Help on choosing between 2014 Avanza & Ecosport Trend.

[RU9halogen]

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Hello Istoryan’s just need a little advice for this car, coz I am puzzled of the features and durability/maintainability.
I find that Avanza 1.5G has fewer features compare to Ecosport with same price.
Interior on the Ecosport is kinda good vs the Avanza.

Gas consumption both 1.5 engine I don’t know which of this car consume a lot of fuel since Ecosport is big and has 16inch mags.
i know parts in Toyota are cheaper compare to Ford.


I hope you could advise

Thank you Istoryan's

[dhingarhdz]

Found this on a forum I've read.

Let me start with an apology for posting this thread just too late after I brought home my car.
However, better late than never, here it is.

I know by now almost all points are covered and discussed elsewhere, but I will put my review anyway.

Let me start with quick likes and dislikes:

Likes:

Looks.
Good ride and handling.
Peppy engine, very good acceleration.
Equipment in Titanium including the Sync.
Good brakes.

Dislikes:

Not a great gear box.
Gear ratios could have been better, requires too much downshifting.
Too sensitive steering.
Tyres are not great (Goodyear). This car does deserve better ones.


I took my car from Lathangi Ford. Booking experience at Lathangi Ford was good. I was neither expecting the car to arrive in a week's time of my booking nor was I prepared to take it.
But eventually heart ruled over the head and I took my allotment.
Overall had good experience with Lathangi. However, on the delivery day I felt the executive who was giving me demo was learning the Sync along with me. I told him to skip it, I'd learn it on my own.

Build quality:
The build quality is really good. Doors are heavy and require effort to shut. Like many have said, you cannot be closing it too often in just one go. But once they shut, they do entail a lot of sense of sturdiness. You will feel good.
Interior quality is all acceptable. However, compared to a new Fiesta, some plastics are compromised on their quality. They appear to be more shiny in the Ecosport.

Dashboard equipment
The dashboard is nicely laid out and is full of controls. The highlight clearly is the Sync.
Sync does its job fairly accurately. I use a Windows Phone and it works really well with it.
But if you are in a hurry and want to do a lot of stuff over it, you might feel clumsy with Sync. (This might get better with time)
And I feel some options, to play an artist for example, is unavailable on Bluetooth audio.
The start-stop button is convenient but if you turn off ignition you lose the Bluetooth connection, although the display stays alive.
The display system is very much like legacy Nokia phones but you will be not complaining about it because it also means it is simple. (Where you have simple buttons mapped to positions in the display)
But I figured out a major problem. If at signals, if you turn off the car, your music system will also be turned off. You will be required to press the Start/Stop button again to bring vehicle to ignition to start the music again.

Air conditioning
Aircon is really good but takes some getting used to for its controls. If you make the vehicle stand in sun and start the aircon in Auto mode, it starts at full speed making lot of noise. I tend to get irritated by it.
Also air intake is from outside by default. (I did not like this setting)

Seats and its controls
I loved the front seats. Although they are small, they feel just adequate. Comfort is really magical.
Titanium gets lumbar support adjustment for driver's seat.
The rear seat is a lot reclined. The cushion is a bit hard and feels more so because the rear seat is flatter compared to the front.
The split and fold comes in handy as well.

The engine and gear box
The best part of this car is the enthusiastic engine it has.
Engine is great to drive, but in city conditions, for someone who is used to classic petrol engines, downshifting is real pain.
Wonder they could have done something with gear ratios to avoid downshifting.
But I think I am getting used to it and falling in love with the engine.
Except the downshifting part, it is beautiful in other respects.
Its acceleration is really good. Pulls cleanly in all gears (esp 3rd) and love the turbo whistle. (Someone said there is no whistle, but there is)
After 2k RPM, power is really good.
Gear box feels a bit arbitrary for its class although no big complaints. Could have gotten more slicker. Sometimes I could not engage the first gear very easily, it'd require to engage it again starting from neutral.
Also if you pull up your seat a little backwards, you might run a risk of not pressing the clutch completely. The clutch play area is small compared to other cars and you need to be careful about pressing it completely.


Ride and handling, and steering
Ride is O.K but not comparable to say a Swift. But the commanding driving position makes it really enjoyable to drive.
Highway driving is real pleasure. Inspires a lot of confidence during high speeds and cornering.
Feels very planted (because of weight?) and very stable at high speeds.
Handling is really good. I cannot believe someone can topple this car easily (even if the rumors of it are actually true)
I think the pull drift compensation really plays its part because I felt the car got straightened in a corner where I was speeding and had to apply brakes suddenly. Even otherwise steering is very sensitive. Or may be I am not used to it. A slight slide will make vehicle move quite swiftly even at high speeds. I would have wished for some tolerance on highway.
Brakes are very good, although they make a frictional noise at very slow speed (if you apply at almost zero speed)

Fuel Efficiency
Yet to check exact FE (tank to tank). Having very less time with my car to even discover its features. I will update this soon, but I see fuel meter showing 12.1 in the city. Have driven about 500 KMS until now. Most of it was on highway.
But I think it should be around 11-12 in the city which I will be happy with.

Other bits
>The EcoBoost engine thrum is really sweet to hear. It has subtle whistle as you accelerate and the same time generates the power. You will be tempted to push it harder and it does take your command well. The engine is really free and peppy.

>The boot door is managed by a hydraulic hinge and if you are slightly standing on a slop backwards, it swings out quite fast.

>The music system is good quality.

>There is a lot of wind noise at high speeds. But equally a lot is the noise insulation capacity of the cabin. It is really exceptional.

>The gap between the clutch and foot rest is small. I have seen it often that my shoe does not flow easily between the two.

>While getting out, you often tend to rub your foot against the door pocket, which takes all the dust/mud from your shoe.

Planning to get one also, the 1.0l ecoboost variant.

[aj_se7en]

EcoBoost... i think ang advantage lang sa Avanza kay maintenance og availability sa parts.

[piaosigua]

Mas advantage ang Ford Ecosport kay 'FORD Technology' jud gigamit while ang Avanza kay rebadged ra na diri sa Philippines, sa gawas Daihatsu Xenia na siya. Mao na ang Wigo prehas ra pud naong sa Avanza kay ang Wigo rebadged pud na 'Daihatsu Agya'. Daihatsu technology, engine, parts, etc. gigamit mao na barato..

[agentSMITH]

I'd go for the Ecosport. More features and higher ground clearance for floods. You can read the reviews in autoindustrya and top gear philippines. I also suggest to test drive both vehicles, there's nothing like seeing and feeling the vehicle yourself.

[EightEqualsD]

Id go for Ecosport hehe looks cooler than the Avanza hahaha

[brandobandit]

Mas advantage ang Ford Ecosport kay 'FORD Technology' jud gigamit while ang Avanza kay rebadged ra na diri sa Philippines, sa gawas Daihatsu Xenia na siya. Mao na ang Wigo prehas ra pud naong sa Avanza kay ang Wigo rebadged pud na 'Daihatsu Agya'. Daihatsu technology, engine, parts, etc. gigamit mao na barato..

Ang Daihatsu lig-on man sad na di ba? Japanese man gihapon na. Oldest car manufacturer gud na sila sa Japan.

[imeanbusiness21]

any more review about the Ford EcoSport?thanks!

[brownie]

jap over american in a heartbeat...

[*ICY*]

It all depends on your needs. The Toyota Avanza is meant to be more of a utility vehicle while the Ford EcoSports is a lifestyle oriented vehicle. BTW, there is nothing wrong with the Avanza being a rebadge Diahatsu, remember the 86 and BRZ. Also if you opt for the EcoSports, wait for the release of the 2nd gen to be released anytime this year.