The subcompact crossover Honda HR-V might seem to have just about everything you want, but there are a couple good reasons to think again. Its rival, the Ford EcoSport, is about to give the HR-V a run for its money.
Towing: 2019 Ford EcoSport
Admittedly, towing capacity is a bit of an afterthought for manufacturers of a crossover this size. But just because your sport utility vehicle is small doesn't mean it should lack in utility. After all, SUVs were heavy-hauling road warriors long before they shrank to fit in narrow parking spots. The 2019 Ford EcoSport might be less than 14 feet long, but this handy hauler can still tow up to 2,000 pounds. The Honda HR-V has a trailering capacity in a class where so many subcompacts don't even bother. Meanwhile the HR-V has only about half the towing capacity as the EcoSport, at 1,100 pounds. If you want the utility to throw a trailer onto the back and head for this hills in your small but versatile subcompact, the EcoSport can get you there.
Reliability: 2019 Ford EcoSport
No one wants to be left high and dry on the side of the freeway, or languishing in the repair shop for the better part of a day. If you don't want to let this happen to you, you should be very aware of the JD Power reliability rating on any vehicle you're thinking of buying. This handy number between 1 and 5 is a measurement of mechanical issues new owners experience in their first few years of ownership. A rating of 3 is completely average, with about half of new vehicles being worse, and half better.
The 2019 Ford EcoSport is in the better half category. This little crossover that could gets a 3.5 out of 5 rating. That means it's above average and more likely to get you to your destination without a problem. The 2019 Honda HR-V fares a little worse, with a score of 3 out of 5. That's a completely average score and, of course, not as good as that of the EcoSport.
Cargo Space: 2019 Honda HR-V
You might assume that buying a subcompact SUV means sacrificing some space to store your things. But that may not be true. Because you're looking at two subcompact SUVs with far more cargo room than the average for their class. We're talking 20.9 cubic feet for the Ford EcoSport behind the back seat and 24.3 cubic feet for the Honda HR-V. Put that back seat down and the space expands to 50 and 58.8 cubes respectively. Obviously, the Honda HR-V has more storage space than the EcoSport. But both are outstanding for their class. Just to put these two in perspective, the Mazda CX-3 has a miserly 36.4 cubic feet total.
In versatile utility, the 2019 Ford EcoSport has its subcompact rival, the Honda HR-V, beat. Just looking at these features, you might forget you're driving small.