Imagine Ford EcoSport without a tailgate-mounted spare wheel! Well, no need to imagine that as Ford has finally introduced the Ford EcoSport SE in India. It is currently available at Rs.10.49 Lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the petrol variant. Meanwhile, the diesel variant will cost its customers a premium of Rs.10.99 Lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). Also, the idea behind launching this all-new variant was to infuse a fresh look as the SUV is on a verge of ageing.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Ford has launched the all-new Ford EcoSport SE in India.
- It will be available without a tailgate-mounted spare wheel.
- The company has priced the SE variant at Rs.10.49 Lakh onwards.
Ford EcoSport SE
In terms of styling, one can only expect a newly designed tailgate. Further, the number plate housing now sits just at the center of the tailgate while older housing is now replaced by a diffuser. Wondering where the spare wheel is now placed? The all-new Ford EcoSport SE will not get a spare wheel at all. Instead, it will now get a puncture repair kit, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and tubeless tyres while replacing the spare wheel.
Feature-wise, the SE variant remains similar to the Ford EcoSport Titanium that currently costs Rs.70,000 less. However, there are some features that the SE variant pulls from the top-end S variant. The list includes automatic projector headlamps, 16-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, electric sunroof, cruise control, etc. among others. Meanwhile, the infotainment system now supports Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay.
Under the hood, it will get the same 1.5-litre petrol or 1.5-litre diesel engine. However, the petrol engine is good at producing a massive 122HP and a peak torque of 149Nm. The diesel motor churns out 100HP and 215Nm of torque.
Interestingly, passenger vehicles that weigh less than 3500kgs and have a seating capacity of upto 9 people can be sold without a spare wheel. However, there are certain types of equipment such as a puncture repair kit and TPMS that compulsorily need to be offered with such vehicles. These rules and regulations in India are made by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) itself.
Alternatives
The sub 4 meter SUV segment is currently one of the most competitive segments. However, take a look at the prime rivals such as Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Nissan Magnite.
Kia Sonet
Kia Sonet shares most of the features with Hyundai Venue including the powertrain. It is currently available with three engines on offer. Further, Sonet has done well in terms of sales this year.
Specifications
- Engine – 998cc (Turbo Petrol); 1197cc (Petrol); 1493cc (Diesel)
- Power – 118.35BHP (Turbo Petrol); 81.86BHP (Petrol); 98.6BHP (Diesel)
- Torque – 172Nm (Turbo Petrol); 115Nm (Petrol); 240Nm (Diesel)
- Price – Rs.6.71 Lakh to Rs.12.99 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Nissan Magnite
Nissan Magnite was launched recently in India with a very accessible price tag of Rs.4.99 Lakhs (ex-showroom). This way the all-new sub 4 meter SUV outperformed many of its competitors in terms of price.
Specifications
- Engine – 999cc (Petrol); 999cc (Turbo Petrol)
- Power – 71.02BHP (Petrol); 98.63BHP (Turbo Petrol)
- Torque – 96Nm (Petrol); 152Nm (Turbo Petrol)
- Price – Rs.5.49 Lakhs to Rs.9.89 Lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza
Currently, Maruti Suzuki only offers a 1.5-litre petrol engine while many of its rivals including Ford EcoSport still get a diesel motor on offer.
Specifications
- Engine – 1462cc (Petrol)
- Power – 103.26BHP (Petrol)
- Torque – 138Nm (Petrol)
- Price – Rs.7.34 Lakh to Rs.11.40 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Hyundai Venue
At the time of its launch, Hyundai Venue was a game-changer with multiple first-in-segment features such as a wireless mobile charging pad on offer. However, the sales figure of the Hyundai Venue has noticed a slight fall when compared to last year.
Specifications
- Engine – 998cc (Turbo Petrol); 1197cc (Petrol); 1493cc (Diesel)
- Power – 118.35BHP (Turbo Petrol); 81.86BHP (Petrol); 98.6BHP (Diesel)
- Torque – 172Nm (Turbo Petrol); 115Nm (Petrol); 240Nm (Diesel)
- Price – Rs.6.75 Lakh to Rs.11.65 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)