance and roll stability control.  Door security includes Thatcham approved dead locks. The six-speaker ICE centre is to latest Sync®3 specification with Bluetooth, voice control, the remotes mentioned above, a pair of USB ports with iPhone functionality, microphone in the headlining and a 6.5” colour touchscreen.

Practical features include the hatch that opens sideways, 58 cm above ground level, to expose a three-level adjustable floor, four lashing rings, a light, easily accessible seatback releases and rear seat cushions that lift to provide emergency storage. A fully sized steel spare wheel, with plastic cover, is mounted on the door. Ford provided the security hasp but you supply a padlock.

Back seat head-, leg and foot space is generous, minor storage facilities are good and the car rides comfortably. We found the foot pedals a little too close together for wearers of size-13 trainers, but who said we’re normal? The hand brake is placed for right hand drive and it works smoothly and firmly.
 
Ecosport 1.0T is a fine little city SUV that mums love. They’ll probably flip for this new automatic but we’ll pass for now. Give us manual, please.

Test unit from FMCSA press fleet
Read the 2013 launch report here

We drove the updated Titanium in 2022

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles.  And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

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