Starting at
Starting at
138 | Base Horsepower (HP) | 123 |
26/31 MPG | Fuel Economy (city/highway) | Up to 27/29 MPG |
3 year/36,000 miles | Warranty | 3 year/36,000 miles |
First came the SUVs - large vehicles capable of hauling the entire family with space and grace across the entire continent. But the early models in this segment were sometimes larger and more cumbersome than drivers wanted for a means of daily transport, and the SUV segment was divided into subclasses, including the rising star: the subcompact crossover. Models such as Chevrolet’s Trax and Ford’s EcoSport help drivers align their need for vehicles that can handle a crowd of passengers, a bevy of cargo, and still maneuver easily through crowded city streets, or accelerate powerfully on the freeway. But which one of those would be better to purchase? Let's find out! Today we will look at the 2020 Chevy Trax vs 2020 Ford EcoSport.
Both the Chevy Trax and Ford EcoSport are intelligently designed by some of the most experienced American vehicle manufacturers. Chevrolet and Ford have been responsible for some of the most successful small hatchbacks and large SUVs; therefore, it stands to reason that these automobile giants would also create two of the best-selling subcompact crossovers. But while Trax and EcoSport share a class, there are many ways in which they differ. So how do you decide which is best for your busy urban lifestyle?
Both vehicles offer plenty of power for zipping around with a full crew of passengers or a full load of cargo, but the subcompact crossover class is not known for its race-track level speed or powerful towing capabilities. This segment is known better for its cargo space, reliability, fuel economy. Let’s take a look at what each of these vehicles has to offer in these areas.
The Trax offers up to 48.4 cu.ft. of cargo room, and the EcoSport allows for up to 50 cu.ft., making the two pretty similar in size. Both vehicles feature configurable seating, with 60/40 split-folding rear seats. And in fact, the Trax offers a front passenger seat that can fold flat, along with 11 total storage areas within the cabin- including a drawer under the passenger seat. So while neither vehicle is recommended for pulling a trailer with your belongings, there is certainly a lot of storage inside the vehicles, and the Trax has the upper hand with the extra storage compartments.
The 2020 Trax is equipped with a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that provides 138 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and while front-wheel drive is standard, all trims can be equipped with all-wheel drive. When FWD is chosen, drivers can anticipate fuel economy of 26 MPG city and 31 MPG highway, while the AWD option offers 24 MPG city and 29 MPG highway.
The 2020 EcoSport includes a standard front-wheel drive 1.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged inline-3 engine that gives drivers 123 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque. The sportier SES trim includes an all-wheel drive standard 2.0-liter inline-4 engine that provides 166 hp and 149 lb-ft of torque. The FWD engine has a fuel economy of 29 MPG city and 32 MPG highway, while the AWD engine manages 23 MPG city and 29 MPG highway. Both engines are equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission. While a more powerful engine is offered in the EcoSport, the standard engine is much better in the Trax. Additionally, the Trax has slightly better fuel economy, making it the better option.
The interior of a vehicle is always going to be one of the most important parts. These days, technology has helped to make cars more comfortable, entertaining and safe. The 2020 Chevy Trax and 2020 Ford EcoSport both utilize this technology and are each offered in an exciting array of trims that can provide each driver with a perfect balance between budget and convenience. Let's take a look.
The Chevy Trax starts with the base, LS, trim. This trim features all of the practical details: automatic headlights, a rearview camera, power lumbar adjustment for the driver, and a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and two USB ports. Standard safety features include ten airbags, a passenger sensing system, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The LT trim takes things up a notch, adding roof rails, cruise control, heated mirrors, remote vehicle start, a 110V outlet, and daytime running lights. The top trim, the Premier, includes all the bells and whistles available, including premium upholstery, keyless ignition and entry, auto-dimming mirrors, heated, power-adjustable front seats, and a Bose 7-speaker audio system. The Premier also includes the most robust safety features, which are available as options on the lower trims. These include blind-zone alerts, rear cross-traffic alerts, forward collision alerts, lane departure warning, and rear park assist. Entertainment and safety are both made priorities in the Chevy Trax.
The 2020 Ford EcoSport is offered in four trim levels: S, SE, Titanium, and SES. The S comes reasonably equipped with all the necessities. This includes automatic headlights, cruise control, a rearview camera, and integrated blind-spot mirrors, as well as a 4.2-inch display screen, Bluetooth, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and two USB ports. The SE trim adds onto this with LED running lights and fog lights, roof rails, a sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, automatic climate control, heated and power-adjustable front seats. It adds an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
For those who want to go the “sporty” route, the SES is the next step up. This trim includes additional safety features, such as blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. It also adds plenty of fun features, like a rear spoiler, a sport-tuned suspension, black style accents, and leather/cloth upholstery. Drivers of the SES will also enjoy heated mirrors and steering wheel and automatic wipers. The Titanium trim adds every possible convenience, including the 8-inch touchscreen, featuring SYNC 3 technology, voice-activated navigation, WiFi hotspot, and ten-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. Additional safety features include blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Both the EcoSport and Trax come with loads of interior and safety features. Because they are quite different, they are hard to compare. However, it is seemingly a draw between the two in this area.
Both Chevy and Ford are well known for allowing drivers to customize their brand new vehicles, and the 2020 Trax and 2020 EcoSport are no exception. Both vehicles include the option to choose all-wheel drive instead of the standard front-wheel drive, but each trim also comes with additional choices for drivers who want a truly personal driving experience.
The 2020 Chevy Trax offers a “Tint and Cruise” package even on the basic LS, which allows drivers to add tinted privacy windows and cruise control to the offerings. While these features are included in the LT, drivers of that trim can choose to add an "LT Convenience Package," which adds leather inserts to the seats and leather wrapping to the steering wheel, keyless ignition and entry, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. The Driver Confidence Package includes additional safety features, such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors. Then there is the "Sun and Sound Package" that offers a premium Bose sound system and a sunroof. The "LT Redline Edition" is an optional appearance package that decks the Trax out in black body accents and 18-inch black wheels, with red accents. No matter what you are looking to add, there is likely a package for it.
Ford offers a couple of stand-alone options, including the "SE Convenience Package," which includes blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, ambient interior lighting, seven-speaker audio, navigation, and a 110V power outlet. Drivers of the SES trim can choose the "Black Appearance package," that paints the roof, spoiler, and hood decal black to match the body. Like the Trax, the EcoSport has quite a few options to add on. However, in comparison, the possibilities seem endless with the Trax.