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-   -   Ford EcoSport: Dual airbags now standard across all variants (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/road-safety/181499-ford-ecosport-dual-airbags-now-standard-across-all-variants.html)

Thank you to BHPian vinit.merchant for sharing this information with other enthusiasts!

The Ford EcoSport now comes with dual airbags as standard across all variants. The compact SUV earlier had them only on the Trend and above trim levels. After this feature addition, every car in Ford's Indian portfolio now comes with a driver airbag as standard.

Addition of airbags to the base Ambiente variant might also be a response to the Vitara Brezza, which comes with a standard driver airbag and an optional passenger airbag in the base LDi trim. There are no other changes made to the EcoSport's feature list. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) still come only with the Trend and above variants. Meanwhile, the range-topping Titanium AT and Titanium + variants continue to offer six airbags (front, side and curtain).

The EcoSport has managed to hold onto its over 3,000 units monthly sales mark, despite facing tough competition from the Maruti Vitara Brezza. With added safety, Ford appears to be aiming to pull a few more customers away from its Japanese competitor.


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Surely the Breeza effect, The Breeza LDi(O) is a real value for money proposition but it would have been preferable if ABS EBD was standard as well.

This is one good move from Ford. This makes the Trend immense value for money. They have the full safety of ABS + dual Airbags and enough features to keep most happy. Coupled with the 100BHP diesel engine the Ecosport is now a complete package in all trim levels.

Ford is on the right track with this move.

Ford trying all tricks under its sleeves to remain in the game with Brezza! But, a very good move by Ford to bring dual airbags standard across all variants. Hope there is no price hike due to this !

EcoSport is also a more solidly built car, more rigid and with a higher tensile strength to the whole structure. All of these add to safety. These are "below the skin" features, and not always well appreciated in evolving markets like India.

Bravo, Ford, Bravo!!! clap:

This makes Ford only the fourth (mass-market) manufacturer in India (after Volkswagen, Toyota & Škoda) not to sell cars without even a standard driver airbag! The base model of the new Figo gets a standard driver airbag, while all other Fords in India now get at least two standard airbags, with all their top variants getting six airbags in total - praiseworthy indeed! :thumbs up

The EcoSport is a fantastic vehicle, and the addition of standard dual airbags makes the two lower variants excellent value for money. All it needs now (along with the international facelift) are electrically retractable ORVMs, an up-to-date touchscreen infotainment system with reverse camera display (on the top variants, at least) and a softer ride quality to make it unbeatable!

Based on a few accidents I was involved on co-driver side while travelling in cabs/taxis in 2016, I realise the importance of dual airbags as standard requirement. This is a good move by Ford to protect the drivers and co-drivers from any accidents. With the increase in number of private taxis, it is high time that Dual Airbags and ABS are made mandatory in all four wheelers.

Excellent move! Kudos to Ford for continuously updating the EcoSport. The diesel got more power only recently, and now this. It's over 3 years since the EcoSport was launched in India, yet it's still the best compact SUV around. Beats the Vitara Brezza by a mile.

Ford has been in the game since launch. The reason its demand went down when Brezza launched was only because many people were waiting for this Maruti. Ford tried to up the game by matching the Brezza Price with a Big Price Cut. Now, Airbag's have been made standard not because of Brezza, but all other Ford's Including cheaper Figo had Airbag(s) as standard across the range since launch.

So, now the Ecosport is a complete package & a hard one to beat. It will continue to sell around 4k every month & Brezza will maintain its place, partly because many Indians tend to buy Maruti cars blindly without even looking at the segment competition. This alone is the reason why Brezza sells higher then Ecosport.

Lastly, Maruti should thank Ford for the Success it has tasted with Brezza.

If I was to Pick & Suggest among the 2, it would be the FORD ECOSPORT

I think more than sales and competition, it is the mandate from the government to make ABS and Airbags compulsory in all cars starting 2018. Also, it is easier to sell a safer car and hence be ahead in this competitive market.

Prices have been hiked to the tune of 25k.

I further checked and I find it unfair on the part of Ford. They have increased prices from 25k to 40k throughout all variants, even on the one's which had Airbags as standard.

This I believe is the reason why Ford was so silent about adding the Airbags on base variants. They used this opportunity to jack up the prices.

EDIT: Here's a comparison of variant wise ex-showroom prices (Pune) from June and now

Petrol
Ambiente 6.83 & 7.14
Trend 7.56 & 7.96
Titanium 8.74 & 8.96
Titanium AT 9.81 & 10.04

Ecoboost Trend+ 8.36 & 8.58
Ecoboost Titanium+ 9.65 & 9.81

Diesel
Ambiente 7.44 & 7.83
Trend 8.18 & 8.57
Trend+ 8.67 & 8.90
Titanium 9.36 & 9.58
Titanium+ 9.95 & 10.12

Maruti does not need to thank anybody. It is their product, their knowledge of what the Indian customers want and their reputation in the market. It is because of these reasons that Brezza has tasted success.
The same stands true for Hyundai Creta too.

To be honest, they should have added the ABS instead of airbags as a standard at the expense of Rs.25k, with airbags as an option. Among all, trend+ seems to be the most VFM, with trend being an option for those on tight budget.

I guess, the main reason all the manufacturers are rushing to offer Airbags in all variants is to prevent themselves from the embarrassment if the car gets picked for random NCAP tests like in past.

Good move, now the Ecosport even better VFM, I hope they do the same for the Figo and Aspire.

ABS as standard would have been another welcome addition.