Buying A Used Ford EcoSport: All You Need To Know
Ford EcoSport: Know the car
Ford’s trump card for the passenger car market is the EcoSport. Launched in 2013, it created the sub 4m SUV market in India and continues to offer unmatched premium appeal among all its rivals. The car is loved by enthusiasts and Ford’s low cost of ownership keeps driving in new owners each month. It is the only vehicle in the segment to come with a boot-mounted spare wheel that helps give this a proper SUV stance from the rear.
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Brief history of Ford EcoSport
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The Ford EcoSport made its debut with three engine options: 1.0-litre turbo petrol, a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel unit. Over the years, Ford offered minor updates and editions to keep the brand alive including introducing the 100PS diesel version in October 2015.
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In November 2017, the first major update came in the form of changes done in and out. It also got a new 3-cylinder 1.5 petrol with 123 bhp of power. The 1.0 EcoBoost was taken out but reintroduced with the sporty S variant in 2018.
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As of August 2019, the EcoSport is offered in two petrol and one diesel unit. Ford has been shuffling features among all its trims and this has been a bit confusing. The current line up also gets a Thunder edition and 17 inch wheels have been taken off from all but this edition.
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Ford EcoSport: Typical new car buyer profile
The Ford EcoSport is aimed at young car enthusiasts who value safety and driving pleasure over parameters like low cost, fuel economy or resale value. Most owners we see know cars in and out and understand the strong points that Ford cars come with.
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These owners are under 35-40 years old, have a micro family and love heading out for weekend drives once every 2-3 months. For them, safety is extremely important and no wonder then, the higher end EcoSport trims are a common occurrence on roads.
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We have also seen older car lovers invest in a Ford back to back and the Ford EcoSport for sale remains a common pick.
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Ford EcoSport: Typical used car buyer profile
A used Ford EcoSport is aimed at those who want a proper SUV (without 4×4 of course) at a lower price point. Some used Ecosport owners will be ex or current Ford car owners and want to continue with the same brand due to its positives.
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The EcoSport does not offer ample 2nd-row space and consumers understand this. For them, safety, driving pleasure and premium-ness have higher priority. Like new EcoSport owners, these are also relatively younger audiences who are either unmarried or have micro families.
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Key positives of Ford EcoSport
As stated above, the Ford Ecosport is a premium sub 4m SUV that offers a high-quality build and an upmarket cabin including the unique features on offer. Next is the driving pleasure with an excellent mix of ride quality and handling manners. The engines too offer good performance without hitting fuel economy and the EcoSport comes with an optional 6-speed automatic transmission which is better than that of the Nexon.
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Ford’s aftermarket service cost has reduced drastically and the same is displayed on their website for added transparency. The EcoSport for sale also looks great, especially the higher-end models and the recently introduced Thunder model. Likewise, higher versions offer a lot of safety kits including 6 Airbags, ESP, Hill Hold, EBA, ABS & more.
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Ford EcoSport: Key negatives
If you are looking for space, the EcoSport will disappoint you. With tall people upfront, legroom and knee room at the back is the least among all other rivals. As there is no true entry-level or base version, the starting price of the EcoSport remains the highest too. Ford has been removing a few features from few trims and keeps unique ones reserved for the top end one.
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The models with 17-inch wheels suffer from poor ride quality and there have been multiple reports of tyre sidewalls getting damage easily.
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The 1.5 petrol, though good in terms of performance, isn’t as good as others in terms of smoothness due to its 3-cylinder set-up.
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The ideal used Ford EcoSport you should buy
Ideally, pick the latest version that went on sale in November 2017. This variant looks fresher and sportier while at the same time, got interior updates too. We agree though, you will have to shell out a lot of money for these ones.
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If you are on a lower budget, the 2014-2015 models will do just fine. Make sure the cars you filter down come with complete service history for added peace of mind.
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Buying newer and older used Ford EcoSport compact SUV
Given the build quality and the fact that most owners are enthusiasts who will ensure the car is taken care of, opting for a used 2013 model isn’t bad at all.
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Of course, if your pocket allows, a younger model with less mileage will be better any day.
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Those looking at the famed 1.0-litre turbo petrol motor will have to work a bit hard as this particular engine sold in fewer numbers and was intact taken off the market for a few months in between. But if you do find out, grab it without any second thoughts. Likewise, those looking to buy a used S or Signature or Thunder edition of the Ford EcoSport will have to do a bit more digging around.
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Used Ford EcoSport for enthusiasts
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If adventurous (higher risk appetite), what to buy. For example, enthusiasts or those who get tempted by luxury may opt for the Accord/Camry / Superb V6. Much more powerful but has lower mileage and a higher cost of parts and maintenance if things go wrong.
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If you are looking for a used Ford EcoSport for sale that offers a lot of thrills, see if you can find the 1.0 EcoBoost variant at Group 1 Cars. This is a turbocharged petrol engine and though has a small displacement, puts out 123 bhp of power. Just for comparison, the 1.2 on the WRV is good for just 89 bhp and that on the Nexon makes 108 bhp. It is hard to find this model but if you do, don’t let it slip away. Thankfully, the scheduled maintenance cost isn’t too high.
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What to check before buying a used EcoSport
The Ford EcoSport is largely a relatively trouble-free compact SUV. However, as discussed above, there have been various recalls and you need to be aware of that. So keep away from used EcoSports manufactured in that time period.
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Expected service costs, spares and repair costs for used ford EcoSport explained
Most Ford EcoSport owners stick to authorized workshops as they understand the importance of official technical care. Further, schedule maintenance is also affordable and the same is reflected on their website.
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All recall-related work is carried out free of cost and hence if you do come across such an example, no need to worry at all.
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Expected real-world mileage of used Ford EcoSport
The first generation Ford EcoSport petrol wasn’t too frugal offering just about 10-11 km/l in city usage and 15-16 km/l on open roads.
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The current models are offered with engines that are better in terms of economy. Even the larger 1.5 petrol ends up delivering 11-12 km/l, that too with an automatic gearbox.
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Used EcoSport: Maintenance and service tips
We strongly recommend that you stick to authorized workshops for routine maintenance. Scheduled services aren’t too costly, as we have discussed above and even spare parts have become cheaper over time. This has been due to increased localisation and the introduction of child parts, which negates the need to change a complete, larger part. Consumables and labour extra.
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Used Ford EcoSport: What to avoid
We don’t think any of the Ford EcoSport models or engine options were not good and need to be ignored. Stay away from after market CNG kits or those models that do not have a proper service history.
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Our recommendations
The latest facelift model, launched in November 2017 is definitely better than the older models. For example, it got a new 1.5-litre petrol engine with better performance and fuel economy. It also got a new grille, a better-looking bumper and tweaked lamps. On the inside, the facelift model got an all-new dash, new console among other changes.
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Article sourced from https://www.cartoq.com
