[Karthik Chandra]

Originally Posted by Iyencar

And so you end you end up in this infinite loop of trying to get the engine, tranny, and features you know is in there somewhere. The only solution: draw a Venn diagram.

Not justifying but that's been the trend with all the manufacturers. The variant/feature mismatch especially in CSUVs is very evident.

1. You can't get Venue AT with 6 airbags, rear wash & wiper and sliding armrest.
2. You can't get Ecosport AT with Cruise control, Sync 3 & Ford my key (with the current update)
3. You can't get Nexon with 6 airbags/ESP/TC, Cruise control & sunroof.
4. You can't get Brezza with a petrol engine (MT & AT), 6 airbags/ESP/TC & sunroof
5. You can't get XUV 300 with an AT
6. You can't get WRV with 6 airbags/ESP/TC & AT
7. You can't get TUV 300 with a petrol engine, 6 airbags/ESP/TC & AT.

The customer is made to compromise some way or the other across all models

[bled_soul]

Originally Posted by Karthik Chandra

Not justifying but that's been the trend with all the manufacturers. The variant/feature mismatch especially in CSUVs is very evident.

1. You can't get Venue AT with 6 airbags, rear wash & wiper and sliding armrest.
2. You can't get Ecosport AT with Cruise control, Sync 3 & Ford my key (with the current update)
3. You can't get Nexon with 6 airbags/ESP/TC, Cruise control & sunroof.
4. You can't get Brezza with a petrol engine (MT & AT), 6 airbags/ESP/TC & sunroof
5. You can't get XUV 300 with an AT
6. You can't get WRV with 6 airbags/ESP/TC & AT
7. You can't get TUV 300 with a petrol engine, 6 airbags/ESP/TC & AT.

The customer is made to compromise some way or the other across all models

So basically no truly good compact suv. I wonder what the managers at ford are smoking. They really had a wonderful opportunity to trump Hyundai venue by changing the titanium plus for the better. They instead completely screwed up.

[Chetan_Rao]

Ford's version of the 'fool me once...' adage is an infinite loop to 'fool me the nth time, I've got plenty of room for one more go'.

[strawhat]

Sad decision to kick mid variant AT from the stable. Trend+ to me was a great VFM option.

IMO, the only positives to emerge from this stupid exercise;
- Swapping of R17 wheels to R16 on S variant.
- Better looking alloys.

Also, Ford has again managed to goof up the Thunder edition by equipping it with R17's. Actually I wonder what is the point of this so-called limited version when its earlier avatar, Signature pack, flopped royally.

[kubectl]

In Ford's defense, what option did the poor chaps have? They have been offering a class-leading feature-loaded product for all these years but the market has stopped reacting to it.

They had lost to Brezza and Nexon long time back, and it seems like XUV300's numbers are here to stay as well. Venue has further pushed them down to number 5.

They had to lower the prices and offer sunroof across more variants to compete with the bling from the competition.

Does the competition offer an automatic in the top-end variant? Nope!
Does the mass market care about cruise control? Nope!
Is the mass market crazy about sunroofs? Very much!

One stupid omission is SYNC3 because Android Auto/Apple CarPlay is a deciding factor for many, but them deciding to keep the 6 airbags is a very, very welcome move.

This is a strategic move by Ford to appeal to the bigger market in light of the competition and I hope it works out for them.

Oh, and how can we forget BS6? The 1.0 EcoBoost is any day easier to make BS6 compliant than the 1.5 Dragon, so makes all the more sense to push it as the top variant.

[saisrujan]

Wish we could get AT vs manual sales breakup across brands. I bet this will show that AT segment, though small, is growing rapidly. And people ponying up extra dough for AT will surely (or at least I hope) care about side and curtain airbags and CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility.

Ford has chickened out, so Hyundai will probably have at least 12000 Venue DCTs on Indian roads by the end of the year.

[SilentEngine]

Ford lost an opportunity to introduce S variant with AT (even with 1.5 dragon to keep cost down) because the Titanium+ variant is no longer attractive.

Otherwise, for those looking for manual transmission, S variants are the one's to buy, with close to 60k down from earlier cost.

Mods: can we change the title, it's no longer a rumor, but a sad reality :(

[benbsb29]

Originally Posted by ValarMorghulis

You are correct. Just downloaded the brochure which showed the following features missing:
1. Sync3
2. Cruise control
3. Ford MyKey
4. Emergency Assistance
5. Folding grab handles with coat hooks
6. CarPlay & Android Auto
7. Footwell ambient lighting
8. Type pressure monitoring system
Surprisingly all these are present only in the 1.0 S MT model.


Bye bye Ford Ecosport Titatnium+AT. As much as I wanted to get you, you seem to be only a figment of my imagination.
Great job Ford India guys! You saved 30k from the model to lose 14.1lakhs.


Sheeh

Thanks for summarizing this. We were looking to get a Titanium+, with the Sync3 system being the biggest USP. Now with this, that is surely no longer a reason to stick with the Ecosport.

Penny wise, pound foolish.

[fiat_tarun]

Originally Posted by jayram.r

Looks like Ford has learnt its lesson. The official brochure of the Ecosport S now shows 16 inch wheels.

Well along with this, it has also lost those gorgeous alloys. I stretched for the S primarily for those alloys and have had no issues with the 17" wheels *touch wood*. The original batch of 17" tyres (DBM series IIRC) had the issues.

[Chugh_H]

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun

Well along with this, it has also lost those gorgeous alloys.

I agree. Those alloys. along with the ones on Signature, looked absolute gorgeous.
Like most on this forum, I'd say Ford shouldn't have done this revision. They axed the bits that made the Ecosport somewhat standout (nice alloys, sync3, black interiors) only to make it blend in the crowd. I'm just glad I bought my car last year (Signature), I missed the updated instrument cluster but I guess that's okay.
And that Thunder edition, looks very weird to me. Is ford spending too much time with Maruti's design team?

[gopalnt]

While the Sync3 audio system was more "professional" looking one, this new audio system looks like a typical "china" product. It is going to be a " Fly" in the ointment for Ford.

[strawhat]

Originally Posted by fiat_tarun

Well along with this, it has also lost those gorgeous alloys.

I think Ford has retained the S variants alloy design. Those blackened alloys are for the Thunder edition. The unreliable 17 inch wheels have given way to 16 inch ones just like they did to Titanium+ last year. Add in the price cut, this feature rationalisation has actually turned the S variant better.

[fiat_tarun]

Originally Posted by strawhat

I think Ford has retained the S variants alloy design....

Nope, it looks like the regular titanium design painted in a gun metal shade.

[knightrider_7]

I was looking to buy a CSUV with maximum budget of 10 lakhs. The convenience features needed were driver seat height adjust, auto ac, reverse camera and rear adjustable headrests.

Two days ago, these were only available in Trend + variant. Now Trend variant has driver seat height adjust and same spec tyres (steel only) as in Titanium. Booked new Trend variant today. I guess the price cut is very good for those who are on a tight budget like me.

No cars in the competition offers the features of Trend variant at this price.

[pseudo_coder]

Titatnium+AT didn't have TPMS and folding grab handles. In my car, grab handles are in the door. I think they can't be placed above the window due to curtain airbags.

Will this move by Ford increase the resale value of my car

Originally Posted by ValarMorghulis

You are correct. Just downloaded the brochure which showed the following features missing:
1. Sync3
2. Cruise control
3. Ford MyKey
4. Emergency Assistance
5. Folding grab handles with coat hooks
6. CarPlay & Android Auto
7. Footwell ambient lighting
8. Type pressure monitoring system
Surprisingly all these are present only in the 1.0 S MT model.


Bye bye Ford Ecosport Titatnium+AT. As much as I wanted to get you, you seem to be only a figment of my imagination.
Great job Ford India guys! You saved 30k from the model to lose 14.1lakhs.


Sheeh