The Ford EcoSport Active joins our long-term fleet after already having been featured in a driving impression piece a few months back. It’s time to find out what it has to offer over an extended test period.
As aspiring journalists, our first experience with the EcoSport was at the launch of the Active in Cape Town’s bustling CBD. Keys in hand, we made our way down to Hout Bay to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the harbour. Back then, we had precious little experience and a slightly skewed frame of reference, which may have contributed to a somewhat negative expectation of the Ford EcoSport.
The quality of its soft ride and the sound system immediately impressed us. Although perhaps not as clinical as some rivals, the Active has charm. Despite the little gems you’ll come across when driving the Active, there are some issues. We recall the steering felt disconnected from the road and its automatic 6-speed transmission would at times lag at moderate speeds. We have since sampled a wide variety of vehicles and refined our abilities, so we were looking forward to the opportunity to spending more time with the EcoSport to see if our initial assessment remains true.
We have spent quite some time with the Ford EcoSport since its arrival and for the most part, some reservations about its quality and abilities still stand, although our appreciation for the EcoSport has grown. The engine, while only a 1,0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder, packs a surprising amount of punch paired with a fairly linear power band. Again, the ride is supple and comfortable on longer drives and zipping about the city.
The new special-edition Active addition to the brand’s crossover line-up is slotted between the EcoSport Trend and Titanium models and represents mild tweaks of Ford’s design language. The exclusive styling makes it easier to distinguish from its siblings, a sportier design and blacked-out elements add an aggressive edge. The EcoSport Active is certainly easy on the eye, especially this Frozen White sporting optional black accents. The colour, new multi-spoke two-tone alloy wheels and tinted windows simply work so well together. The exterior is well-rounded with a contrasting black finish for the roof and wing mirror caps, which adds a nice touch to the overall styling.
Stepping inside, it feels a bit less spacious than many other crossover SUVs in the segment, and the design and infotainment layout are a little outdated but are still very user-friendly. The eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system and six speakers are compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and boast uncomplicated, straightforward features. The multi-function steering wheel and cruise control also come standard on the EcoSport.
We were impressed with the quality of the leather upholstery – an Active logo is embossed into the seats and the active braking system and a rear parking assist sensor. It would have been nice to have a reverse camera for accurate distance control. Under the bonnet remains the 1,0-litre EcoBoost engine, which produces 92 kW of power and 170 N.m of torque, coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission. This is the same peppy engine that won World Engine of the Year several times and it punches well above its weight.
