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 Impreza doesn't offer a front passenger side knee airbag.
Both the EcoSport and the Impreza 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.
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 Subaru Impreza:
|
EcoSport |
Impreza |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
71 |
165 |
Chest Movement |
.9 inches |
1 inches |
Abdominal Force |
95 lbs. |
293 lbs. |
Hip Force |
337 lbs. |
400 lbs. |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
195 |
363 |
Spine Acceleration |
40 G's |
79 G's |
Hip Force |
685 lbs. |
715 lbs. |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Max Damage Depth |
12 inches |
13 inches |
Spine Acceleration |
37 G's |
49 G's |
Hip Force |
549 lbs. |
824 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.