As an aging name within the South African automotive landscape and a veteran within Ford’s fleet, the beloved EcoSport returns with a fresh face and charming styling. With a light makeover and some tech goodies nestled into its DNA, the EcoSport Active is presented as a refresh of an icon and ushers the nameplate into another era of motoring.
The EcoSport range’s entry point is the Ambiente, and its flagship is the 1,0 EcoBoost Titanium 6AT. The EcoSport Active is in the upper echelons of the EcoSport hierarchy as a result of its clean-shaven appearance and impressive specification – one does receive a lot in exchange for its near-R400k price. As a whole, the EcoSport family is performing well within South Africa with 674 units sold in May 2022, reassuring the idea that the subcompact crossover’s appeal hasn’t faded. “Oud maar nie koud”, a wonderful sentiment to summarize the EcoSport’s position in SA and a precursor to the introduction of the EcoSport Active.
Fast Facts:
Model: 1,0 EcoSport Active 6AT
Price: R 393 700
Engine: 1,0-litre turbocharged inline three petrol
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 92 kW @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 170 N.m @ 1400-4500 rpm
Fuel consumption: claimed 6.3
CO2: 14,3g/km
What’s Changed in the Ford EcoSport?
Bred from the tried and tested 1,0-litre 6-speed automatic pairing found in the EcoSport Trend, this particular iteration seeks to captivate its audience with its sportier and stylised appearance. Intended to make it stand out from its stable mates is the introduction of black design elements found surrounding the front grille, headlights, bezels, headlights, fog lamps, and mirror caps.
Another unique feature applied to the front of the car is the black bumper skirting. Exclusive to the EcoSport Active are the 17-inch alloy wheels and “Active” badges. The black cladding attached to the wheel arches is meant to further the notion of a sportier package. The Active range is available in Luxe Yellow, Solar silver, Magnetic Dark Grey and non-metallic white.
Related: Ford EcoSport Black edition Added to Local Range With Sporty Styling Bits
Interior Specs of the Ford EcoSport
Stepping inside this crossover reveals its slightly larger cabin with an 8-inch SYNC touchscreen. As seems to be the trend these days, many features such as satellite navigation can only be accessed through the use of the included Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
A slew of safety features such as ESC, ABS, EBA, seven airbags, proximity alert, rear parking sensors, and active collision mitigation all come as standard. Included in the EcoSport Active is the relatively new FordPass system, used to start one of the cars by someone located in Johannesburg, while the car was in the heart of the Cape Town city centre.
Ford 1.0 EcoSport Active 6AT Is the Overall, Real-World Package
Burrowed between an unmarked orange building and Mavericks gentlemen’s club is a plain brown building housing a steampunk-themed coffee shop called “Truth Coffee Roasting” which was the host venue for the EcoSport Active’s media launch. Posted out front, a line of EcoSport Active’s in a myriad colours from the burnt orange Luxe Yellow to the deceptive Magnetic Dark Grey proudly displayed. After a demonstration of the abilities of the FordPass system, the keys were left in the hands of eager attendees ready to venture out.
Conditioned by a constant presence of push-to-start systems, the almost archaic key ignition system stands out, immediately followed by the notchy automatic gear selector. A resistant brake pedal contrasted by a softer – almost limp feeling- throttle pedal is a confusing medley.
Immediately available to the driver, thanks to the 1,0-litre EcoBoost engine, is a plentiful 92 kW and 170 N.m, which while not comparable to the unit in the pricier Hyundai Venue, delivers a surprising amount of daily-driver orientated performance in the EcoSport Active platform A predictable and reliable power band with enough oomph to perform an overtake with surprising athleticism makes for a cohesive and appealing package.
From the depths of the claustrophobic streets of the city centre to the unhinged coastal road stretching from campus bay to Hout Bay harbour, rotating around to the Kirstenbosch area resulting in a nearly 50 km drive, the ‘Active presented itself as a comfortable and friendly transport appliance.
The steering is well-weighted but leaves something to be desired during sweeping corners. Although it was a short drive coupled with spirited driving the EcoSport managed to remain within 8-ish litres/100km realm. The most surprising and appreciated aspect of the EcoSport active was its ample leg room. Another silver lining was the surprising audio quality emanating from the speakers, reminding us of the little-known fact that Ford’s standard audio systems always impress.
The fresh-off-the-boat EcoSport Active could very well be the range’s middle child that has the potential to garner a lot of love and admiration thanks to its wonderful offerings at a relatively low-slung price. Since the inception and introduction of the EcoSport nameplate, 75 000 units have been sold highlighting its desirability which will be spurred on by the Active’s introduction. A well-priced, well-sorted subcompact crossover that is more rugged and sportier than its siblings. The EcoSport Active is a compelling and welcomed addition to the EcoSport range.
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More From CarMag:
- ROAD TEST: Ford EcoSport 1,0 EcoBoost Trend auto
- DRIVEN: Ford EcoSport 1,5 Ambiente Black auto
- Building on Its Success; Here Is the Ford Ecosport Active Pricing and Specs
