Remember
the Hummer, General Motors's big-daddy SUV? It was
the height of sports-utility excess. With its big, inefficient engine, heavy,
permanent all-wheel drive and lethargic transmission, the Hummer was a proper
middle-finger salute to fuel efficiency and, if you ask us, good taste.
Severe
pressure to "go green" is felt on a daily basis and the automobile
industry responded appropriately in this regard. Engine sizes shrink daily, as
do fuel consumption claims and carbon footprints. No segment of an automaker's
portfolio has felt this more than that of the SUV.
The Duster does not look anything like
the other two compact SUVs in its price category, the Ford Eco Sport and the
Daihatsu Terios
SUVs
are still seen as alternatives to saloons and hatchbacks as the desired mode of
transportation, but the shape and size in which they are currently presented
are far removed from what was once considered the norm.
As
with many things in modern society, SUVs have been downsized. And the
protagonists here are two prime examples of the new era.
Newcomers
To The Fold
Ford's
Eco Sport was launched a few months ago and is the smallest of the Ford SUV
family that spans the planet. It is a further expansion of the company's One
Ford plan that provides similar products to different markets around the world.
It was designed in South America and is built at a plant in Chennai, India.
Renault's
just-launched Duster is also a global car for Renault; in fact, it's the very
first of the type for the French firm. It was created to meet the demanding
need sof European buyers,
but also with appeal and suitability for emerging markets. Interestingly it is
built just down the road from the Eco Sport at a Renault-Nissan alliance
factory.
The dimensions of the Eco Sport 1.5
TDCI Trend make it easy to park in small city bays
Looks
To Suit All Tastes
Ford
continues to use its Kinetic design language as seen on the current-generation
Fiesta and Kuga models. It works well on the Eco Sport, too, as the familial
resemblance is immediately evident. Suitably chunky with dark mouldings on the lower half of the body and roof rails
atop, the Eco Sport plays the part of urban SUV well. To some members of our
team, however, the Ford appeared ungainly. Arguably, the rear three- quarter
angle presents its best view. This aspect also highlights the rear-
door-mounted spare wheel, which makes it seem as if the Ford is trying a little
too hard to look butch.
If
there was one term that was most often used when describing the Duster,
"butch" is it.
Looking
unlike any other model in the Renault family, the little SUV has chunky styling
bolstered with oversized head lamps, square lines and a high ride height.
Interestingly, the RenauIt may seem to have greater
ground clearance, but it is beaten by a whisker (5 mm) by the Ford's 210 mm.
The Duster’s interior has the same
look, but there are major differences
Overall,
we loved the Ford's look and, although the Duster won aesthetic compliments,
there is no denying that the Eco Sport has wider appeal.
Comfy
Cabins
As
these two models are among the lowest -priced SUVs in the market, you can't
really expect the interiors to be lavish. Neither car has leather upholstery;
both make do with cloth treatment that, it must be said, works very well. The
Duster's trim in particular has arugged look and
feel.
