There was a time when the world was obsessed with SUVs. The bigger, the better. The US market led the charge and Ford would sell you a range of vehicles that are now almost embarrassingly large. But in a rare moment of forward planning for a country not exactly renowned for foresight, in 1999 the Brazilian arm of Ford predicted that compact SUV’s were the way of the future. And here we are, in 2013, with a Fiesta-based Ford EcoSport SUV running a 1.0 litre engine.

How things have changed – for the better

Clever engines with impressive fuel consumption, a higher ride height and a comparatively massive load area mean the Ford EcoSport offers all the practical benefits of an SUV with the running costs of a hatchback. It’s a very well thought out vehicle, which I would imagine will satisfy the demands of a wide array of South African motorists.

The EcoSport enters a burgeoning new segment of the market in South Africa. Currently led by the Nissan Juke, the EcoSport is very competitively priced, starting at R199 000. Admittedly at that price the spec is basic, but if you’re in the market for a small hatchback, for me it’s a no brainer to spend a little more and get yourself an SUV. It’s a much more practical car for a nation that values utility.

I’ve just had my second experience driving this new generation B segment SUV in rural and urban South Africa – the first was on the rather similar but slightly more terrifying roads of Goa, India. The truth is, both sets of roads were in fairly poor condition, and the little EcoSport handled everything with confidence. It’s a well set up car this, dealing with potholes and shoddy surfaces in a way that never really detracts from your comfort. It takes a big hole indeed to rattle the cabin.

EcoSport engine and specs

The Ford EcoSport is available in three engines and two transmission options. Ford’s award winning 1.0 turbo petrol, a 1.5 litre naturally aspirated petrol and a 1.5 litre turbodiesel. I’ll post a spec sheet at the end of the article, but in the meantime let’s chat about those engines. The 1.5 litre petrol doesn’t seem to be the best option, for me it’s a choice between the 1.0 litre petrol and the diesel.

I sampled both and it’s a close call but I think I’d have the diesel. While the 1.0 litre is a phenomenal achievement, it really does pull like a 1.6 litre, I feel in this particular vehicle it requires a little too much work with your left arm to keep it in the sweet spot. This may be something you become used to over time, but on first impressions I became bit tired of trying to find the right gear.

The diesel engine has less power but more torque than the 1.0 litre, and even though you have less revs at your disposal, it always feels like there’s a healthy amount of shove available. It’s an impressively quiet engine too. With the window down, you might ask yourself if you’re definitely in a diesel.

Fuel consumption is a hot topic here. These engines can achieve their claimed consumption figures, but it’s tough. And this is another reason why I prefer the diesel. In real world conditions, it will generally outperform the petrol motors in this aspect. If you’re in a hurry, the petrols will be thirstier. We achieved 8.2 litres/100km in the petrol EcoSport, and 7.1 litres/100km in the diesel, driven in similar styles. If you strive to be a calm, smooth driver all the time, you will definitely better those figures.

Quiet Cabin – Solid Build

The EcoSport’s cabin is quiet – long cruises should not be tiring at all. Top spec models feature cruise control, automatic aircon and Ford’s clever SYNC system, which lets you use voice commands to play music through your connected devices (it actually understands the South African accent, which helps).

The whole car feels very well put together. Not a rattle or squeak was heard over the nearly 300km we covered. Seating is very comfortable and because of the taller cabin, the rear seats can accommodate fully grown passengers, which isn’t the case with some new small hatchbacks. With the rear seats in place, you could easily fit a family’s holiday gear in the boot, and with the seats folded flat, you could do your yearly appliance shopping, or pack in some mountain bikes, or a herd of dogs. In that sense, it makes a regular hatchback feel very limited.

Conclusion

While the top of the range pricing puts it in line with very capable cars like a base-model Golf 7, you have to ask yourself what you need the car to do. Would you take your shiny new Golf on a gravel road? Probably not. The fact is that, for a wide range of lifestyles and ever-tightening budgets, a car like the Ford EcoSport could be all the car you ever need.

Ford EcoSport Price