Ford’s 1.0L EcoBoost and 1.6L Turbo Diesel Comparison

[xcel]

With every last bit of technology thrown at the latest gasoline engines, diesel still owns efficiency while gasoline still earns the performance crown.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Aug 21, 2012

2013 European Ford B-MAX – Available with either the all-new 1.0L EcoBoost or 1.6L TDCi turbo diesel overseas.

The all-new Ford B-MAX is providing lower fuel costs for its owners by comparison to most other subcompact CUVs in Europe thanks to Ford’s latest gasoline and diesel engines. Unfortunately both engines can only be equipped with 5-speed MT and ATs taking away some of the fuel saving capability.

The B-MAX can be equipped with the (2) 1.0L EcoBoost variants including one with stop/start and the 1.6L TDCi turbo diesel providing a choice few other than Europeans get to savor.

Besides the newer more frugal engines, Ford has incorporated a number of other fuel saving ECOnetic Technologies including many we have seen for years within the automotive industry offerings:

• Electric Power Assisted Steering
• Gear Shift Indicator
• Ford Eco Mode driver information system
• Smart Regenerative Charging

Engineers have also reduced consumption by minimizing weight throughout the vehicle design, notably in the body and door structure which features 58 per cent high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels to ensure it is strong and rigid while remaining highly weight-efficient.

And where it really counts is at the pump…

2013 Ford B-MAX Fuel Efficient Engine Lineup Comparison

Make	Model	Engine	HP	Torque (lb-ft.)	0 to 62 mph (sec.)	Fuel Consumption (mpgUS) NEDC combined
Ford	B-MAX	1.0L EcoBoost	99	125	13.2	44.3
Ford	B-MAX	1.0L EcoBoost with Auto-Stop	118	147	11.2	46.2
Ford	B-MAX	1.6 TDCi	94	159	13.9	56.5

Items of note is that the top of the line 118 HP 1.0L EcoBoost with Stop/Start will consume 22.3% more fuel than Ford’s 1.6L Turbo Diesel but has a distinctive 24% performance advantage in the race to 62 mph.

Compared to the 99 HP 1.0L EcoBoost, the 1.6L TDCi turbo diesel has an even more pronounced 27.5% advantage at the pump but still a 5% disadvantage in the race to 62 mph.

While I would take the TDCi equipped B-MAX hands down, the 118 HP EcoBoost variant w/ Start/Stop would make a lot more sense here in the US given the penchant for red light to read light racing most partake in on a daily basis. If the 1.6L TDCi were “hopped” up enough to compete with the 118 HP variant of the 1.0L EcoBoost, Fuel Economy would be much closer to one another showing that EcoBoost has legs. Maybe a .8L 3-cylinder EcoBoost with Start/Stop would actually catch up to the diesel in terms of fuel economy while providing similar performance for a lower cost?

With Ford pushiing headlong into EcoBosot, we may never see one of the fantastic small diesels over here but given the performance edge EcoBoost provides, maybe we do not one of the Ford's super diesels here? The much more powerful BMW 2.0L or Hyundai 1.6L turbo diesels, you bet

[herm]

Thats a big difference between the two Ecoboost variants.

[chucky2]

The comparison of the 1.0L w/ Auto-Stop vs. diesel was truly apples to apples? The only thing different was the engine and the fuel used? Or did the EcoBoost have Auto-Stop and the diesel didn't, along with anything else that would affect the results...?

Chuck

[xcel]

Hi Chuck:

Auto Stop is only available on the 118 HP variant of the 1.0L EcoBoost in the B-MAX. The details as spelled out above are all derived from the all-new 2013 European Ford B-MAX with the engines metrics as listed above.

Wayne

[CRT1]

Can you FAS a modern diesel as effectively as a gas ICE? Any glow plug heat-up issue?

[seftonm]

Glow plugs are only really necessary if starting an engine from cold. I don't think they even come on if the coolant is above a certain temperature.

[chucky2]

Originally Posted by xcel

Hi Chuck:

Auto Stop is only available on the 118 HP variant of the 1.0L EcoBoost in the B-MAX. The details as spelled out above are all derived from the all-new 2013 European Ford B-MAX with the engines metrics as listed above.

Wayne

Bummer. That pretty much invalidates the comparison then, unless one could disable whatever is not the same between the Auto-Stop EB and diesel, and then re-run the test(s). Thanks for the info and the link!

EDIT: comparison between EB vs. diesel, obviously still valid for those buying.

Chuck

[PaleMelanesian]

Are the city / highway splits available? Comparing highway to highway would remove autostop from the equation.

[seftonm]

I think the Focus can also be had with both the 1.0 EcoBoost and 1.6 TDCi with a wide range of power options. It may be possible to come up with some very close comparisons by looking at the Focus's numbers.

[xcel]

Hi Chuck:

Auto Stop does not help a diesel nearly as much as a gas powered engine due to an approximately 75% lower fuel consumption at idle draw.

Mike, the highway figures show the 118 HP 1.0L EcoBoost providing 53.84 mpgUS and the 1.6L TDCi providing 62.8 mpgUS on the NEDC Extra urban test cycles.

Wayne