Compare the2022 Fiat 500XVS 2021 Ford EcoSport

The 500X has standard Reactive Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Reactive Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The 500X Trekking/Sport/Trekking Plus offers optional Active Braking, 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the 500X. But it costs extra on the EcoSport.

The 500X Trekking/Sport/Trekking Plus’ optional 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 500X offers optional ParkSense to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or, optionally, in front of the vehicle. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

Both the 500X and the EcoSport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the 500X the rating of “Top Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 212 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The EcoSport has not been fully tested, yet.

The 500X comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The EcoSport’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The engine in the 500X 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.

The 500X’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 54 more horsepower (177 vs. 123) and 85 lbs.-ft. more torque (210 vs. 125) than the EcoSport’s standard 1.0 turbo 3-cylinder. The 500X’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 11 more horsepower (177 vs. 166) and 61 lbs.-ft. more torque (210 vs. 149) than the EcoSport’s optional 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Fiat 500X higher (6 out of 10) than the Ford EcoSport (5). This means the 500X produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the EcoSport every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Fiat 500X, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the EcoSport.

For better stopping power the 500X’s brake rotors are larger than those on the EcoSport:

The 500X stops much shorter than the EcoSport:

For better traction, the 500X has larger standard tires than the EcoSport (215/60R17 vs. 205/60R16). The 500X AWD’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the EcoSport (225/55R18 vs. 205/60R16).

The 500X Sport’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the EcoSport’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 500X AWD has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the EcoSport. The 500X Sport’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels optional on the EcoSport.

The Fiat 500X’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.

For superior ride and handling, the Fiat 500X 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 500X has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the 500X flat and controlled during cornering. The EcoSport 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The 500X has vehicle speed sensitive 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 500X’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the EcoSport (101.2 inches vs. 99.2 inches).

The 500X’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (60.3% to 39.7%) than the EcoSport’s (62% to 38%). This gives the 500X more stable handling and braking.

The 500X Pop handles at .79 G’s, while the EcoSport SE pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The 500X Pop executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the EcoSport SE (28 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

The 500X has 1.7 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear hip room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the EcoSport.

The 500X’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.

The 500X’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the EcoSport’s (2000 vs. 1400 pounds).

The 500X’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 500X’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its front windows also automatically close, 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.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the 500X Trekking/Sport/Trekking Plus detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The EcoSport doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the 500X offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The EcoSport doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The 500X’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the EcoSport SES/Titanium.

The 500X (except Pop)’s optional 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.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the 500X Trekking/Sport/Trekking Plus offers an optional 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.

Insurance will cost less for the 500X owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the 500X with a number “5” insurance rate while the EcoSport is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 500X is less expensive to operate than the EcoSport because it costs $128 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the 500X than the EcoSport, including $173 less for a muffler, $15 less for front brake pads, $26 less for a starter, $182 less for front struts, $627 less for a timing belt/chain and $354 less for a power steering pump.