The Ford EcoSport Active has launched in South Africa, adding a new special-edition model to the brand’s crossover lineup.
We got behind the wheel of the new EcoSport at its local launch to see if the popular crossover still lives up to the hype.
With its well-equipped interior and stylish good looks, we won’t be surprised if the Active continues the EcoSport’s talent of being a tempting option in South Africa’s competitive crossover market.
Exclusive design
The special-edition Active is based on the mid-range Trend version of the Ford EcoSport.
This is reflected in its price, as the Active has a price tag of R393,700 – more than the Trend, but less than the top-of-the-line Titanium models.
Where the Active immediately distinguishes itself from its siblings is in its looks.
The crossover sports a two-tone colour scheme and lowered front and rear skirts, which helps to emphasize the car’s physical features and gives it a more rugged, sporty exterior.
The roof, wheel arches, grille, and model-specific 17-inch wheels have been given a black finish, too, which when combined with one of the car’s available metallic paint schemes, we think makes for a more striking appearance than the standard models.
The car looks and feels well-proportioned, and we particularly like the look of the Active’s alloys and LED daytime running lights.
A similar treatment has been afforded to the interior, as the new Ford boasts partial leather upholstery and model-specific seats with exclusive Active stitching that brings a much-needed visual update over the rest of the range.
Performance
We took the Active on a journey through streets around the outskirts of Johannesburg, and managed to experience a variety of roads and different traffic conditions.
The Active employs the same 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine as the Trend, producing a total of 92kW and 170Nm.
The throttle response is rather good, which helps make the crossover feel sporty.
While the Active’s 0-100km/h acceleration time is listed at 12.7 seconds, the engine response is snappy enough to make you think this EcoSport is faster than it really is.
This was particularly noticeable when making use of the car’s cruise control, as any adjustments made to the speed were met with instant feedback.
It all goes towards the Active feeling responsive and, as a result, fun to drive.
Where we found the car a bit wanting was in its gearbox.
The Active is only available as a six-speed automatic, whereas the normal Trend is available in both manual and automatic spec, and the response from the transmission is delayed at times.
When we were travelling on the highway, the engine speed once went up to a noisy 6,000rpm before the gearbox changed cogs, even though we didn’t demand too much from it.
Similarly, there were multiple times when decelerating and the revs came close to 1,000rpm before the transmission reacted.
Features
As a special-edition model, the Active is well kitted and it even has a few party tricks to show to your friends.
This is thanks to the FordPass App, which lets you connect your phone to the car and allows you to check its fuel status, lock and unlock the car, and even remotely start the vehicle to begin pre-heating or cooling the cabin.
Inside is an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support which I was able to connect my phone to in seconds.
The screen made navigation easy with Google Maps, and with the push of a button I was able to pull up my music playlist and give the six-speaker sound system a whirl, with excellent results.
The seats are comfortable, with ample legroom in the back for a vehicle in this segment, the boot has decent storage at 333 litres, and the multifunction leather steering wheel feels great to use.
The hill launch assist and a set of rear parking sensors also came in handy as I reversed the car into a parking space.
Overall impressions
At R393,700, the Ford Ecosport Active is a fairly expensive offering in the crossover market.
However, for this price you get a good-looking car with a host of features, as well as a 4-year/120,000km warranty and a 4-year/unlimited kilometre roadside assistance plan.
Furthermore, the Active offers a fun and responsive driving experience with an agreeable ride, with the only exception being the gearbox which can be a little slow to react.
Overall, the new Ford EcoSport Active is well worth considering if you’re looking for a stylish and well-equipped crossover.
Ford EcoSport Active
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