Compare the2023 Subaru CrosstrekVS 2022 Ford EcoSport

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

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Crosstrek CVT are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Crosstrek has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Crosstrek CVT has standard Pre-Collision 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Crosstrek Limited has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The EcoSport doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Crosstrek CVT’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 Crosstrek offers optional parking sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Crosstrek CVT’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 Crosstrek 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available 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 Subaru Crosstrek is safer than the Ford EcoSport:

	Crosstrek	EcoSport
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	121	250
Neck Injury Risk	36%	36%
Neck Stress	304 lbs.	403 lbs.
Neck Compression	42 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	252/363 lbs.	495/441 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	122	325
Neck Stress	195 lbs.	200 lbs.
Neck Compression	52 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 Subaru Crosstrek is safer than the Ford EcoSport:

	Crosstrek	EcoSport
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	428 lbs.	685 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	201	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 Crosstrek is 3.5% to 4.8% 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, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Crosstrek the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 141 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 Crosstrek’s reliability 56 points higher than the EcoSport.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 14 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

The Crosstrek Sport/Limited’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 16 more horsepower (182 vs. 166) and 27 lbs.-ft. more torque (176 vs. 149) than the EcoSport’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Crosstrek is faster than the Ford EcoSport (automatics tested):

	Crosstrek 2.0	Crosstrek Sport/Limited	EcoSport
Zero to 60 MPH	8.8 sec	7.8 sec	9.9 sec
Quarter Mile	16.7 sec	16 sec	17.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	77.4 MPH	87.7 MPH	77 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Crosstrek gets better mileage than the EcoSport:

			MPG
Crosstrek
AWD	Auto	2.0 DOHC flat-4	28 city/33 hwy
		2.5 DOHC flat-4	27 city/34 hwy
EcoSport
AWD	Auto	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy

The Crosstrek has 2.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the EcoSport (16.6 vs. 13.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Crosstrek higher (7 out of 10) than the Ford EcoSport (5). This means the Crosstrek produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the EcoSport every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Crosstrek offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Crosstrek offers an optional 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 Crosstrek stops much shorter than the EcoSport:

	Crosstrek	EcoSport
70 to 0 MPH	169 feet	186 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Crosstrek has larger tires than the EcoSport (225/60R17 vs. 205/60R16).

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

The Subaru Crosstrek’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 a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Crosstrek’s wheelbase is 5.7 inches longer than on the EcoSport (104.9 inches vs. 99.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Crosstrek is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the EcoSport.

The Crosstrek Limited handles at .81 G’s, while the EcoSport Titanium pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Crosstrek Premium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the EcoSport SE (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Crosstrek has 9.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the EcoSport (100.9 vs. 91.1).

The Crosstrek has .2 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 3.5 inches more front hip room, 3.4 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 4.3 inches more rear hip room and 4.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the EcoSport.

Cargo Capacity

The Crosstrek has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the EcoSport with its rear seat folded (55.3 vs. 50 cubic feet).

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

The Crosstrek’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.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Crosstrek is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the EcoSport. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Crosstrek’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, 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.

The Crosstrek 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 Crosstrek Limited 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 see further while navigating curves, the Crosstrek Limited has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The EcoSport doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Crosstrek’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The EcoSport offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Crosstrek CVT 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

Insurance will cost less for the Crosstrek owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Crosstrek 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 Crosstrek is less expensive to operate than the EcoSport because typical repairs cost much less on the Crosstrek than the EcoSport, including $99 less for a muffler, $15 less for front brake pads, $14 less for a fuel pump, $419 less for a timing belt/chain and $594 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Crosstrek, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Ford EcoSport isn't recommended.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Ford EcoSport by over three to one during the 2021 model year.

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