2019 Ford EcoSport long term review, third report

Five minutes is the time It takes for me to remember how good the EcoSport is to drive. This comes as a bit of a surprise as I know this car pretty well. Reminder number one comes as soon as I exit the parking lot and turn left onto the main road. The steering weights up so beautifully, it has me going ‘wow’ involuntarily. A stark contrast to a luxury SUV I’d been driving only hours before, the EcoSport feels so balanced and ready to work with the driver; it comes as a breath of fresh air.

Less than a kilometre away, I’m given another cue. My route home goes over the railway tracks via the very unique and fun S-bridge. Built in Byculla, Bombay, back in 1913 to reduce the gradient, so hand-carts could be pushed across more easily, the bridge consists of a set of tight corners that, apart from anything else, do a fantastic imitation of a ghat road. What’s even better is that there’s a signal at both ends; so if you’re lucky, you could have the bridge to yourself. And then, needless to say, it’s hammer time. Now the EcoSport does roll a bit, there is some shuffle as you pour into the corners, and yes, when you are in a hurry, the 6- speed automatic feels a bit slow. Still, having paddleshifters are nice, and I quite like that the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre Dragon pulls superbly from low speeds, all the way until 6,000rpm and beyond. So, even though the EcoSport is a compact SUV, it still is quite entertaining to drive, right foot down.

The responsive and torquey engine is also perfect for when traffic is thin. It isn’t the most relaxing car to pedal about in start-stop traffic, especially if you select ‘S’ on the gearbox; initial responses are a bit too strong. Still, if you want to get through that gap in traffic, Ford’s Dragon is just what the doctor ordered.

Niggles? Well, to begin with, there’s a strange squeak from behind the dash when you start-up; possibly from the windshield defogger air flap. I don’t like the fact that all your calls aren’t listed in call history, and, adjusting the driver’s seat height is still fiddly. I do, however, like that the steering adjusts for rake and reach; it makes a huge difference to finding the perfect driving position. Also, I feel the EcoSport still looks attractive – remember it’s been seven years since the pre-facelift car was launched here.

Also see:

2019 Ford EcoSport long term review, first report

2019 Ford EcoSport long term review, second report