Compare the2022 Honda HR-VVS 2021 Ford EcoSport

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the HR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The HR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The EcoSport’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The HR-V EX/EX-L has standard Collision Mitigation Braking System, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The EcoSport doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The HR-V EX/EX-L’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

Both the HR-V and the EcoSport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda HR-V is safer than the Ford EcoSport:

	HR-V	EcoSport
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	19%	36%
Neck Stress	244 lbs.	403 lbs.
Neck Compression	5 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	33/136 lbs.	495/441 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	205	325
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Neck Compression	46 lbs.	74 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda HR-V is safer than the Ford EcoSport:

	HR-V	EcoSport
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	321 lbs.	337 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	385 lbs.	685 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	12 inches
HIC	203	215

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the HR-V is 3.8% to 6.9% less likely to roll over than the EcoSport.

Reliability

The engine in the HR-V has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the EcoSport have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the HR-V’s reliability 62 points higher than the EcoSport.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 17 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

The HR-V’s 1.8 SOHC 4-cylinder produces 18 more horsepower (141 vs. 123) and 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (127 vs. 125) than the EcoSport’s standard 1.0 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda HR-V is faster than the Ford EcoSport:

	HR-V	EcoSport turbo 3 cyl.	EcoSport 4 cyl.
Zero to 60 MPH	9.5 sec	11.2 sec	9.9 sec
Quarter Mile	17.3 sec	18.2 sec	17.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	82.2 MPH	76.7 MPH	77 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the HR-V gets better mileage than the EcoSport:

			MPG
HR-V
	FWD	1.8 SOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/34 hwy
	AWD	LX 1.8 SOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/31 hwy
		Sport/EX/EX-L 1.8 SOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/31 hwy
EcoSport
	FWD	1.0 turbo 3-cyl.	27 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda HR-V uses regular unleaded gasoline. The EcoSport with the 1.0 turbo 3-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

The HR-V has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The HR-V stops much shorter than the EcoSport:

	HR-V	EcoSport
70 to 0 MPH	170 feet	186 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the HR-V has larger standard tires than the EcoSport (215/55R17 vs. 205/60R16). The HR-V Sport’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the EcoSport (225/50R18 vs. 205/60R16).

The HR-V’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the EcoSport’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the HR-V has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the EcoSport. The HR-V Sport’s 18-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels optional on the EcoSport.

The Honda HR-V’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Ford EcoSport only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

The HR-V has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The EcoSport doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the HR-V’s wheelbase is 3.6 inches longer than on the EcoSport (102.8 inches vs. 99.2 inches).

The HR-V EX-L AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the EcoSport Titanium pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The HR-V EX executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the EcoSport SE (27.8 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

Chassis

The HR-V Sport/EX/EX-L uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The EcoSport doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The HR-V has 9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the EcoSport (100.1 vs. 91.1).

The HR-V has 1.5 inches more front hip room, 3.5 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 2.6 inches more rear legroom and 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the EcoSport.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the HR-V’s rear seats recline. The EcoSport’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The HR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the EcoSport with its rear seat up (24.3 vs. 20.9 cubic feet). The HR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the EcoSport with its rear seat folded (58.8 vs. 50 cubic feet).

The HR-V’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The EcoSport’s swing out door blocks loading from the driver’s side.

Ergonomics

The HR-V’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The EcoSport has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The HR-V has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

Consumer Reports rated the HR-V’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the EcoSport’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the HR-V EX/EX-L detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The EcoSport doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the HR-V EX/EX-L has a standard Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The EcoSport doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Economic Advantages

The HR-V will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the HR-V will retain 52.22% to 53.55% of its original price after five years, while the EcoSport only retains 40.29% to 40.59%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the HR-V is less expensive to operate than the EcoSport because it costs $10 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the HR-V than the EcoSport, including $98 less for a muffler, $27 less for front brake pads, $67 less for fuel injection, $68 less for front struts, $547 less for a timing belt/chain and $268 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda HR-V will be $3070 to $3803 less than for the Ford EcoSport.