Compare the2022 Honda CR-VVS 2021 Ford EcoSport

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

Safety

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Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-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 CR-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 CR-V 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 CR-V’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.

The CR-V’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CR-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, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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

	CR-V	EcoSport
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	141	250
Neck Injury Risk	27%	36%
Neck Stress	175 lbs.	403 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	65/19 lbs.	495/441 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	309	325
Neck Injury Risk	37%	38%
Neck Stress	160 lbs.	200 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	276/243 lbs.	329/236 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 CR-V is safer than the Ford EcoSport:

	CR-V	EcoSport
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	310 lbs.	337 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	143	195
Hip Force	567 lbs.	685 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	37 G’s
Hip Force	543 lbs.	549 lbs.

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 CR-V is 2.7% to 4% less likely to roll over than the EcoSport.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CR-V the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The EcoSport has not been fully tested, yet.

Reliability

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 CR-V’s reliability 45 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 CR-V’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 67 more horsepower (190 vs. 123) and 54 lbs.-ft. more torque (179 vs. 125) than the EcoSport’s standard 1.0 turbo 3-cylinder. The CR-V’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 24 more horsepower (190 vs. 166) and 30 lbs.-ft. more torque (179 vs. 149) than the EcoSport’s optional 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

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

	CR-V	EcoSport turbo 3 cyl.	EcoSport 4 cyl.
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	11.2 sec	9.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	18.2 sec	17.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89 MPH	76.7 MPH	77 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
CR-V
	FWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/34 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/32 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 CR-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.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda CR-V higher (6 out of 10) than the Ford EcoSport (5). This means the CR-V produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the EcoSport every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The CR-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

For better stopping power the CR-V’s brake rotors are larger than those on the EcoSport:

	CR-V	EcoSport
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	10.7 inches

The CR-V stops much shorter than the EcoSport:

	CR-V	EcoSport
70 to 0 MPH	165 feet	186 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CR-V has larger tires than the EcoSport (235/65R17 vs. 205/60R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CR-V LX/SE has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the EcoSport. The CR-V Touring’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels optional on the EcoSport.

The Honda CR-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

For superior ride and handling, the Honda CR-V has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The EcoSport 4x2 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The CR-V has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the CR-V flat and controlled during cornering. The EcoSport 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CR-V AWD’s wheelbase is 5.5 inches longer than on the EcoSport (104.7 inches vs. 99.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CR-V is 3.2 inches wider in the front and 3.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the EcoSport.

The CR-V’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (57.6% to 42.4%) than the EcoSport’s (62% to 38%). This gives the CR-V more stable handling and braking.

The CR-V Touring handles at .85 G’s, while the EcoSport Titanium pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CR-V EX-L AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the EcoSport SE (27.5 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

Chassis

The CR-V 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 CR-V has 14.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the EcoSport (105.9 vs. 91.1).

The CR-V has .5 inches more front headroom, 3.5 inches more front hip room, 4.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, 3.7 inches more rear legroom and 4.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the EcoSport.

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

Cargo Capacity

The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the EcoSport with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 20.9 cubic feet). The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the EcoSport with its rear seat folded (75.8 vs. 50 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CR-V’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The EcoSport doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the CR-V. The EcoSport doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The CR-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.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the CR-V EX-L/Touring has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the CR-V Touring, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a power cargo door.

Towing

The CR-V’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the EcoSport’s (1500 vs. 1400 pounds).

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the CR-V EX-L/Touring, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The EcoSport doesn’t offer memory seats.

The CR-V EX-L/Touring’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The EcoSport doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The CR-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 CR-V SE/EX/EX-L/Touring’s front power windows open fully with one touch of the switches, and the driver’s window also automatically closes, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The EcoSport’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the CR-V the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the EcoSport can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The CR-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.

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

The CR-V SE/EX/EX-L/Touring’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The EcoSport doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the CR-V and the EcoSport offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CR-V has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The EcoSport doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the CR-V 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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda CR-V Touring has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The EcoSport doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

The CR-V will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the CR-V will retain 51.86% to 55.49% 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 CR-V is less expensive to operate than the EcoSport because it costs $255 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the CR-V than the EcoSport, including $86 less for a muffler, $37 less for front brake pads, $45 less for front struts, $575 less for a timing belt/chain and $287 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda CR-V will be $553 to $1512 less than for the Ford EcoSport.

Recommendations

The Honda CR-V has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

	CR-V	EcoSport
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	FALSE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	FALSE

The CR-V was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 20 years. The EcoSport has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

Motor Trend selected the CR-V as their 2018 Sport Utility of the Year. The EcoSport has never been chosen.