Ford EcoSport vs Nissan NP200

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Ford EcoSport in South Africa

Ford EcoSport

1.0 EcoBoost Titanium Automatic Petrol Automatic
ZAR 395,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 92 kW 🔧 170 Nm ⛽ 17.2 km/l
VS
Nissan NP200 in South Africa

Nissan NP200

1.6 Safety Pack Manual Petrol Manual
ZAR 284,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 65 kW 🔧 147 Nm ⛽ 12.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance EcoSport
Fuel Economy EcoSport
🛡 Safety EcoSport
📦 Practicality EcoSport
🔑 Ownership EcoSport
NP200 starts ZAR 310000 cheaper EcoSport from ZAR 310,000 · NP200 from ZAR 224,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec EcoSport NP200
Engine Power 92 65
Torque 170 147
Engine Size 998 1598
Claimed Mileage 17.2 12.5
Ground Clearance 200 185
Boot Space 352 Not Applicable
Airbags 6 4
Kerb Weight 1290 915
Seating Capacity Available Available
Warranty 4 3

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

EcoSport

63
/ 100
+18
pts
#2

NP200

45
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

EcoSport holds a noticeable edge over NP200, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance EcoSport +2 pts
Efficiency EcoSport +1 pts
Safety EcoSport +6 pts
Practicality EcoSport +5 pts
Ownership EcoSport +4 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

EcoSport

Performance 8/20
Efficiency 9/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 16/20

NP200

Performance 6/20
Efficiency 8/20
Safety 12/20
Practicality 7/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

EcoSport

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

NP200

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

EcoSport

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

NP200

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec EcoSport NP200
Ground Clearance 200 185
Wheelbase 2519 2400
Length 4325 4535
Width 1765 1615
Height 1653 1530
Kerb Weight 1290 915
Gross Vehicle Weight 1740 1570
Seating Capacity 5 2
Boot Space 352 Not Applicable
Towing Capacity 950 500
Number of Doors 5 5
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 1500
Front Track Width 1550 1390
Rear Track Width 1540 1385
Turning Radius Available 5.5
Load Bed Length Available 1815
Load Bed Width Available 1530
Front Legroom Available Available
Rear Legroom Available Available
Front Headroom Available Available
Rear Headroom Available Available
Front Shoulder Room Available Available
Rear Shoulder Room Available Available
Max Payload Available Available
Boot Volume Available Available
Doors Available Available
Seats Available Available
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available
Spec EcoSport NP200
Engine 1.0L EcoBoost Turbo Petrol 1.6L Naturally Aspirated Petrol
Engine Type Inline 3 Turbocharged Inline 4 Cylinder
Displacement 998 1598
Cylinders 3 4
Valves per Cylinder 4 4
Power 92 65
Torque 170 147
Fuel System Direct Injection Multi-Point Injection
Top Speed 185 155
0-100 km/h 10.5 14.5
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Engine Code Standard Standard
Compression Ratio 10.5:1 9.5:1
Cylinder Bore 82.0 82.0
Piston Stroke 92.0 92.0
Fuel Grade Required Petrol Petrol
Power @ RPM 150 5200 rpm
Torque @ RPM 400 2800 rpm
Turbocharger Available Not Available
Engine Position Available Front Longitudinal
Engine Oil Capacity Available Available
Power 150 150
Variable Valve Timing Available Available
Maximum Engine RPM Available Available
Engine Type Config Available Available
0–100 km/h Available Available
Battery Capacity Available Available
Charging Port Available Available
AC Charging Time Available Available
Engine Displacement Available Available
EV Range Available Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Ford EcoSport wins with 63 pts vs 45 pts for NP200

In structured scoring, EcoSport emerges as the stronger overall package. However, NP200 may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the EcoSport edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: EcoSport 9 vs NP200 8. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: EcoSport 18, NP200 12. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: EcoSport 16, NP200 12. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: EcoSport 12, NP200 7. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: EcoSport 8, NP200 6. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The EcoSport edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The EcoSport scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between EcoSport and NP200 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: EcoSport scores 8 vs 6.

Efficiency: EcoSport scores 9 vs 8.

Safety: EcoSport scores 18 vs 12.

Practicality: EcoSport scores 12 vs 7.

Ownership: EcoSport scores 16 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives EcoSport the advantage in this comparison.