We recently had one such experience and effectively achieved one of the items on our bucket list – to go on a road trip. Complete with great company (in Dbn_Spotter & Theunis_VR), the experience was beyond fantastic. Filled with laughter, great music and various challenges/adventures, the experience was courtesy of Ford South Africa. The guest of honour and main star of the show was the newly launched Ford EcoSport.

Driving to and back the King Shaka International Airport was a breeze, and yes we do admit to hogging the driver’s seat more than the other two gents who were with us…we’re sure they didn’t mind it at all though! That’s how much we reveled and enjoyed being behind the wheel of the EcoSport.

The journey, taken through the breathtaking Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, included various challenges and clues that perfectly enabled us to test different elements of the vehicle. These ranged from the vehicle’s navigational system to its off-road capabilities. The car responded effortlessly and packs quite a punch in terms of overall power, this is thanks to its award-winning 1.0 EcoBoost engine complete with an all-new six-speed automatic transmission.

The engine delivers an exceptional combination of performance and fuel efficiency, and is ideally suited to the EcoSport. It produces an impressive 92kW of power matched to a peak torque output of 170Nm all the way from 1 400 to 4 500 r/min.

Trend and Titanium customers have the choice between a six-speed manual gearbox or the latest-generation six-speed automatic that recently made its debut on the all-new Ford Fiesta.

The frugal yet torquey 1.5-litre TDCi turbodiesel engine remains part of the line-up, offered in Ambiente trim, linked to a five-speed manual gearbox. It delivers 74kW and a substantial 205Nm of torque between 1 750 and 3 250 r/min.

This was definitely the perfect way to experience the less talked about parts of Kwa-Zulu Natal. A beautiful part of the country less explored made up of fantastic scenery and authentic, less known places to visit such as The Capture Site, The Piggly Wiggly, St Ives Lodge & Venue and many more. We highly recommend that everyone experience this part of our country at least once…you won’t regret it. Thanks to Ford South Africa for affording us the opportunity to see it first-hand, and in the new Ford EcoSport the company has a solid vehicle which will no doubt strike the right cords with many.

The new Ford EcoSport retails from R264 500.

The Ford EcoSport was one of the originators of the compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment when it made its debut in 2013 and has stood the test of time with unwavering popularity and unrivalled sales domination in its class over the past five years.

The latest model raises the bar once again with dynamic styling that brings it up to date with the Ford SUV family, including the mid-size Kuga, which form part of the company’s formidable heritage in the sport utility segment.

The thoroughly reworked, contemporary front-end styling of the new EcoSport introduces an even more sporty, rugged and dynamic appeal, emphasized by the new bonnet profile with its muscular power dome, along with the new trapezoidal grille treatment that gives the latest model its bold on-road presence.

This reassuring stance is further emphasized by the distinctive angular headlights, which incorporate eye-catching LED daytime running lights on the Trend and Titanium models. The creative flair is extended to the fog lamp housings that incorporate the front turn signals, all of which combines to give the EcoSport an extremely confident and adventurous character.

The same theme is continued at the rear, which boasts redesigned, sharper designs for the tail lights and rear bumper to give the new model a cleaner, more sculpted appearance.

In keeping with the athletic demeanour of the EcoSport, the mid-spec Trend models are equipped with Gunmetal grey five-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels, while the Titanium is differentiated by striking 17-inch alloy rims that add to the exclusive, upmarket appeal of the new model. In the interests of affordability, the entry-level Ambiente is fitted with 16-inch steel rims with neat seven-spoke wheel covers.

In order to create a further level of differentiation between the three model series, the available colour palette has been tweaked too. The distinctive metallic Ruby Red, Silk, Magnetic and solid Frozen White are available exclusively on the Trend and Titanium, while Diamond White and metallic Smoke are limited to the Ambiente. The striking new Blue Lightning and ever-popular Moondust Silver metallic colours can be selected across the range.

Sophisticated new interior

Echoing the exciting new interior design adopted for the all-new Ford Fiesta, the EcoSport represents a significant shift further up-market with a cabin that delivers entirely new levels of comfort, refinement and sophistication.

Most notably, the dashboard features soft-touch materials and a completely new layout with a modern instrument cluster and centre console ergonomically designed for easy operation with fewer buttons. The driver enjoys a much cleaner instrument binnacle with attractive new dials across the range, and a 4.2-inch central information display in Trend and Titanium models.

Far more upscale and user-centric, the new EcoSport delivers a superior occupant experience with floating central colour touchscreens for the standard SYNC^®3 infotainment system on the mid and high-series models, comprising a 6.5-inch display on the Trend and a large 8-inch unit for the Titanium that includes embedded navigation as standard.

New seat designs have also been introduced, promising enhanced comfort for front and rear seat occupants, along with a more upscale feel. Full leather is included on the Titanium derivatives.

In keeping with its family and lifestyle-oriented design, the new EcoSport boasts a number of smart stowage solutions, including a new height adjustable boot floor that can be raised to provide concealed storage for valuable items or lowered to maximise luggage capacity, up to 334 litres. The boot floor uses a special honeycomb construction that makes it gram-for-gram stronger than steel, and able to support more than 300 kg.

A new centre console in Titanium models feature a built-in folding and sliding armrest with an integrated storage compartment, that is ideal for tablet computers or snacks. Power windows are provided all-round, enhancing comfort and convenience for all occupants.

We recently had the chance to take the new EcoSport out on a road trip through the breathtaking Midlands of Kwa-Zulu Natal, be on the lookout for that post due to be live soon.