The world seems to be getting smaller these days, and there just isn’t room on the roads or in the parking lots for all these big vehicles. So our modern day realists may be seeing the need to turn to smaller, more efficient vehicles. Gone are the days of the road beasts, and coming are the days of the sub-compact SUVs. Our mighty mini mash-up is putting the longest-standing rivalry in the automobile industry to the test to see who is the best when it comes to making a smaller SUV, Ford or Chevy? When it comes to the 2022 Ford EcoSport vs the 2022 Chevy Trax, they’re small, but there’s a lot to unpack!
Mighty Power
As in many mash-ups and brawls, a big part of the competition comes down to power. We start our minis in their respective corners and let them loose to see who has what it takes to get off the line and into the pit. When the buzzer goes off, the 2022 Ford EcoSport lives up to the sport in its name and uses its 166 horsepower to move itself down the track and into position. While the Ford is relaxing in its position at the center, we are hoping the Chevy Trax heard us because it has taken 9.2 seconds to get up to 60 miles per hour and we aren’t sure if that’s due to its 155 horsepower or if it just didn’t hear the starting buzzer. Nonetheless, the Ford takes this round with quite the advantage since they had the time to sit and relax while waiting on the Trax to catch up. The EcoSport is out here showing that compact size does not mean less power, but the Trax is making its compacted power a well known fact.
Tow to Tow
In an effort to redeem itself, the Trax requests a power rematch. The EcoSport was again living up to its Sport namesake, and was a good sport and agreed. So we matched the Trax and Ecosport in a tow to tow contest. The Trax goes first and pulls a little more than 1200 lbs in weight. This weight is less than the larger SUVs, but it’s pretty impressive considering how small the Trax is in the SUV world. If the Trax were a gladiator, this would be enough to pull a small chariot, but since it’s a car and we’re in the modern day and age, 1,200 lbs is the equivalent of a small utility vehicle (such as a four-wheeler) and trailer. A pretty good towing amount for the Trax, but we’ll see if the Ecosport can muster up some extra power.
The Ecosport goes ahead and pulls in their large chariot with ease. Yes, we said large chariot. While the Trax is doing good work for a small vehicle, the Ecosport is doing great work for a small SUV. Able to tow up to 2,000 lbs, the Ecosport is pulling the weight of two four-wheelers on a trailer with absolute ease! Unfortunately for the Trax, not all compact SUVs are meant to be in the arena, and it appears that when it comes down to power, the EcoSport is easily beating the Trax.
Space Race
We’ve given the Trax some time to catch its breath so that, hopefully, it’ll be able to keep up this round. This time it is all about space. How much room does each of our compact SUVs have? We’ll start with the Ecosport and see how it fairs. When it comes down to the space race, the Ford sets a high bar to beat. Able to accommodate a maximum of 50 cu.ft., the EcoSport has room for every gladiator’s shield and armor. For our modern day gladiators, around 15 suitcases can fit in the measured-out cargo space. If you’re not looking to maximize the back seat of the Ford for cargo, then it still allows for up to 20.9 cu.ft. of cargo. That’s right around 7 suitcases depending on the size.
The EcoSport performed admirably in this space race, but let’s look at the Trax now. Like in other areas, the Trax is falling a bit short, literally. However, this time it’s by a much smaller amount. The Trax can fit up to 48.4 cu.ft. of cargo when you utilize the back seat for storage space and 18.7 cubic feet when you don’t. While 2 cu.ft. doesn’t seem like a big difference, it is around 1 medium suitcase less. That 1 bag can be the difference between being able to cosplay as a gladiator or not! Since we don’t want anyone leaving behind a shield or spear, we’re giving this one to the EcoSport, again. It’s nothing personal, Trax, just business.
Money Talks
Gladiators are only as good as their sponsor, or in the case of the modern car, their price tag. If you’re hoping to get a chariot at a reasonable price, both the Trax and the EcoSport have great starting prices. We’ll give the Trax a turn to start this time. The Trax is available for purchase starting at $21,400. This is an excellent price for the ability that the Trax is capable of. For this price, you get an SUV that is a little more capable and roomy than a car and, at the same time, priced like many of the newer cars. We feel like this is a great deal. Because while the Trax is lining up great when compared to the EcoSport, it would be a leader in a competition if compared against sedans and coupes.
The EcoSport has won every match up to this point, but that capability comes at a slightly higher price. Only a very slight amount higher, the 2022 EcoSports can be purchased for as little as $22,040. This is less than a thousand more than the Trax, and that extra cost is worth it. Let’s consider how well the Ford EcoSport has done up to this point. When it comes to power, the EcoSport is better both under the hood and in the towing department. It’s also better when we look at roominess and cargo capacity. So for exactly $640 more, you can have an immensely better vehicle. While every gladiator is entitled to their choice of a chariot, a smart gladiator will spend a little more money to get a lot more capability.
Are You Not Entertained
Our last round in the arena comes down to entertainment. Thumbs up or down can make all the difference for a gladiator, so let’s see how our mighty mini SUVs do. The Ford EcoSport starts this round by giving us a smaller 4.2-inch infotainment screen capable of Bluetooth connection. So their entry-level model is all the necessities with nothing extra to slow it down. This is a thumb sideways scenario, but the EcoSport has prepared themselves for this by allowing you to upgrade to an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment setup. This 8-inch system is Apple CarPlay and AndroidAuto enabled, making it a great option, and we can give the EcoSport a thumbs up for allowing this option.
The Trax comes into the arena prepared as well, offering a standard 7icnh touch screen system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ready to go. Chevy has also made it an option to have in-car wi-fi with a monthly subscription. The Trax will get a solid thumbs up as well. When it comes to entertainment, the Trax and the EcoSport are tied because they both leave us entertained when we pay a little more.
Only One Will Leave The Arena
This leaves us to compare our wins and losses. The 2022 Ford EcoSport is coming out with three wins in their back seat, and the 2022 Chevy Trax is leaving the arena with just 1. Our compact competitors gave it their all, but the Ford EcoSport just had more to give and has left the Chevy Trax in the dust. It was a brave battle, Trax, but the EcoSport came out of this fight victorious.
