SLUG: on the road
Here we are comparing two cars from two different categories altogether. A little unorthodox? Well, you might be interested to know that these two cars house the most enthusiastic petrol engines sold in India under the Rs 10 lakh mark. While one is a technological powerhouse, the other tries to appeal with its traditional attributes. Welcome the Ford EcoSport Ecoboost and the Honda City i-VTEC. The Japanese sedan is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol motor that churns out a potent 117BHP and has won a huge fan base, right from the launch of its very first avatar in 1998. The Ford EcoSport is powered by a puny 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine; while this might sound out of place, the EcoSport has a special trick up its sleeves. It makes use of a turbocharger, and along with direct injection produces a mighty impressive 123BHP of max power. So while both cars provide the maximum thrills for reasonable amount of money, which one can satisfy the enthusiastic driver in you the most?
The Ford EcoSport Ecoboost is a sub 4-metre compact SUV which was launched in India in 2013 and had then surprised the folks with the introduction of the Ecoboost engine at a mouth watering price. This is the very same engine that has internationally won the ‘Engine of the Year’ award twice in a row. The Honda City is currently in its 4th generation and was launched more recently in 2014. It is the king of the C-segment sedan category in India and is known for its unmatched practicality and performance combo.
As mentioned, the Honda City has been an enthusiast’s best friend since 1998. Over the years it has gained a loyal fan following and why not. The 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol is a 4-cylinder unit with variable valve timing on both the intake as well as the exhaust manifolds. The result is breathtaking performance. The 1.5-litre motor, in typical Honda fashion, just loves to rev. Initial responses are nothing to write home about, but build up the revs and you are left spellbound by the way this car gathers pace. It revs all the way up to 7000RPM and feels like it could go further, but sadly the rev-limiter cuts in, in order to save the engine. All the power this engine develops is stored in the top of the power band and feels the strongest past the 5000RPM mark. The gearshifts are pretty slick too, adding to that sporty factor.
The Ford EcoSport Ecoboost, on the other hand, delivers its power in a very different way. Its tiny 1.0-litre engine makes a very impressive 170Nm of torque from as low as 1400RPM all the way up to 4500RPM, which makes all the difference. It has a wee bit of turbo-lag at low revs, after which the engine pulls very strongly throughout its mid-range until it hits the rev-limiter at 6500RPM. All this happens without much drama and you are impressed by this engine every time you put your foot down on the accelerator. The 5-speed manual gearbox, though not as slick as the City, is accurate to slot in to the desired gear. A special mention here is the deep growly sound of this 3-cylinder unit which makes you rev it intentionally every once in a while.
Coming to the ride and handling package, both these cars feel planted in a straightline but it is the EcoSport that impresses you more, simply because it rides almost 200mm above the ground. The Honda City with its low stance and much lower seating gives you a sporty cockpit-like feel. On the bends, the City could do with a bit more grip as the tyres tend to squeal easily under hard cornering. The EcoSport again feels better planted in corners with its wider rubber and a steering system that offers much more feedback. Brakes on both these cars feel strong and are equipped with ABS as standard.
It is very difficult to choose between these two cars. One car gives you the pampering only expected from a naturally aspirated engine while the other one impresses you by providing a similar package with the help of sheer technology. Both these cars have the equal capability to bring joy to your early morning office drive and plant a smile on your face wider than the Sub-Saharan desert.
Ford EcoSport Ecoboost Honda City i-VTEC
Engine displacement 999cc, 3-cylinder 1497cc, 4-cylinder
Power 123BHP @ 6000RPM 117BHP @ 6600RPM
Torque 170Nm @ 1400RPM - 4500RPM 145Nm @ 4600RPM
Fuel Efficiency 18.88Km/L 17.8Km/L
Kerb Weight 1259Kgs 1029Kgs “ 1065Kgs
Prices (Ex-showroom, Goa) Rs. 8.57 lakhs “ Rs. 9.97 lakhs Rs. 7.61 lakhs “ Rs. 10.77 lakhs
