2020 Ford EcoSport vs Mazda CX-3
When considering which subcompact sport utility vehicle you want to drive around Fayetteville, think about the fact that Ford sold four times as many EcoSports as Mazda did CX-3s. Clearly EcoSport is excelling at giving people what they want. We’ll go over the main differences in this comparison guide and just why EcoSports might be moving off the lot so quickly.
Passenger Room: 2020 Ford EcoSport
First of all, we know a subcompact SUV is small, but some vehicles use the available space better than others. For example, the 2020 Ford EcoSport is both shorter and narrower than the Mazda CX-3, but what space the EcoSport has is used really well. The EcoSport has more front head- and legroom than the Mazda CX-3. And, before you wonder, yes, that extends into the back seat. There’s more head- and legroom back there too. Though it’s bigger on the outside, you’ll feel more of a squeeze in the CX-3. On the other hand, the EcoSport gives you an inch more in almost every dimension.
Cargo Space: 2020 Ford EcoSport
So, where did that extra space go in the Mazda CX-3? We’re asking ourselves the same question. Because the EcoSport not only has more passenger room, the Ford SUV also offers more cargo room as well. There’s 20.9 cubic inches of storage space behind the back seat of the EcoSport compared to just 12.4 cubes in the CX-3. The figure expands to 50 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down in the EcoSport, but the CX-3 misses the mark again with just 44.5 cubes of storage all told. What did the Mazda designers do with that extra space from being wider and longer? Your guess is as good as ours.
Engine Options: 2020 Ford EcoSport
If we only compared the base engine of each of these subcompact SUVs, we’d have to give this category to the 2020 Mazda CX-3. But while CX-3 only offers the base engine option, the 2020 Ford EcoSport offers an additional option. The Ford EcoSport’s base engine is a turbocharged, 123-horsepower, three-cylinder EcoBoost engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. That’s not much horsepower, but the story isn’t over yet. You can switch out that engine for the much improved naturally aspirated four-cylinder that makes 166 horsepower and comes with all-wheel drive. If you’re looking for a little more pep in your step, then this is the engine for you.
By comparison, the Mazda CX-3 has only a single engine option: a four-cylinder engine that puts out 148 horsepower and comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission. This one can get a bit noisy when you really hit the gas, so be aware. At the end of the day, the Ford EcoSport is better at engine options.
You can get behind the wheel and try it out yourself at LaFayette Ford.