In general, if you look at all the Direct Injection Turbo engines (which is what the Ford EcoBoost line of engines is) all across the automotive industry, what they're bringing to the table is the ability to boost the heck out of the thing below peak torque without it blowing up. This allows the tranny to be able to be programmed to upshift sooner/run in a higher gear, which gets the engine speed down and improves fuel economy if you can keep your foot out of it. It also allows them to show more power and torque out of a smaller displacement engine. That engine in turn sips fuel like a small engine when you're not pushing hard on the go pedal. The increase in torque below peak torque is a big deal. For instance, in the Ford Transit Connect, the 2.5L old-school motor and the 1.6L EcoBoost motor seem almost identical if you compare the specs on paper. In direct comparison in the real world, they feel basically identical from 5500RPM on up. However, at lower engine speeds, the EcoBoost engine has a LOT more torque than the old 2.5L even though it's just over half the size. Think about how often you have the engine in the 1,000-5,000 RPM range vs how often you have it above 5,000. The extra torque from the EcoBoost is what helps you make an uphill start with a heavy trailer, helps you get up to merging speed on the freeway, prevents you from having to downshift as you go up a mountain, and gets the van away from the stoplight ever time you start rolling. The difference in how it's going to feel to drive the two options is significant.
