Compare the2023 Subaru ImprezaVS 2022 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
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
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 Impreza 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 Impreza 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 Impreza Auto has a standard EyeSight™ System, which uses 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 Impreza 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 Impreza Auto’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 Impreza Auto’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 Impreza 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, rear parking sensors 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 Impreza is safer than the Ford EcoSport:

	Impreza	EcoSport
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	198	250
Neck Stress	247 lbs.	403 lbs.
Neck Compression	50 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	237/379 lbs.	495/441 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	117	325
Neck Injury Risk	34%	38%
Neck Compression	70 lbs.	74 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	76/57 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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Impreza is safer than the Ford EcoSport:

	Impreza	EcoSport
	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 Impreza, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 9.6% to 10.9% less likely to roll over than the EcoSport, which received a three-star to four-star rating.

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 headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Impreza the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 175 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 Impreza’s reliability 27 points higher than the EcoSport.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 11 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

As tested in Consumer Reports the Subaru Impreza is faster than the Ford EcoSport (automatics tested):

	Impreza	EcoSport
Zero to 30 MPH	3.8 sec	3.9 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	9.5 sec	10.7 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.7 sec	6.7 sec
Quarter Mile	17.3 sec	18.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	84 MPH	79 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Impreza lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The EcoSport doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Impreza 5-door gets better mileage than the EcoSport:

			MPG
Impreza 5-door
	Manual	2.0 DOHC flat-4	24 city/31 hwy
	Auto	2.0 DOHC flat-4	28 city/36 hwy
		Sport 2.0 DOHC flat-4	27 city/35 hwy
EcoSport
	Auto	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy

Environmental Friendliness

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

Transmission

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

The Impreza 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 Impreza stops shorter than the EcoSport:

	Impreza	EcoSport
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Impreza Sport’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the EcoSport (225/40R18 vs. 205/60R16).

The Impreza’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. The Impreza Sport’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the EcoSport’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Impreza Sport has standard 18-inch wheels. The EcoSport’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

The Subaru Impreza’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 Impreza’s wheelbase is 5.9 inches longer than on the EcoSport (105.1 inches vs. 99.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Impreza is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than on the EcoSport.

The Impreza 2.0i Limited 5-door handles at .80 G’s, while the EcoSport SE pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Impreza 2.0i Limited 5-door executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the EcoSport SE (27.9 seconds @ .6 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

Chassis

The Subaru Impreza may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 300 pounds less than the Ford EcoSport.

The Impreza is 7.8 inches shorter in height than the EcoSport, making the Impreza much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

Passenger Space

The Impreza 5-door has 9.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the EcoSport (100.9 vs. 91.1).

Cargo Capacity

The Impreza 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 Impreza. The EcoSport doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Impreza 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 Impreza’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 Impreza 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.

The Impreza Limited’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the EcoSport SE/Titanium/SES’ projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Impreza 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 avoid possible obstacles, the Impreza Premium offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The EcoSport doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Impreza Limited also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The Impreza’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 Impreza Auto 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.

Model Availability

The Subaru Impreza comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Ford EcoSport isn’t available as a sedan.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Impreza owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Impreza will cost $485 less than the EcoSport over a five-year period.

The Impreza will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Impreza will retain 53.58% to 57.04% of its original price after five years, while the EcoSport only retains 44.94% to 46.13%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Impreza is less expensive to operate than the EcoSport because typical repairs cost much less on the Impreza than the EcoSport, including $101 less for a muffler, $9 less for front brake pads, $14 less for a fuel pump, $419 less for a timing belt/chain and $598 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Impreza will be $5045 to $5974 less than for the Ford EcoSport.

Recommendations

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

The Subaru Impreza outsold the Ford EcoSport by 6% during 2022.