Part of the reason that buyers keep coming back to the EcoSport is its value for money, as it undercuts other rivals on price but sort of beats them on build quality and finish.

For the 2022 model year, Ford hasn’t changed much about the car, save for adding enhancements to the looks and some extra tech features. But then, it didn’t need to. Cause, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Capable Trend 1.0 EcoBoost Automatic Engine

There’s only one engine option available for the EcoSport Active, and it’s carried over from the previous model year. Every trim comes equipped with Ford’s Trend 1.0 EcoBoost Automatic Engine pumping out 92kW of power and 170Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission as standard.

The EcoSport Active isn’t the fastest SUV in its class. However, it comes with front-wheel drive as standard.

Stylish, yet familiar exterior

The EcoSport Active features lightly refreshed looks, with a blackened grille, headlamp surround and foglamp bezels, as well as sporty black front and rear skirts. The athletic demeanour is further emphasized with black wheel arch mouldings and the adoption of 17-inch Active design black alloy wheels for a more “muscular stance”, Ford says. But, that’s pretty much it in terms of styling updates, and from a distance, it’s tricky to spot the difference between an Active model car and a normal model year.

That’s no bad thing, as the EcoSport has been one of the best-looking cars in the segment since its launch. It’s certainly distinctive, and it’s also available in a variety of colors, with three new options available. Frozen White and three distinctive metallic options comprising eye-catching Luxe Yellow, Solar Silver and Magnetic dark grey.

Surprisingly well fitted interior

Considering the low starting price of the EcoSport, even base-spec versions feel surprisingly premium to sit in. This Active trim is even more upmarket and offer a level of fit and finish that’s most comparable to luxury rivals. The EcoSport Active comes packed with features including cruise control, electric windows all-round, air-conditioning and an eight-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system with built-in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Configurable seating

The main purpose of any SUV of this size is to be a family hauler, and the EcoSport can seat up to five passengers in comfort. The second row is a bit cramped, but that’s not unusual for the segment, and anyway, there’s still plenty of room back there for children or smaller adults.

The second-row seats can also be folded to create room for large or oddly shaped cargo. Child seat anchors are also in plentiful supply.

Impressive cargo capacity

As well as passengers, a family SUV needs to be capable of hauling plenty of cargo, and the EcoSport Active doesn’t disappoint in this respect either. A total of 334 litres space is available with the second row up, and the concealed storage is loaded.

Integrated infotainment

The EcoSport Active is chock full of the latest infotainment and connectivity features, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It also features a 8″ touchscreen. Carried over from the previous year are the EcoSport USB ports and power outlets, which are handy for keeping phones and other mobile devices fully charged on longer journeys. There are enough ports for every passenger.

Another innovative feature included as standard on this model is the FordPass Connect system, which includes an embedded modem that allows you to connect with the car and control a number of vehicle functions from your smartphone via the FordPass app. You could also view useful information such as fuel level and vehicle health alerts, the owner can also remotely lock, unlock and even remotely start the car (automatic models only) to cool or heat the cabin.

Plenty of driver-assistance technology

Safety is always paramount in a family hauler, and the EcoSport Active has a full suite of driver-assistance features to help keep its occupants safe at all times. Standard features include seven airbags (dual front, side, curtain and a driver’s knee airbag), along with ABS brakes with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and Hill Launch Assist (HLA). Rear parking sensors are fitted, and the vehicle is equipped with a high-grade Thatcham alarm with immobiliser.

Competitive fuel economy

Given that petrol prices only seem to be on a one-way trend upwards in recent months, it’s becoming more important than ever to consider a car’s efficiency when deciding what to buy. The EcoSport Active isn’t the most efficient SUV in the segment, but its ratings remain competitive, putting it in the middle of the pack. Ford rates it at 5.8l per 100km.

Generous warranty

Ford’s warranty is among the most generous on the market right now. It’s certainly not the kind you get from Hyundai or Chery, but it is decent. A bumper-to-bumper warranty covers the first four years or 60,000 miles, and the powertrain is covered for ten years or 120 000km. A four-year unlimited km roadside assistance plan is also available. As is the five-year/unlimited distance corrosion warranty. The recommended service interval is 15 000km or annually, whichever occurs first.

Low starting price

As mentioned previously, the Ford EcoSport Active is remarkably good value for the number of features that buyers get. The car is priced at R393 700.

The key selling point of the EcoSport Active is that it provides more features and better build quality than most of its competitors, all while undercutting them on price. It’s by no means perfect.

For starters, the T-Cross uses the same MQB A0 platform that the Polo, we’ve come to love. The T-Cross measures in 2.55 metres long. It may not sound like the biggest SUV out there, but VW have somehow added some voodoo that give the ride a “surprising amount of room” inside.

Volkswagen did it by starting with a proven platform. Both the Polo and T-Cross share the same basic underpinnings, which means that even though the Polo is much shorter than the T-Cross, it has the same wheelbase. That translates to a frankly incredible amount of room for both passengers and baggage.

What We Got

Volkswagen offers the T-Cross in three different trim levels, and we got the mid entry TSI Highline DSG kitted to its best self. This means all the tech and luxury goodies are on-board, but it also means a R365 000 base price before the extras charge is tacked on. Design Package in Energetic Orange, Beats sound system, Discover Media (includes Navigation), Active Info Display, Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control (includes Blind Spot Monitor, Foldable Mirrors, Lane Assist and Front Assist) and Keyless Entry, nudged our car’s final price to almost an additional R50 000.

As we mentioned, our T-Cross comes with the 1.0-liter boxer three-cylinder. It makes a whopping 70kW and 85kW  of power. Only on the open road does it feel quick and at home, but it’s not painfully slow in the city either. However, we’re afraid to see what might happen with a full load of people and gear on a weekend getaway. Look out for updates on that one.

As for the standard features we get with the Highline trim, there are many as additional standard features to the Comfortline which include Comfort Sports Seats, Inductive Wireless Mobile Charging, Driving Profile Selection, Climatronic Aircon, LED Headlights, Composition Media with App-Connect and 18-inch ‘Cologne‘ alloy wheels. How nice.

Why we got it

The compact crossover segment is hotter than it ever has been. That sentence was applicable for a long while before this story, and likely will be for a long while after it. Car companies are positively flooding the market with crossovers, and the T-Cross continues the fight against the Hyundai Venue, Kia Seltos, Ford Ecosport, etc. This newest entry is designed to have more mass appeal than anything before it, and Volkswagen is on a roll –  consider last year’s sales figures proof. An attachment to this article. Volkswagen is moving a staggering amount of cars off lots these days, especially in our markets where standard front-wheel drive counts for a lot.

We want to know if the T-Cross is the right crossover to continue that success.  After just a short time with the car, we’ve discovered a superbly comfortable ride and a ton of space for people and gear. The huge windows also make for excellent visibility, something lacking in many new compact crossovers.

Make sure to follow along throughout our month with the T-Cross to see what we think of this exciting model that Volkswagen has introduced. And yes, there will be dogs.

Photography is by Harmonix

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.