1.5 Ecoboost driveability

[IanCress]

Having recently picked up a Ford Kuga with the above engine (150bhp, manual), I can't help but notice that at very low revs, below around 1500rpm, there is absolutely no power at all.
I've driven cars with the old 1.6 Ecoboost, and also the 1.0 Ecoboost and neither exhibit the same problem.

Most of the time it can be driven around but in a typical situation of rolling up to a roundabout in 2nd gear, you put your foot down to go and get barely any response until you get to 1500rpm when the car takes off.

Is this typical of the 1.5 engine? It seems like a bit of a backwards step from the old 1.6 engine.

[Ron240]

IanCress said:

in a typical situation of rolling up to a roundabout in 2nd gear, you put your foot down to go and get barely any response until you get to 1500rpm when the car takes off.

Which seems completely normal to me, unless you happen to be driving a large capacity engine with a mountain of torque.
Below 1500rpm is little more than tickover speed, so you shouldn't be expecting the car to instantly respond with strong acceleration when in second gear. Either change down to first if that's what you want at such low revs or simply drive according to how your engine behaves.
I have previously had the 1.6 Ecoboost and now the 2.0 Ecoboost, and neither of them have strong acceleration in second gear below 1500rpm.

Edited by Ron240 on Monday 22 August 14:29

[IanCress]

I fully understand that, but the 1.5 is so much worse in this regard than the old 1.6.