The new Ford EcoSport SE variant was introduced just a month ago. It stands out from the rest of the compact SUV’s range, visually and equipment-wise. Here are the most important things you need to know about the new EcoSport SE.
- Ford EcoSport SE misses out on tailgate-mounted spare wheel
- Open tailgate blocks kerb-side access in India
- Gets nearly all the same equipment as the top-spec S variant
1. Ford EcoSport SE: design
From the front, one will not be able to tell the EcoSport SE variant apart from the rest of the line-up. The major change is at the rear – the lack of a tailgate-mounted spare tyre. The rear design has also been revised, as the numberplate mount has moved up from the rear bumper to the centre of the tailgate, and there’s a silver bash plate on the bumper.
2. Ford EcoSport SE: spare tyre
Interestingly, the EcoSport SE doesn’t get a spare tyre at all. A Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) amendment that came out in July 2020 states that passenger vehicles which fall under the M1 category, subject to certain conditions (like having a tyre pressure monitor), are not required to be sold with a spare wheel.
This decision enabled Ford to bring the EcoSport SE to India; it was already on sale in some international markets.
3. Ford EcoSport SE: practicality
Other than a lighter cabin theme, the EcoSport SE’s interior is identical to the other variants, which get an all-black theme. The cabin is comfortable and build quality is good, however, some of the space in the SE’s 352-litre boot is taken up by a tyre repair kit. In case you do have a puncture, the kit can be used to temporarily fix the tyre until you make it to an authorised repair outlet.
There’s one aspect of the EcoSport – standard variants and the SE – that is impractical. The tailgate is hinged on the left and swings out from the right. This means that for right-hand-drive markets like India, kerb-side access to load the boot is lost.
4. Ford EcoSport SE: positioning
The EcoSport SE sits between the mid-spec Titanium variant and the top-spec S trim. The SE also gets both, petrol and diesel engine options – the 122hp, 1.5-litre petrol, and the 100hp, 1.5-litre diesel – but does not get an automatic gearbox option. The EcoSport Titanium+, which gets the 1.5-litre petrol engine and a 6-speed torque convertor automatic gearbox, is the only automatic version of Ford’s compact SUV on offer.
5. Ford EcoSport SE: price and features
Prices for the EcoSport SE have risen in the month since it arrived – at launch, the petrol was priced at Rs 10.49 lakh, while the diesel carried a Rs 10.99 lakh price tag. Now, the petrol EcoSport SE costs Rs 10.69 lakh, while the diesel costs Rs 11.19 lakh.
At this price point, the SE petrol is about Rs 70,000 dearer than the equivalent Titanium trim; the diesel SE costs Rs 1.2 lakh more. For the premium, the SE gets features such as side and curtain airbags, a tyre pressure monitor, ESC, traction control, hill-start assist, auto HID headlights and wipers, cruise control, Ford’s SYNC 3 8.0-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.
Compared to the range-topping EcoSport S trim, the SE is priced about Rs 50,000 lower and misses out on equipment such as a dual-tone roof, ISOFIX anchors, leatherette seat covers, sporty pedals and puddle lamps.
Ford’s EcoSport contends in the extremely competitive compact SUV segment against eight other models – the Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Renault Kiger, Nissan Magnite, Mahindra XUV300, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Toyota Urban Cruiser.
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