Basic Car Service Information

Basic Car Service Information

Basic service is usually done at 5000kms or 10000kms as per the manufactures schedule mentioned in the service book. Basic service includes a lot of minor things which are very important for the engine to breathe and function efficiently.Basic Things checked in the Service-

·       Engine oil is checked (if needed replaced)
·       All the majorly fluids and replaced or top up (brake fluid, steering fluid, clutch fluid etc.)
·       All the filters are changed or cleaned after inspection
(Oil filter is compulsory replaced and other filters are            checked if needed replaced)·       Under body is checked for damages
·       All the brakes are cleaned or replaced after inspection
·       The complete car is inspected for noise and oil leakages
·       Under body and suspension bolts are tightened
·        Tyres pressure and threads checked, tyres are rotated and if needed even wheel alignment and balancing is done
·       A/C cooling is checked. If inadequate the A/C gas is topped up.
·       All the lights and electrical are checked (power window, Roof light, fuses etc.)
·       After the service a thorough washing is done including interior and under body wash.
·       After washing is completed greasing is done
·       A final test drive is taken by the supervisor for quality check.
 

Specs Comparison- Figo Aspire vs Amaze vs Zest vs Swift Dzire vs Xcent

9 Best Selling Cars In India

Here is the list of top 10 best selling cars in our market today-

1. Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire

Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire in the recent times has been the highest selling car in India. Maruti Suzuki averages about 20,000 units/ month. Both 1.2 L Petrol and 1.3L Diesel engines offer decent performance and amazing fuel economy. Both the engines are powerful and overall make the Dzire fun-to-drive. The interior space is adequate and the boot space is strictly average. All these points combined with the brilliant Maruti After sales service and network make the Dzire a desirable package.

2. Maruti Suzuki Alto

Maruti Suzuki Alto has been justifying their tagline-" India comes home in a Maruti Suzuki" for many years. It has been one of the best-selling cars since its launch. Now offered with two petrol engine options- a 3-cylinder 800cc & a 3-cylinder 1000cc. The Alto is light and compact which makes it very easy to use and highly fuel efficient. The cost of spares and service is cheap. All these factors combined make the Alto a pocket rocket. The biggest convenience the K10 offers now is the addition of the AMT gearbox which makes it even more easy to use.

3. Maruti Suzuki Swift

Maruti Suzuki's first premium hatchback which went on to become a great success. Even today after being in the market for more than 10 years with just one update, It manages to roughly sell 18k units/ month. It is offered with the K12 petrol engine and the fiat sourced 1.3L multijet diesel engine. Both engines are powerful and offer amazing fuel economy. The interior space is pretty decent, But the boot space in the latest generation Swift is below average. The ride and handling are pretty exciting too. Being a Maruti, After-sales service and dealer network is not an issue.

4. Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

 Maruti Suzuki Wagon R which taught Indians that you don't need to always buy a big sedan or an MUV for space inside a car. The Wagon-R offers immense practicality. It has generous headroom and legroom. The Boot space is pretty decent. The overall interiors of the car make it airy and feel good for its price. Under the hood is the same K10 3-cylinder 1.0L petrol  engine that powers the Alto K10. It has decent power and fuel economy. It's the practicality that the Wagon-R offers which help it average 14k units/month.

5. Hyundai Elite i20

Hyundai i20- A car which taught Indians that certain Hatchbacks can put sedans to shame when it comes to their interior space and quality. The First luxury hatchback which got Hyundai India its well-deserved success. Each and everything in the Elite i20 speaks of luxury and quality. Well designed interiors with an amazing premium feel. The space inside is no less than a sedan. The 1.4L diesel engine is brilliant. It offers amazing power and fuel efficiency figures. In addition to all this the NVH levels are excellent. Ride quality and handling characteristics are pretty decent. The i20 is a luxurious package at a decent price which helps it average close to 11k units/month.

6. Hyundai Grand i10

Grand i10 is offered with a 1.2L 4-cylinder petrol engine and a 1.1L 3-cylinder diesel engine. Both the engines offer decent performance and fuel efficiency figures. In addition, You also get to choose between a 5-speed manual transmission and a 4-speed automatic transmission. The Grand i10 has quality, well designed and spacious interiors. It sells about 8-9k units/month which is pretty good.

7. Maruti Suzuki Celerio

The Celerio's biggest USP, when launched, was the AMT gearbox it is offered with. It was the cheapest car with an automatic transmission. It has average interiors with a decent interior space. It is offered with the K10 petrol engine and a newly in-house developed twin-cylinder 800cc diesel engine. Overall the car is strictly average, But the AMT gearbox is what helps it sell close to 7.5k units/month.

8. Honda City

Honda City which has created a benchmark in the C2 Sedan segment roughly averages 7k units/ month. Currently offered with 2 engine and 3 gearbox options. The legendary 1.5 L i-Vtec engine is mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission or a CVT automatic gearbox. The 1,5L i-Dtec engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The petrol engine offers explosive performance and fuel economy.The Diesel engine, on the other hand, offers decent drivability and class-leading fuel efficiency figures. The City is spacious and offers an enormous boot. The ride and handling are pretty decent too. Overall it's a brilliant package with some amazing features.

9. Mahindra Bolero

 Mahindra Bolero is one of the favourites in the rural areas. It is a rugged, nonsense economical SUV. The 2.5L Diesel engine offers decent fuel economy. The Bolero is a proper workhorse which helps it average 6-7k units/month. 

The All New Ford Figo Aspire

Ford India has finally launched its much awaited sub-4m sedan- The Ford Figo Aspire. It is offered with 3 engines-
1. 1.5L TDCi (Diesel) engine which produces 99 bhp @ 3750 rpm and a torque of 215 Nm @ 1750-3000 rpm. This engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Also offered in the Fiesta & Ecosport Diesel, Although the Aspire gets a bump in power & torque by 10hp & 11Nm respectively.

2. 1.2L Ti-VCT (Petrol) engine which produces 87 bhp @ 6300 rpm and a torque 112 Nm @ 4000 rpm. This engine is offered with a 5-speed manual transmission. We have already seen this engine on the Figo Petrol and it definitely gets a better state of tune in the Aspire.

3. 1.5L Ti-VCT (Petrol) engine which produces 110 bhp @ 6300 rpm and torque of 136 Nm @ 4250 rpm. This engine is mated to a 6-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT). This combo is offered on the Ford Ecosport and was offered on the Fiesta pre-facelift.

Feature list includes-
1. Dual airbags standard on all variants. The Titanium+ variants get 6 airbags in total.

2. Keyless entry standard on all variants. Ford MyKey is offered on the titanium+ variant. This helps you programme your key to help you set speed limit, regulating audio volume.etc.

3. MyFord Dock is also offered in the lower variants which helps you connect your phone for music and charging directly on the dashboard. Thanks to its amazing position on the dashboard it helps the phone being used as a navigation system.

4. The SYNC™ voice-activated system lets you connect to your world like never before. Pair your Bluetooth®-enabled phone to make calls, use text-to-speech technology, and play your favourite music – using just your voice. You can even control SYNC™ with the steering wheel mounted controls. And in the unlikely event of an accident that activates an airbag or shuts off the fuel pump, SYNC™’s Emergency Assistance automatically calls emergency services and shares your exact GPS location. 

SYNC™’s AppLink™ takes your connectivity to the next level, enabling you to access apps on your paired smartphone using just your voice. Get the latest cricket scores with ESPN Cricinfo or find your way around with MapmyIndia Explore. Just another way Figo Aspire keeps you connected on the go. 

6. ABS with EBD on titanium and titanium+ variant. The Automatic variant gets electronic stability control (ESC) and Hill launch assist.

Prices-
1. Ambiente- Rs. 4.90 lakh (Petrol). Rs. 5.89 lakh (Diesel).
2. Trend- Rs. 5.76 lakh (Petrol). Rs. 6.76 lakh (Diesel).
3. Titanium- Rs. 6.69 lakh (Petrol-MT). Rs. 7.79 lakh (Petrol-AT). Rs. 7.69 lakh (Diesel).
4. Titanium+ - Rs. 7.24 lakh(Petrol). Rs. 8.24 lakh (Diesel)

Our Take On The Figo Aspire-

Ford is not new to the sub-4m segment. In fact, the Figo Aspire is their second offering in this segment after the Ecosport. Overall the Figo Aspire is a terrific package. It looks better than most of the sub-4m sedans. All the 3 engines on offer are pretty decent when it comes to power output, drivability and fuel efficiency. The interior space is well put and unlike other Ford offerings the Figo Aspire does seem spacious. The Feature list is impressive and so the cost is justified. What could have been better?

1. Bigger wheels. The 14-inch wheels look too small. A nice 15-inch wheel with 185/195mm tyres would have been better.

2. Its a good thing that Ford is offering dual airbags as a standard equipment but it would be even better if they were offering ABS on the Trend variant. Competition has moved up and many manufacturers are offering the mid variants with ABS.

3. Diesel engine + Automatic transmission. This combo is slowly catching up in India and Ford surely has missed an opportunity here by launching the Automatic transmission with a Petrol engine only.

But Frankly these are not a deal breaker. The Figo Aspire overall is a brilliant package. Ford's After-sales service and network are pretty decent. We really hope this car sells well and Ford doesn't create a blunder with the delay in deliveries like they did during the initial days of the Ecosport.

Feature Difference- Maruti Suzuki Scross & Hyundai Creta

Here is our list of basic feature difference between the 1.6L diesel versions of the newly launched Scross & Creta.

3 Best Used Motorcycles Under 1.5 lakh Rupees

In the recent times we have seen a increase in price of every other commodity sold in India. The Same implies to the Automobile Industry. The prices of both cars and bikes have increased especially in the last 4-5 years. Thanks to increase in taxes & fierce competition. In such times two things work out best- Value for money products or used products. In both cases you make fair share of sacrifices But with Used products you get what you desire at an affordable price.

Here is list of best used bikes you can buy under Rs. 1.5 lakhs-

1. Honda CBR 250R

New CBR 250R Price Range- Rs. 1.85- Rs.2.15 lakh

Used CBR 250R Price Range- Rs. 0.80 - Rs. 1.5 lakh

You save close to Rs. 1 lakh if you go in for a used CBR 250R. This saved money can take care of your service cost over 2-3 years or help you invest in some good modification products. 

2. KTM Duke 390

New Duke 390 Price- Rs. 1.9 lakh

Used Duke 390 Price Range- Rs. 1.3-1.75 lakh

On road prices of the Duke 390 cross Rs. 2 lakh. By going in for used a Duke 390 you save close to 65k-75k. Duke 390 offers an explosive performance at a decent price. If compared with new bikes in the same price range, none of them even offer half the power output that of the Duke 390 and most importantly the Duke 390 comes with ABS. Overall a used Duke 390 is a cracker of a deal in the used market.

3. Kawasaki Ninja 250R

Used Ninja 250R Price Range- Rs. 1.3-1.8 lakh 

The Kawasaki Ninja 250R is one of the best quarter liter sports bike ever made. It also happens to be one of the first parallel twins to be introduced in India under 3 lakhs. Although it was replaced by the Ninja 300 in 2013, The Ninja 250R is one of the favorite among bike enthusiasts. Off lately you see a lot of 250R's up for sale in the used market. They are offered at reasonable prices. A used Ninja 250R makes perfect sense for people who love twin cylinder engine bikes at a resonable price.

Today if you were to pick up a new bike under Rs. 1.5 lakh, You can get bikes like the Yamaha YZF-R15, Honda CBR 150R, KTM Duke 200 & the Bajaj RS200. Now compare these new bikes with the used bikes mentioned above. You get atleast 1.5-2 times the power of the new bikes available in the same budget. And most importantly nothing can match the snob value of a big bike.

FORD INDIA : An Overview

In 1995 Ford Motor Company entered the Indian market after having a 50:50 joint venture with Mahindra & Mahindra. The venture was known as the Mahindra Ford India Limited. They setup their first plant at the Mahindra & Mahindra's manufacturing facility in Nashik. 

1997 Ford Escort

The first car that Ford had launched in India was the "Escort". It was Ford's one of the most succesful products internationally. Initial it was offered with two engine options-
1. An old-school 1.3 L OHV pushrod engine. It produced a power output of 58 hp @ 5000 rpm & a torque of 101 nm @ 2500 rpm.
2. A naturally aspirated 1.8 L diesel engine. It produced a power output of 60 hp @ 4800 rpm & a torque of 110 nm @ 2500 rpm.
It was launched with features like power steering, power windows, remote boot release, CFC free air conditioning, rear head rests and rear split seats. The Escort was fully loaded considering the era it was launched in. In later times Ford went on to introduce a 1.6 L DOHC 16v petrol engine. This was the first DOHC engines to be introduced in India. Power output of 85 hp @ 5500 rpm and 134 nm of torque @ 3000 rpm.
The Design of the Escort was disliked by many. This became one of the reasons for it being a market dud. Not only the design but overall the Escort was not a very reliable car. The clutch, overheating & suspension gave a lot of problems. Also the spares parts were very expensive. All this led to the Escort being a complete failure. Finally the Escort was discontinued in 2001. Some of the former owners of Escort swear by its build quality & the ride and handling characteristics. Ford learnt it the hard way and increased its stake to 72% in 1998. This lead to the formation of Ford India Private Limited.

The Sedan Rivals- Maruti Suzuki Esteem, Ford Escort,

Daewoo Cielo & Opel Astra

In 1999 Ford went on to launch one of its most successful sedan- the "Ikon". The Ikon changed things for Ford India. Initially launched with a 1.6 L petrol engine & a 1.8 L naturally aspirated diesel engine. The Diesel engine was the same one which did its duty in the Ford Escort. The 1.6 L ROCAM engine was an amazing engine churning out 91 hp @ 5500 rpm and a torque of 130 nm @ 2500 rpm. The 1.6 ROCAM Ikon was an absolute blast. It is one of the most loved car by automobile enthusiasts then as it offered amazing handling and an interactive steering. The 1.6 L engine was mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox which was a short throw gearbox. All this made the Ikon 1.6 a hoot to drive without sacrificing on the ride quality. Certain variants like the nxt & sxi were offered with a different bumper which made the Ikon look sporty. Overall in the design department the Ikon was pretty decent. The boot space was good but the interior space wasn't any great. The ground clearance was roughly about 175 cms which was pretty good. In the year 2000 Ford had launched a 1.3L petrol engine which had a power output of 70 hp @ 5500 rpm and a torue figures of 105 nm @ 2500 rpm. The Ikon 1.3 was strictly average. It was very sluggish in its performance. But it did sell well. 

Ford Ikon SXi 1.6

Ford Ikon 1.3

Honda City vs Maruti Suzuki Baleno vs Ford Ikon 

vs Hyundai Accent

The Biggest disappointment in the Ikon were its brakes. They were very weak and totally inadequate. This was one problem which Ford couldn't solve in 11 years of production of the Ikon. Overall the Ikon had earned a bad name in the market. Thanks to its unreliable parts, high cost of spares & Ford's horrible after sales service. All these factors made people stay away in general from Ford products. It was later when Ford started localisation that their spare part prices reduced. In 2006 the Ikon 1.6L petrol was discontinued to make space for the Fiesta.

In 2009 the Ikon was given a facelift and prices were further reduced for the Fiesta to fit in. The most important change was the addition of the 1.4 TDCi engine from the Ford Fiesta. The 1.8 L diesel was discontinued in 2005. So in 2009 Ford offered the Ikon at a very low price with just two engine options- 1.3 L Rocam petrol engine & a 1.4 TDCi diesel engine.

The Ikon was discontinued in 2011. It was sold for 11 years in the Indian market and did pretty well. Even though it had its fair share of issues, Ikon was a success and got Ford into limelight. It got Ford certain loyalists too.

2009 Updated Ford Ikon

In 2002 Ford had launched what we believe was their best offering in India- the "Ford Mondeo". The Ford Mondeo was offered with two engines- a2.0 L Duratec petrol engine & 2.0 L Duratorq diesel engine. The Mondeo was a terrific package. Both the petrol and diesel engine on offer were brilliant and offered mind blowing performance. The handling & suspension setup was awesome which made the Mondeo fun-to-drive.
But the Mondeo never sold well in our market. People always perceived it as a beefed up Ford Ikon. There were many reliability issues reported too. Most of them were related to the fuel pump going bust. The competition then had moved on and with the launch of the Honda Accord & the Hyundai Sonata. Soon the Mondeo was forgotten and eventually Ford had to discontinue it in 2006.
The Mondeo could never do the magic on the Indian Market which it did in the European market. All said and done this car definitely had made a special place among enthusiasts. People do wish Ford India launches the updated Mondeo in our market now. I hope folks from Ford India are listening.

2002 Ford Mondeo

2002 Ford Mondeo

The D2 segment then consisted of the Ford Mondeo,

Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata & the Opel Vectra

In India to capture the market and make your presence felt Manufacturers can succeed only by introducing a hatchback which is fuel efficient, powerful, spacious & cheap to maintain or by launching an SUV with butch looks. Ford realized the same and then came the "Ford Endeavour". The Endeavour till date retains it butch look and has an amazing road presence. It looks like a typical american SUV. The Endeavour was developed by Ford & Mazda jointly and was based on the Ford Ranger pick up. Initially it was launched with a 2.5L Turbo-diesel engine. In the later times with the updates the Endy got with the Thunder & Thunder+ editions it received a 3.0L turbo-diesel engine. Apart from a 5-speed manual transmission, A 5-speed automatic also was introduced with the 3.0L engine.

The Endeavour was overall a reliable product. It was a hit in the SUV segment until Toyota launched the Fortuner in 2009. The Endeavour as such had two major problems- the ride quality was really bad (Thanks to the leaf-springs at the back) & the floor height for the middle and last row was very high which made seating very uncomfortable. All these points went against the Endeavour and saw it slowly loose its presence in the market. Although it did come with certain Off-road goodies like a good low range transfer case & a torsen Limited-slip differential. But neither did the Endeavour establish itself as a very capable off-roader, Thanks to its long wheelbase and the Front & back overhangs.
Even though it was updated in 2010, the updates didn't help boost the sales of the Endeavour. Currently it is offered with 2 engine options- a 2.5 L & a 3.0L turbo-diesel engine. The 2.5 L is offered only in the 2WD layout with a 5-speed manual transmission. The 3.0L is offered with both 2WD & 4WD layouts with a 5-speed automatic transmission. 

Ford has come to its sense now and are soon expected to launch the all new 2015 Ford Endeavour. We hope the New Endy does a similar magic like it did way back in 2003.

2005 Ford Endeavour Hurricane

2008 Ford Endeavour Thunder

2009 Ford Endeavour Thunder+

2014 Ford Endeavour

2015 Ford Endeavour

  In 2005 Ford launches  a hatchback or maybe an SUV. There was no clear definition about it. But it was one hell of a car. The "Ford Fusion" was a car way ahead of its time. It basically was a perfect Urban-crossover. Today the market has gone all crazy over these compact SUVs/crossovers But 10 years back when Ford was offering the Fusion, people didnt perceive it well and finally Ford had to discontinue the Fusion in 2010. Today we pay close to 1.5-2 times the price of the Fusion for similar Crossovers. Mind you none of these cars even today can match up to the handling characteristics of the Fusion. It was a perfect recipe for Indian automobile enthusiasts wherein without sacrificing on practicality they could enjoy driving a car. The interior & boot space was amazing. The suspensio setup offered a perfect balance. You could enjoy it around the corners and the car would remain comfortable on most of the bad roads. The steering was very communicative. It was offered with two engines- the famous 1.6 duratec petrol engine & the 1.4 duratorq diesel engine.
People perceived it as a big hatch and were not ready to pay the high price for the Fusion. Finally in 2010 Ford went ahead and discontinued the Fusion. Today we have every other manufacturer trying to offer a compact SUV at an affordable price But Ford did the same way back in 2005. The Fusion truly was a legend.

Ford Fusion

In 2005 Ford went on to launch one of its biggest hits in our market- The "Fiesta/ Classic". The Fiesta then was offered with 3 engine options- a 1.4L Duratec petrol, 1.6L Duratec Petrol & the 1.4L TDCi diesel engine. The 1.4 L diesel engine was very fuel efficient and offered decent drivability. With 100 horses under the hood, the Fiesta 1.6L petrol was a hoot to drive. In the later times Ford went ahead and launched a 1.6S version The Fiesta 1.6S had a body kit, spoiler, different engine maps & stiffer suspension. It was a perfect automobile enthusiasts choice. In 2011 the car was renamed as the Fiesta Classic. But within a year Ford named it as the Ford Classic. The Fiesta even in its stock form had a very good suspension setup. It made the drive sporty without sacrificing on the comfort.
The Fiesta Classic was well received by the Indian market. As Ford had started a high percentage of localisation, spares became cheaper. People had reported an improvement in the overall after-sales experience. Like every other car Fiesta too had its cons. Firstly it wasn't very spacious. The rear seat was cramped & the fuel efficiency figures from the 1.6L duratec petrol were horrible. Though people have reported high fuel efficiency figures with the updated Fiesta Classic. But the market never really perceived the 1,6 well. The Design of the Fiesta is one of the best under 10 lakhs. It is stylish yet elegant.
When the Classic was launched it was positioned in a way that it makes space for the new Fiesta. The 1,6L petrol was offered at a mouth watering price. Even today the Fiesta Classic is the most prefereed car by the enthusiasts under 10 lakhs. The Fiesta Classic truly was a success for Ford India. As all good things come to an end, Ford will discontinue the Classic soon. The Figo Aspire will be replacing the Classic. The Ford Fiesta Classic definitely was a Classic car.

Ford Fiesta Classic

Ford Fiesta 1.6S

Ford Fiesta

2015 Ford Figo Aspire

In 2009 Ford India launched the "Figo". In its initial period the Figo was a hit. This mainly happened because Ford had managed to price the Figo well. It is offered with a 1.2L petrol engine & the 1.4L TDCi diesel engine from the Fiesta Classic/Ikon/Fusion. The Figo overall is a great package. It has decent interiors, an adequate boot & features. The Diesel Figo still sells well. The Design was a simple yet stylish no nonsense design which the market had perceived well.
In 2012 the Figo was given a minor update which inlcuded addition of a few features & some exterior changes like new headlamp & tail-lamp design. The Figo was a decent handler & offered a comfortable ride. It was a car developed for the Indian market on the Fiesta's platform.
Although there were a few disappointments. The 1,2L petrol engine was below average. Neither was it fuel efficient nor did it offer any good performance. The ground clearance of the figo has always been a concern. It scrapes on big bumps & speed breakers. As the Figo was priced well it did miss quite a lot of features. The most shocking omission was absence of rear power windows even on the top variant. All the B2 segment hatchbacks offer this basic thing even on their middle variant. It as expected that Ford might correct this with the update in 2012 but they didn't.
The competition in the B2 segment has moved up and the Figo now seriously feels outdated. So Ford plans to launch the new Figo in India very soon. We hope Ford retains the pros of the current car and eliminates the cons with the updated Figo.

2009 Ford Figo

2012 Ford Figo

2015 Ford Figo

Ford launched the all new "Fiesta" in 2011. The new Fiesta had a futuristic design. It was offered with a 1.5L diesel motor churning out 90hp @ 3750rpm and torque of 204nm @2000-2750rpm. A 1.5 L petrol engine producing 108@ 6045rpm & a torque of 140nm @ 4500rpm did its duty till 2014. The petrol engine had 2 transmission options- a 5-speed manual gearbox and a 6-speed dual clutch transmission. The Fiesta when launched was the first in class to offer airbags & ABS standard on all their variants.
But the Fiesta never really could get the success like its predecessor did. The biggest issue was the pricing. The Fiesta was the costliest sedan in its class when launched in 2011. The interior space wasn't any great either. The styling was awkward. All these factors added led to the Fiesta becoming a market dud.
Although in 2014 Fiesta was given a major update where in the exteriors were changed. The front end received the Aston Martin kinda grille treatment & most importantly the prices were revised. From being the costliest C1 segment sedan the Fiesta became the cheapest C1 segment sedan. The 1.5L petrol was discontinued. Fiesta is sold only in its diesel avatar now. Although Ford did silently increase the prices for the Fiesta in 2015. The New Fiesta like its predecessor had a well tuned suspension which made it fun to drive. The electronic power steering is one of the best we have experienced on any car under 20 lakhs. All said and done Ford had done a major blunder with the pricing in 2011 which killed the Fiesta. Even though the New Fiesta is quite deserving, the market has already forgotten it. The sales figures clearly show that.

2011 Ford Fiesta

2014 Ford Fiesta

Now we come to the most successful products from Ford India- the "Ecosport". The car which changed the game for the urban crossovers. There was a time when the Renault Duster was the king of the compact SUV/crossover segment. Enters the Ecosport and gets the crown. Futuristic design, amazing engines on offer, mind-blowing feature list & most importantly smart pricing. The Ecosport was an instant success.
The Ecosport is a sub 4m SUV. Offered with 3 engines- 1.5L Duratec petrol engine (same as the new Fiesta), the most awarded 1.0L ecoboost engine & the 1,5L TDCi diesel engine. The 6-speed dual clutch transmission is offered on the 1.5L Petrol engine. The 1.0L ecoboost engine is the most awarded engine internationally. Its a 1,0L 3 cylinder turbo petrol producing a whopping 123bhp. It is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The 1,5L TDCi diesel is the same as in the Fiesta producing 90hp. It offers terrific fuel  economy and drivability. The Ecosport typically has a stiff suspension. This enhances the handling charcterstics and also helps it ride flat at high speeds. It has a ground clearance of 200mm which is expected from a car of this category. Overall the Ecosport is a perfect package. Certain variants come with 6-airbags which make it extremely safe.
Many people had booked the Ecosport but Ford couldn't meet the demand as they were focusing on the export market. The waiting period was extended to an year in some cities. Eventually people started exploring other options and from being a star performer the Ecosport has come down to an above average performer in the market.
Today the Ecosport does sell well But Ford needs to revamp the Ecosport soon. Competition is moving up with the launch of cars like Creta & S-cross. There are rumors that Ford is working on updating the Ecosport. The sooner the better for Ford.

Ford Ecosport

Ford India has seen their fair share of ups and downs but that has never discouraged them from introducing new products and technologies in the Indian market. We really hope we get to see more of this with their upcoming launches.
In general cars from Ford are fun to drive and are well built. Ford is a brand loved by the enthusiasts. They gave our market two of the best petrol  engines- the 1.6L Duratec petrol engine & the 1.0L 3 cylinder ecoboost engine. Both engines caused quite a stir upon their launch.
The Diesel engines on the hatchbacks and sedans barring the Mondeo are a disappointment. A common complaint from the diesel ford owners is that their cars feel under-powered. In reality the engines are adequate but the it dies down before the brilliant chassis Ford offers on all their products. These chassis's deserve a more powerful engine. Rumours suggest that the Figo Aspire will get a slightly powerful diesel engine. We really hope Ford carry forwards these changes to their other products too. All the cars from Ford are well calibrated which makes driving them enjoyable.
We really hope someday Ford brings the Mondeo in India. The current generation Mondeo in the international market is a really good package.
The biggest surprise from Ford India is the launch of the "Mustang GT" in India. Test cars have already been spotted at various places. We really hope Ford brings in its iconic Mustang to India very soon.

Ford offers products which may not sell really well but they are lovely packages. Buying a Ford product is definitely a heart over head decision. It may not be the best seller but it will definitely put a smile on your face every time you look at it or drive it.