[fiat_tarun]

Given the Ecosport is now the oldie in the group and there's only so much Ford can do till the new one comes in, this is a good option to offer to buyers.
Nothing wrong with offering more choice so those that like the clean look can opt for this variant. The regular variant with the tailgate mounted spare is anyway still available.

Looks like Ford is going to be the first to offer a car without a spare wheel in line with the new regulation. While I have not used the spare in my car in over 2.5 years as with tubeless tyres and a 12V compressor you don't really need one, the spare tyre is like an insurance for those trips outside the city.

I sincerely hope the 2021 spec. adds Android Auto / Carplay to the entire range. This is a basic feature now and has been a reason for many to drop the Ecosport from their list.

[ManneAtWheelz]

I voted for Option 1, Ecosport is designed keeping in mind the rear attached wheel in mind, removing it will surely miss the butch looks and the loss of character to it without making any bodily changes. It will also take some time to get used to the new look however.

[ScorpioYadav]

Instead of this needless ‘change’ the folks at Ford India should’ve used their minds on changing the underwhelming tail-lights. While the tail-light assembly does look gorgeous to see during the day but in the night, the small size of the tail-lamps leaves a lot to be desired. I had expected LED ones to be introduced during the last facelift in 2017 but it didn’t happen.

As far as the topic on hand is concerned, the EcoSport looked good with the rear-mounted spare wheel (something Tata should also consider for the Nexon’s outlandish rear-end). What Ford has done good is move the license plate up from the bumper to fill-up the resultant vacant space. I’ve personally always liked the license plate on the tailgate if it is done in congruence with the tail-lights assembly as was done in the last 2 generations of i20. Didn’t like the way it was done in 1st Gen Creta & WRV.
However, the regulations need to be amended as in Indian driving conditions, we need the assurance of a spare wheel.
Also all spare wheels need to be full-sized as there are users who still practice tyre rotation.

[sahil624]

The Ford Ecosport is synonymous with the tailgate mounted spare wheel and this is what contributes to its uniqueness in the swarm of Compact SUVs in existence today. I think the removal of tailgate mounted spare wheel takes away the character of Ecosports and it looks like just another hatchback with height, albeit a lot narrower.

[Torquedo]

Hahahahah, I pity someone picking up an Ecosport for 14 OTR, spare wheel or no spare wheel, coming to it -

1) The Figo with the same amount of interior space at 6L less is a better option any given day with the same engine. Save that 6L put it in the most useless tool called FD and over a 7 year ownership it'll offset the resale loss.

2) Ecosport is essentially a 4 seater, plonk in 2 L more on the 14 and get a spanking Harrier XE, save some more to soup it up later, now with the Safari at a tangible distance, the unappealing nature of Ecosport just grows.

3) For heaven's sake, Ecosport was never an SUV, it is basically a bigger Hatch with a tail mounted wheel, no bragging rights whatsoever.

4) Ecosport is well well beyond it's prime, can be bought only if offered at < 10 OTR for the diesel mill, 17' 18' gimmicks are beyond my realms.

5) If the last lots of Classic 1.6 were offered for 4.99 Ex showroom, this thing at 6.99 would still make some sense over the Balenos and Swift's of the world.

Buy an SUV if you feel it's an SUV once seated inside, 99% of the Indian junta buys the psuedo SUV so that people around them feel that they own an SUV.

Ecosport was, is and shall remain a Hatch on steroids with a spare wheel slapped at the rear. I wonder how people have paid 2-3L more for that spare wheel at the rear.

[peterjim13]

Being an Ecosport owner for over 7 years now, I must admit a few things.

The car for me was not a looker, but it drew curiosity for its size and the new segment it opened. The car in fact is still not the best-looking Mini SUV around, and I still feel that the rear wheel was the fact that gave it a unique stance and the SUV'ish appearance. I didn't bother adding the wheel cover so that I could just expose the black rubber and alloys on the car.

In comparison to Nexon, XUV300, Creta, Seltos, etc they never had to convince to identify themselves as a mini SUV.

The current-gen Ecosport is truly a looker, especially the Sports variants. But the taking off the spare wheel was fine, but it deserved a lot more effort on the rear just that it doesn't look like "without spare wheel".

So by the looks of the car in these photos, it's a badly done car. All the other cars in the current category are much better looking IMHO

[CEF_Beasts]

Originally Posted by Torquedo

Hahahahah, I pity someone picking up an Ecosport for 14 OTR, spare wheel or no spare wheel, coming to it.

Ecosport was, is and shall remain a Hatch on steroids with a spare wheel slapped at the rear. I wonder how people have paid 2-3L more for that spare wheel at the rear.

Buddy the Harrier XE is a good ₹3 Lakh away in terms of price compared to the EcoSport! I pity someone picking a Sonet at almost ₹15.7 Lakhs.

Name one car a segment above or below (other than obviously the Sonet and Venue) which gets 6 airbags, high ground clearance and sturdy build quality not forgetting the driving pleasure, there is where the appeal of the EcoSport lies. EcoSport can run circles around the Koreans in terms of steering feel and dynamics. If the EcoSport is a hatchback on steroids then so are the other CSUVs! A Figo is much smaller in comparison to a EcoSport.

Coming back to the main topic, the spare wheel on the boot lid gives it a different stance which other CSUVs just don’t have. It’s still a competent product in the market, and to show that people are still buying it.

[Balaji31582]

Originally Posted by CEF_Beasts

Name one car a segment above or below (other than obviously the Sonet and Venue) which gets 6 airbags, high ground clearance and sturdy build quality not forgetting the driving pleasure, there is where the appeal of the EcoSport lies. EcoSport can run circles around the Koreans in terms of steering feel and dynamics.

Adding to the above one more is the water wading capability of ecosport. Its 550mm. Not sure any other cross overs possess this.
FYI - I don't own an Ecosport but has always wondered about the whole package except for the rear seat and the boot space.

[discoverwild]

Originally Posted by Balaji31582

Adding to the above one more is the water wading capability of ecosport. Its 550mm. Not sure any other cross overs possess this.
FYI - I don't own an Ecosport but has always wondered about the whole package except for the rear seat and the boot space.

Posting the link from one of the posts here. The Ecosport manual tells you not to go water wading above 200mm, that too at 10kph.

All the CSUVs including the Nexon, Sonet, Seltos, Venue, Brezza, XUV300 and the EcoSport are nothing but hatches on stilts. They have severe limitations when it comes to real world SUV scenarios.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offic...ml#post3476285 (Ford EcoSport : Official Review)

[pavi]

Originally Posted by ManneAtWheelz

I voted for Option 1, Ecosport is designed keeping in mind the rear attached wheel in mind, removing it will surely miss the butch looks and the loss of character to it without making any bodily changes. It will also take some time to get used to the new look however.

I agree on the observation. Some how that rear mounted spare wheel gives a butch look provided it's an alloy. The covers which some people have, around the spare wheel feels like a male with excess lipstick. With out spare wheel, Ecosport looks very similar to a Scross. It is not bad looking, but it is less butch looking.

Now this is off topic. Is this by any chance your car? If yes, that bull bar at rear is illegal. If not your car, then we can stop this here.

[rahulcmoulee]

Originally Posted by Torquedo

Hahahahah, I pity someone picking up an Ecosport for 14 OTR, spare wheel or no spare wheel

This 'hatchback on stilts' has a higher water wading depth than a Harrier. A Harrier XE while being not only more expensive than a top of the line Ecosport, does not come with enough safety kit and close to no creature comforts.

Ecosport is made to be a compact urban car with higher GC to tackle the bad roads and it serves that purpose to a tee.

A real SUV is something which has AWD, can go offroad and take some beating. The Harrier does not satisfy these criteria either.

[ManneAtWheelz]

Originally Posted by pavi

Now this is off topic. Is this by any chance your car? If yes, that bull bar at rear is illegal. If not your car, then we can stop this here.

No, it isn't my car but captured the good looking moments of the car while on road.

[ABHI_1512]

Originally Posted by discoverwild

Posting the link from one of the posts here. The Ecosport manual tells you not to go water wading above 200mm, that too at 10kph.

All the CSUVs including the Nexon, Sonet, Seltos, Venue, Brezza, XUV300 and the EcoSport are nothing but hatches on stilts. They have severe limitations when it comes to real world SUV scenarios.

Off topic but thought of breaking some notions here. May be an Ecosport is not a proper SUV but it has at least done the job for me as a car. I have taken the car to places where not many cars have ventured and I am not talking about SUV’s here.

And this for the water wading capability :



I have many attempted many water crossings only for the capability that the car possesses and have confidently crossed every one of them when many cars were either stuck or didn’t even think of crossing such places.

Now for the topic, the Ecosport does look better with the wheel at the back but then that’s the look that we are used to seeing now. Some folks do like clean backs as well and only time will tell if this without spare wheel look at the back will run it’s course or not !!

[discoverwild]

Originally Posted by ABHI_1512

I have many attempted many water crossings only for the capability that the car possesses and have confidently crossed every one of them when many cars were either stuck or didn’t even think of crossing such places.
!!

Dear Abhi,

The kind of stuff I have done on hatchbacks would put many a SUV into shame. Doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. I have waded streams in an Indica at night with water above the headlight in the jungle, with the nearest help about 15kms away.

This place had all kinds of vehicles stuck over the course of three days (bus, 407, lorry, even a tractor which came in as a recovery) and I made it in and out without an issue. I had a friend who did the spotting for me.

Had to cross an underpass once in the Ford Ikon and the distance was less than 50m, but I did it with water over the bonnet.

Escaped the Chennai floods in Dec2015 in a Vento with a lot of water crossings all the way to Chengalpet from Kelambakkam.

Stuff I have done in an underpowered 2WD 68 BHP Sierra (60kms in 6 hours, 4kms in 2hrs - Munnar to Kodaikanal) are what off-roading dreams are made of.

A lot depends on driver capabilities, vehicle limits and sheer luck. Doesn't always go right. Have also seen videos of EcoSports and other pseudo SUVs floating around.

There's a reason why the EcoSport brochure tells you to stay under 200mm. Insurance claims will be very tricky if something goes wrong.

[groom]

More than the looks the new design is more safer.
Ecosport users had reported fish tailing, the additional weight in that area contributes more to this effect.

Drive safer, stay connected.