The Ford EcoSport has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The CR-V Hybrid doesn't offer knee airbags.

The EcoSport has standard 911 Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The CR-V Hybrid doesn't offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you're involved in an accident and you're incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the EcoSport and the CR-V Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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 Ford EcoSport is safer than the Honda CR-V Hybrid:

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 Ford EcoSport is safer than the Honda CR-V Hybrid:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are almost 3 times as many Ford dealers as there are Honda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the EcoSport's warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 14th in initial quality. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 17th.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 22nd in reliability. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 27th.

Both the EcoSport and the CR-V Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All EcoSport's have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The EcoSport stops shorter than the CR-V Hybrid:

The EcoSport's optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CR-V Hybrid Touring's 55 series tires.

The EcoSport offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn't available on the CR-V Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The EcoSport has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CR-V Hybrid's suspension doesn't offer gas-charged shocks.

For better maneuverability, the EcoSport's turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the CR-V Hybrid's (35.1 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Ford EcoSport may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 450 pounds less than the Honda CR-V Hybrid.

The EcoSport is 1 foot, 8.8 inches shorter than the CR-V Hybrid, making the EcoSport easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The EcoSport has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front legroom and 1.4 inches more rear hip room than the CR-V Hybrid.

The EcoSport has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The CR-V Hybrid has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the EcoSport uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The CR-V Hybrid doesn't offer electronic trailer sway control.

The power windows standard on both the EcoSport and the CR-V Hybrid have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the EcoSport is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CR-V Hybrid prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don't have them with you, you can let yourself in using the EcoSport's available exterior PIN entry system. The CR-V Hybrid doesn't offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The EcoSport's standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn't have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The CR-V Hybrid's standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The EcoSport (except S) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The CR-V Hybrid doesn't offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the EcoSport owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the EcoSport will cost $40 to $1470 less than the CR-V Hybrid over a five-year period.