Ford EcoSport: The crossovers in the race

There are a number of crossovers available in the country right now thanks to the growing demand and competition. All of this means that the customers have got quite a lot of options to pick from and since each brand wants to have as many customers as possible, sometimes this leads to good deals as well.

One of the most popular crossovers in our country is the Ford EcoSport. The Ford EcoSport price starts at Php 918,000 and the crossover offers great features. The EcoSport not only looks great with its tallboy appearance but also performs brilliantly thanks to Ford’s revolutionary and world-renowned EcoBoost engine - a 1.0-litre motor that produces 125 PS of power and 170 Nm of torque and promises to deliver a thrift fuel economy.

It comes only with the Titanium trim and is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Another interesting feature in the Ford EcoSport specs is the 8-inch touch screen display that supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Ford has also implemented its SYNC 3 system.

While the EcoSport is definitely one of the best options in the crossover segment, there are other models that give a tough fight to the American crossover. Here are the other crossovers in the race to victory.

Hyundai Kona

There is no second thought about the fact that the Hyundai Kona is designed to attract the younger lot of population. The split headlamp design and the cascading front grille are clearly the elements that wouldn’t suit everyone’s taste. The side profile is maintained by the stylish alloy wheels and roof rails. The rear features two-piece combination tail lights.

The inside of the Kona is not as exciting as the outside. Yes, the all-black theme does add some sportiness to the cabin but the rest of the space remains quite the basic. There is a floating-type radio display with a mono LCD screen which supports AUX, USB, and Bluetooth connectivity.

Regarding the Hyundai Kona specs, the crossover gets a 2.0-litre Atkinson engine which produces a maximum power of 149 PS at 6200 rpm and a peak torque of 180 Nm at 4500 rpm. The mill is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. With only a single variant available in the Philippines, the Hyundai Kona price has been set at Php 1.12 million.

Haima S5

The Chinese firm Haima has slowly and steadily established itself here in the Philippines. It has got a number of products to offer and one of them is the S5. The Haima S5 is a striking-looking car that features large stylish projector headlamps. Also, its front grille is reminiscent of that of the older Mercedes models,

of course, the brand logo is different though. The cabin space of the S5 is pretty good too. In fact, there are as many as 30 cubby storage areas in the cabin. The fit and finish levels are decent and so is the quality of the materials used. There is a 7-inch LCD screen for your entertainment needs.

The Haima S5 specs reveal two engine options - a 1.5-litre turbocharged unit with 161 hp/223 Nm and a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated unit that produces 121 hp/160Nm. For transmission, there is either a CVT or a 5-speed manual to choose from. The Haima S5 price starts at Php 879,000.

Chevrolet Trax

The Chevrolet Trax price starts at Php 1.19 million and the crossover is available in two variants. The Trax is a handsome car that comes with features like projector headlamps, LED daytime running lights, signature LED strips in the tail lights, and proportionate design, etc. We have to admit that having all such features, the Trax tends to look pretty cute from some doesn’t it?

Anyways, moving on, the interior of the Chevrolet Trax offers a familiar 3-spoke steering wheel with mounted controls for audio and Bluetooth. The large 8-inch touch screen infotainment is a welcoming feature as it takes care of all your entertainment needs thanks to its smartphone connectivity options. Chevrolet has thrown in some basic modern features like a push to start/stop button, cruise control, driver seat height adjustability, etc.

If we talk about the powertrain, the Chevrolet Trax specs have got a single engine option to show. It is a 1.4-litre turbocharged unit that is tuned to churn out 140 PS of maximum power and 200 Nm of peak torque. It comes mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The Trax is one of the most powerful crossovers we have got in the country and we might soon have the new 2019 model as well.

Nissan Juke

The Nissan Juke has got a few similarities with the Hyundai Kona. To begin with, it also features the odd split headlamp design which is really not everyone’s cup of tea. While the Kona looks decent, we’d say Nissan went bonkers with the Juke. Anyways, just like the Kona, the Nissan Juke is also available in a single variant.

The interior of the Juke offers a decent number of features like a push to start/stop button, keyless entry, electrically adjustable and foldable rear view mirrors, etc. It also comes with a 7-inch touch screen infotainment system that doubles up as a screen for the reverse camera.

The Nissan Juke specs include a 1.6-litre petrol engine which produces 116 PS of maximum power and 154 nm of peak torque. These are some decent numbers and should be sufficient for a crossover. The gearbox here is Nissan’s XTRONIC CVT unit. The Nissan Juke price in the Philippines is Php 1.02 million.

So, these were some of the best crossovers that stand against the Ford EcoSport in the Philippines and pop up in most of the customers’ shortlisted cars. Let us know which one is your favourite crossover and what do you think about it.

Also Read:- Bring home a Ford EcoSport with a discount of Php 130,000