[Video] Ford EcoSport bags 5 star safety rating from Latin NCAP

The Ford EcoSport crossover sold in Latin America has bettered its Latin NCAP safety performance by one point. The crossover now comes with a 5 star Latin NCAP safety rating, bettering its previous 4 star rating. The introduction of seat-belt warning indicator in the instrumentation console of the EcoSport sold in Latin America has allowed the EcoSport to bag the 5 star safety rating.

The EcoSport that was tested by the Latin NCAP safety rating agency featured twin airbags, ABS+EBD and ISOFIX seat belts with pre-tensioners and a dashboard reminder icon. The EcoSport that features a 5 star safety rating scored 31/49 in child occupant safety and 14.64/17 in adult occupant safety. In Europe, the EcoSport has managed a 4 star score n the Euro NCAP safety ratings. The EcoSport sold in India is likely to score a similar safety rating if tested. However, India is yet to institutionalize a safety testing agency on the lines of Euro NCAP and Latin NCAP.

The EcoSport sold in India is available with three engine and transmission options. The lowest priced variant gets a 1.5 liter Ti-VCT petrol engine that outputs 108 Bhp-146 Nm. The 1.5 liter TDCI turbo diesel engine outputs 90 Bhp-204 Nm while the top-end petrol engine is a turbocharged unit that is good for 125 Bhp-170 Nm. All variants of the EcoSport get a 5 speed manual gearbox that drives the front wheels. However, the 1.5 liter Ti-VCT petrol engined model also adds a 6 speed dual clutch automatic gearbox and electronic stability program.

The EcoSport is built at Ford India’s Maramalainagar factory, off Chennai. The crossover is not only sold in the Indian market but is also exported to countries across the world. Sharp pricing of the EcoSport in India saw a deluge in bookings for the crossover. Currently, most hot-selling variants of the EcoSport command waiting periods ranging from 2 months to a year, prompting many prospective buyers to shift to the likes of the Renault Duster and the Nissan Terrano.