Compare the2023 Subaru Crosstrek HybridVS 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
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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid’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.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the EcoSport and isn't available on the not available.

The Crosstrek Hybrid’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 Hybrid 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 and rearview cameras.

The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid weighs 417 pounds more than the Ford EcoSport. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

	Crosstrek Hybrid	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 Hybrid is safer than the Ford EcoSport:

	Crosstrek Hybrid	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.

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, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Crosstrek Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 81 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 Hybrid’s reliability 53 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

As tested in Consumer Reports the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is faster than the Ford EcoSport:

	Crosstrek Hybrid	EcoSport
Zero to 30 MPH	3.4 sec	3.9 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	9 sec	10.7 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.7 sec	6.7 sec
Quarter Mile	17.1 sec	18.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	83 MPH	79 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek Hybrid 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 Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the EcoSport (99 city/80 hwy MPGe vs. 23 city/29 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Crosstrek Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the EcoSport (36 city/35 hwy vs. 23 city/29 hwy).

The Crosstrek Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 17 miles. The EcoSport can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Crosstrek Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Ford EcoSport (5). This means the Crosstrek Hybrid produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the EcoSport every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Crosstrek Hybrid 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

The Crosstrek Hybrid stops shorter than the EcoSport:

	Crosstrek Hybrid	EcoSport
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	132 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Crosstrek Hybrid has larger tires than the EcoSport (225/55R18 vs. 205/60R16).

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s 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.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Crosstrek Hybrid has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the EcoSport. The EcoSport’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid’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 Hybrid’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 Hybrid is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the EcoSport.

Passenger Space

The Crosstrek Hybrid has 9.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the EcoSport (100.8 vs. 91.1).

The Crosstrek Hybrid 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, .2 inches more rear headroom, 3.1 inches more rear hip room and 4.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the EcoSport.

Cargo Capacity

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

The Crosstrek Hybrid’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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid’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 Hybrid has a standard locking fuel and charge port 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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid’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.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Crosstrek Hybrid 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.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, 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.