Let’s compare the diesel variants of EcoSport vs S Cross and find out which one offers more value. The battle is apt as the Maruti S Cross and the Ford EcoSport just got fresh styling.

Maruti S Cross Official Website

Ford EcoSport Official Website

EcoSport vs S Cross Round 1: Size

EcoSport vs S Cross	Ford EcoSport	Maruti S Cross
Length	3998mm	4300mm
Width	1765mm	1785mm
Height	1647mm	1595mm
Ground Clearance	200mm	185mm
Wheelbase	2519mm	2600mm
Weight	1220 – 1320 kg	1215 – 1240 kg
Boot Space	328 – 352 litres	353 litres
Fuel Tank	52 litres	48 litres
Tyre Size	205/50 R17	215/50 R16

The Ford EcoSport may look bigger at first glance, but it’s only taller than the S Cross and higher off the ground. The S Cross is significantly longer, a little wider, has a longer wheelbase, has a bigger boot and wider tyres.

Thankfully, the new S Cross no longer has those ugly alloy wheels. I’d prefer a set of wheel covers over those alloys. It now gets machined alloy wheels. The style is also much improved, and it looks less like a car and more like a crossover. The wider tyres help it with additional ground clearance too.

The EcoSport continues with its profile and adds bits and pieces to make it more exciting. The Ford’s ground clearance is higher, and so is its height. Both of those things give it the style we expect from an SUV/crossover.

Round 1 Winner: Maruti S Cross

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EcoSport vs S Cross Round 2: Power

EcoSport vs S Cross	Ford EcoSport	Maruti S Cross
Displacement	1.5 litre	1.3 litre
Power	99hp @ 3750RPM	89hp @ 4000RPM
Torque	205Nm @ 1750 – 3250RPM	200Nm @ 1750RPM
Transmission	5-speed	5-speed
Fuel Efficiency	23km/l	25.1km/l
Price (ex-Delhi)	Rs. 8.02 – 10.67 lakh	Rs. 8.49 – 11.29 lakh

The S Cross gets the mild hybrid system, which helps it with accelerating at lower RPMs. So the turbo lag isn’t as pronounced as it used to be while the 2000RPM kick is still intact. It has enough juice for highway cruising and decent torque for city driving.

But, the EcoSport has all of it and then some. It makes more power, and the off-peak torque delivery is better in the EcoSport. And when the torque wave comes in, it stays put for a good 1500RPM. That’s where you spend most of your time, and it certainly feels more drivable than the Maruti’s engine. Maruti’s lightweight, aerodynamic shell and SHVS gives it better fuel efficiency, though. You also have to pay more if you want all the bells and whistles S Cross has to offer. However, the EcoSport Titanium and S Cross Zeta are almost equally pricey.

Round 2 Winner: Ford EcoSport

EcoSport vs S Cross Round 3: Safety and Features

ABS and dual airbags are standard on both the cars. The S Cross also offers all wheel disc brakes and ISOFIX child seat anchors as standard equipment. That’s great news for the safety conscious who don’t want to compromise with family’s safety.

EcoSport vs S Cross	Ford EcoSport	Maruti S Cross
Safety
Front Dual Airbags	Standard
Side Dual Airbags	Top variant only	Not Available
Curtain Airbags	Top variant only	Not Available
ABS	Standard
ISOFIX Child Seat Hook	Top variant only	Standard
All-Wheel Disc Brakes	Not Available	Standard
Features
Keyless Entry	Top 2 variants only
Push-Button Start	Top 2 variants only
Climate Control	Standard except base variant	Higher variants only
Cruise Control	Top variant only	Higher variants only
Auto-Dimming Mirror	Not available	Top variant only
Tilt Steering	Standard
Telescopic Steering	Standard	Standard except base variant
Auto Headlamps	Top variant only
Auto Wipers	Top variant only
Projector Headlamps	Top 2 variant only	Standard
Headlamp Type	Halogen bulb	LED on top variant
Front Armrest	Top 3 variants only	Standard except base variant
Rear Armrest	Top variant only	Higher variants only
Rear AC Vents	Not available
Reclining rear seats	Not available	Higher variants only
Entertainment
Touchscreen	8-inch/6.5-inch	7-inch
Android Auto	Standard except base variant	Higher variants only
Apple CarPlay	Standard except base variant	Higher variants only
Reversing Camera	Top variant only	Higher variants only
Parking Sensor	Top 3 variants only	Standard except base variant
Built-In Navigation	Not available	Higher variants only

The S Cross offers projector headlamps, front and rear armrest, cruise control and reversing camera without having to opt for the top variant. LED headlights, built-in navigation, auto-dimming mirror and reclining rear seats are exclusively available in the S Cross. These features help the S Cross top variant justify its higher price tag. It’s Rs. 62,000 more expensive than the EcoSport Titanium+.

The EcoSport doesn’t have any exclusive features over the S Cross. Once you get used to these features, you’ll see that the S Cross sits at least half a segment above the smaller EcoSport.

Round 3 Winner: Maruti S Cross

Conclusion

In this EcoSport vs S Cross battle, we see that the S Cross improved styling gives it butch styling. But it’s not enough to make the EcoSport look puny even though it’s the smaller car here. The Maruti S Cross packs more space and more features helping it easily justify its slightly higher price tag.

If you compare the S Cross Zeta (Rs. 9.98 lakh) and the EcoSport Titanium (Rs. 9.85 lakh), it becomes even more apparent that the Maruti is the more accomplished car here. It also has a wider dealer and service network. The S Cross Zeta offers a bigger bang for your buck.

Overall Winner: Maruti S Cross