Compare the2022 Ford EcoSportVS 2022 Fiat 500X

The Ford EcoSport has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The 500X doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the EcoSport and the 500X 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the EcoSport 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Fiat covers the 500X. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the 500X ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 8 times as many Ford dealers as there are Fiat dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the EcoSport’s warranty.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford EcoSport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The 500X requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The EcoSport has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the 500X (13.8 vs. 12.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The EcoSport stops shorter than the 500X:

The EcoSport Titanium handles at .80 G’s, while the 500X pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the EcoSport’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the 500X’s (35.1 feet vs. 36.3 feet).

The EcoSport is 5.9 inches shorter than the 500X, making the EcoSport easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the EcoSport uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The 500X doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The EcoSport has .5 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more front legroom and 1.9 inches more rear legroom than the 500X.

The EcoSport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the 500X with its rear seat up (20.9 vs. 14.1 cubic feet). The EcoSport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the 500X with its rear seat folded (50 vs. 39.8 cubic feet).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the EcoSport uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The 500X doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the EcoSport’s available exterior PIN entry system. The 500X doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost Uconnect Access can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The EcoSport’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The 500X’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The EcoSport has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The 500X only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

On extremely cold winter days, the EcoSport SES/Titanium’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The 500X doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The EcoSport has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The 500X doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the EcoSport has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The 500X doesn’t offer rear vents.

The EcoSport (except S) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The 500X doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the EcoSport is less expensive to operate than the 500X because typical repairs cost much less on the EcoSport than the 500X, including $263 less for a water pump, $200 less for fuel injection and $134 less for a fuel pump.

The Ford EcoSport outsold the Fiat 500X by almost 37 to one during the 2021 model year.