Ford Equator Sport gets refreshed in China

The Jiangling-Ford joint enterprise in China has updated the Equator Sport SUV that it launched on the local market two years ago.

Starting on the outside, the front fascia looks more understated and less rounded than before the facelift. The headlights and the bumper are new, and the radiator grille is larger than before. Buyers get new exterior color options to choose from (green and grey) and may opt for a new set of 20-inch wheels.

The facelift SUV measures 4,685 mm long, 1,935 mm wide and 1,706 mm tall with 2726 mm of wheelbase. As such, it is 55 mm (2.1 inches) longer than before the refresh, but otherwise nearly unchanged.

Novelty in the cabin boils down to some new trim options and a 10-channel audio system with active noise canceling. The infotainment system still runs on Snapdragon 8155 hardware and utilizes a pair of 12.3-inch displays.

Things stay the same under the hood as well, where a 1.5-liter turbo engine still churns out its regular 170 PS (168 hp / 125 kW) along with 260 Nm (192 lb-ft) of torque. The same goes for the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Based on the recently uploaded certification data, however, Ford is preparing a new version of the Equator Sport for China. It is a hybrid with a 150-PS (148-hp / 110-kW) main engine and an 82-PS (81-hp / 60-kW) electric motor. The combined output is stated as 218 PS (215 hp / 160 kW), and the electric range is manufacturer-rated at 95 km (59 miles) on an 18.4-kWh battery pack.