Ford India will be launching the BS6-compliant (Bharat Stage 6) EcoSport in the coming days. Two out of three engine options it had in the BSIV era will fight the subcompact SUV’s case in the BS6 reign. They are – the 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder petrol and the 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder diesel. Sadly, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine will not be available.

Before it went out of production, the peppy little power-plant did its job in the EcoSport S. It produced 123bhp/170Nm with the help of a turbocharger, while the only transmission option that came with it was a 6-speed manual. With those figures, the EcoBoost engine made the EcoSport the most powerful, petrol-fed SUV in the segment. That said, the 1.5-litre petrol engine, which generates 121bhp/150Nm, would ensure that the same title remains intact with the EcoSport.

As far as the 1.5-litre diesel engine is concerned, it pumps out 99bhp/205Nm. Predictably, it is the torquiest amongst the three and the most frugal. The same engine also does duty in the Figo, Freestyle and Aspire models. Ford should offer the BS6-ready version of this engine with the trio as well. All those models, including the EcoSport, will get dearer because of the upgraded powertrains. The upward revision in prices for petrol models won’t be as steep as those powered by the diesel engine.

Interior – EcoSport S

In India, the Ford EcoSport competes with the Honda WR-V, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon and the Mahindra XUV300. As things stand, only the petrol-powered variants of the XUV300 comply with the stricter emission norms. The Nexon will turn BS6-ready alongside its mid-life update. That should happen sometime next month, most probably at the Auto Expo 2020. The Vitara Brezza, which recently surpassed a lifetime sales milestone of 500,000 units, will ditch diesel in favour of a petrol-only line-up. Before the calendar reads April 1, 2020, all those models would have gained BS6 badges.