Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Ford EcoSport comparison

A mere two days after Maruti launched the Vitara Brezza and the compact SUV became the talk of the town, rival Ford did the best (or worst?) thing to divert some of the attention back to its own EcoSport.
It cut prices. And by no small measure, mind you. Diesel EcoSports, for instance, cost a whopping 
Rs 1.12 lakh less than before. The new pricing means there’s little difference between EcoSport and Brezza prices now. The top-spec Ford EcoSport 1.5 diesel Titanium+ costs Rs 9.75 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) while the fully loaded Brezza ZDi+ comes in at Rs 9.68 lakh.

We picked the Ford EcoSport as our Car of the Year 2014 and know it’s a brilliant package. Mechanical and cosmetic updates for 2016 have made it better still. Question is, could a cheeky Ford and its EcoSport spoil the well-rounded Vitara Brezza and Maruti’s party? There’s only one way to find out.

Valley run

The duo come together for the first time on the serpentine roads that lead up to Aamby Valley City near Lonavala. And in the very first few minutes, the EcoSport takes the lead on the scoring sheet. If you’ve been a regular Autocar India reader, you’d know why. The EcoSport’s sharp steering, agility and excellent body control have always brought a smile to our faces and things are no different today. It’s an exciting compact SUV to drive with a level of driver engagement you just don’t get on the Vitara Brezza. Sure, the Maruti turns into corners with confidence, grips well and there’s no undue body roll to report of, but the Brezza is simply no match for the Ford on steering feel and front-end bite. The duo is evenly matched on ride comfort and both have an underlying firmness. However, on the rougher bits of road, it’s the EcoSport’s suspension that has mildly more compliance.

The Ford also has the slight advantage on the uphill and low-speed sections of the drive. Its updated 1.5-litre diesel engine that now makes a strong 100hp at 3,750rpm and 205Nm from 1,750-3,250rpm pulls that crucial bit better at low revs. There’s a wider spread of power, which is delivered in a more linear and progressive manner and this greatly helps in town. The net effect is that at slower speeds, you don’t have to constantly work the slightly mechanical-feeling five-speed gearbox to stay in the powerband.

Gearshifts are no better on the Vitara (though it has the lighter clutch) but drivers will have to pay more attention to being in the right gear at low revs. There’s not much power to play with under 2,000rpm and the 90hp and 200Nm 1.3-litre diesel engine doesn’t feel as alert as the Ford unit when starting out. However, when you rev past the 2,000rpm mark, the engine comes alive. The mid-range is strong and what’s more, there’s a proper 5,000rpm-plus top-end too. This makes overtaking on the highway more effortless than in the EcoSport whose engine neither revs as quickly nor as hard. In fact, the mid-range surge in power is the reason why the Vitara is marginally quicker from 20-80kph in third gear and 40-100kph in fourth gear despite its slower initial/low rpm responses. The Vitara is the faster of the two compact SUVs in the 0-100kph dash too, taking 12.96 seconds to the EcoSport’s 13.67 seconds time. What undoubtedly helps the Vitara’s performance everywhere are its more favourable power-to-weight and torque-to-weight ratios. It may be 10hp down on the EcoSport, but the Vitara also weighs a substantial 95kg less. Unfortunately, the Vitara feels lighter too. The body doesn’t give the same impression of solidity as the EcoSport’s structure.

SUVs they may be, but with power channelled solely to the front, this pair won’t manage to go too far off-road. Still, it’s reassuring to know they have plenty of ground clearance.  
 

Different takes

Over the course of the driving, other points of difference between the two compact SUVs also come through. Their cabins for one, are quite distinct from one another. But it would have to be said, the Vitara Brezza’s is easier to live with, thanks largely to the far better view out. Where the EcoSport’s thick A- and C-pillars can reduce your field of vision, the Vitara offers excellent all-round visibility. The Brezza’s dash, with the 7-inch high-res touchscreen taking pride of place on it, is also neater in layout while at the same time, feels better finished too. Ford has improved quality over time but there are still a few too many scratchy plastics in the EcoSport. The Ford does have the more distinctive dash design but unfortunately it isn’t as user-friendly. There are way too many buttons bunched up on the centre console and the small, low-res screen for the Sync infotainment system looks outdated and is hard to read on the move.

Contoured EcoSport dash looks interesting but isn’t all that user-friendly. Plastic quality unimpressive too.

You’ll also find yourself more comfy in the Brezza’s front seats, despite the fact that the top-spec EcoSport’s leather trimmed perches look and feel richer. The EcoSport’s front seats, though supportive, get excessive side bolstering and  ‘healthier’ occupants are sure to take note. Where Ford has done well is to offer the steering with tilt and telescopic adjust and this helps find the best driving position. Both models feature armrests for the driver but the one on the Brezza can be moved fore and aft too, and also hides a storage bay underneath. On the subject, the Brezza does provide a few more dedicated spaces to store odds and ends, but the EcoSport’s cabin is generous in this area too.

At the rear, both SUVs impress but for different reasons. The Vitara clearly feels roomier. Its larger glasshouse lets in lots of light and makes the rear section of the cabin look airier. There’s a bit more headroom and knee room too, but what really sets the Vitara apart is that there’s significantly more shoulder room. Where you can manage to seat three abreast in the back of the Vitara, doing so isn’t as comfortable in the EcoSport’s narrower cabin. Where the Ford impresses is for its seat. The longer squab equals excellent thigh support and you also get the option to adjust the supportive backrest’s angle. If only there was also a rear central armrest as on the Brezza.

Vitara has the more spacious cabin. Note rear armrest

The rear seats on both SUVs split 60:40 and can be folded flat to create a massive storage bay, though the Brezza’s mechanism is more convenient. With the rear seats in place, the EcoSport offers 362 litres of luggage room while the Brezza offers 328 litres. But where you’ll have to stow luggage vertically in the EcoSport, you can place it length-wise in the Brezza’s boot, which makes loading and unloading that little bit easier.

Feature creature

For this comparison, we’ve taken the top-spec versions of both SUVs and they do come with a lot of kit. Push-button start, steering-mounted audio controls, Bluetooth telephony and audio streaming, auto climate control, rear-parking sensors, auto headlamps and rain-sensing wipers are features you’d find on both. The Brezza goes one up on the EcoSport with its modern touchscreen Smartplay infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay. Satellite navigation, a reverse camera and cruise control are other goodies you get on the fully loaded Brezza.

Top-spec Brezza’s touchscreen is a big draw for many.

The EcoSport’s infotainment system may not be as comprehensive as the Maruti’s but it does feature Emergency Assist that uses a paired phone’s network to automatically alert emergency services in case the car meets with an accident. Also noteworthy is that high-spec Fords get six airbags where the Marutis get two. Leather seats are also part of the package on top-spec Titanium+ EcoSports.

Close call

Before we give our verdict, it’s imperative to bring in a bit about the way these SUVs look. True, looks are subjective and to each his own, but in the case of these models, their appearance also says a lot about the rest of the package. The EcoSport has the more interesting form, what with the oversized octagonal grille, high bonnet and tailgate-mounted spare wheel. Look at it in profile and the swoopier lines give it a sporty stance. The EcoSport looks more individualistic and as a compact SUV, it is the more youthful choice. While it has many strengths like a pleasant engine and strong focus on safety, to us, the main reason to buy the EcoSport is its entertaining handling. The Ford really is the model to buy if driving experience is paramount to you. 

The Brezza, on the other hand, looks straightforward and is styled to please all. The thing is, it also delivers all that majority of buyers would want. It’s not quite as engaging to drive as the EcoSport can be, but does offer that little more by way of comfort, practicality and everyday ease-of-use. For some, the Brezza’s more sophisticated infotainment system alone would be the reason to opt for it. Also, if the claimed fuel economy numbers are anything to go by, the Brezza promises to be more fuel efficient too. Lastly, while Ford has upped its game in aftersales support, the Brezza comes with the peace of mind that only buying a Maruti can get you. All things considered, the Vitara Brezza is the more rounded of the two SUVs to emerge as the overall winner.