Toyota Raize vs Ford EcoSport: A fresh face duels a veteran
The Toyota Raize is Toyota Motor Philippines’ latest addition to its model lineup. Currently, it is the brand’s most affordable and smallest crossover. To this end, the Raize is its primary weapon in the very competitive subcompact crossover market segment.
2022 Toyota Raize: It's finally here! - Philkotse Quick Look
One of the models facing off against the Raize is of course the Ford EcoSport. This model, as most of you know, is a market veteran. Globally, it has been around since 2003, and it has been a good market mover for the Blue Oval brand.
So how does the fresh-faced Toyota Raize fare against a veteran like the Ford EcoSport? Let’s find out by comparing the Raize 1.0 Turbo CVT against the EcoSport Trend 1.5 AT. They’re the closest variants in price, and so are likely good match-ups for this comparo.
Toyota Raize vs Ford EcoSport: Exterior
Size-wise, the Raize comes with a length of 4,030mm, a width of 1,710mm, and a height of 1,605mm. It also has a wheelbase length of 2,525mm, and a ground clearance of 200mm.
The Toyota Raize 1.0 Turbo CVT
In comparison, the EcoSport is 4,325mm long, 1,765mm wide, and 1,656mm in height. It’s wheelbase spans 2,519mm, and it has a ground clearance of 209mm.
| Toyota Raize 1.0 Turbo CVT | Dimensions | Ford EcoSport Trend 1.5 AT |
| 4,030mm | Lenth | 4,325mm |
| 1,710mm | Width | 1,765mm |
| 1,605mm | Height | 1,656mm |
| 2,525mm | Wheelbase | 2,519mm |
| 200mm | Ground clearance | 209mm |
From this, we can see that the EcoSport is larger overall than the Toyota model by a fair bit, although the former has a slightly shorter wheelbase.
As a top-spec variant, the Raize 1.0 Turbo gets some bits that aren’t available to the EcoSport Trend. These include LED headlamps and LED taillights. This variant of the EcoSport in turn, comes from the dealer with halogen headlamps and halogen taillights. It also has roof rails, which aren’t present on the Toyota.
The Ford EcoSport
Both models come standard with a set of 17-inch alloy wheels and front fog lamps, as well as power-folding side mirrors with turn signal repeaters.
| Toyota Raize 1.0 Turbo CVT | Exterior equipment | Ford EcoSport Trend 1.5 AT |
| LED | Headlamps | Halogen |
| Halogen | Turn signal lights | Halogen |
| LED | Taillights | Halogen |
| With | Front fog lamps | With |
| 17-inch | Wheel size | 17-inch |
| Alloy | Wheel type | Alloy |
Toyota Raize vs Ford EcoSport: Interior
Inside, both subcompact crossover models can seat up to five occupants. Both also come with manually adjustable driver’s seats. The Raize 1.0 Turbo does have a push-button ignition system and an automatic air-conditioning system. In turn, the EcoSport Trend comes with turn key ignition, and a manual air-conditioning system.
| Toyota Raize 1.0 Turbo CVT | Interior Equipment | Ford EcoSport Trend 1.5 AT |
| Synthetic leather/fabric | Seat material | Fabric |
| Manual | Driver’s seat adjustment | Manual |
| Tilt | Steering wheel adjustment | Tilt and telescopic |
| Automatic | Air-conditioning type | Manual |
| 5 | Seating capacity | 5 |
Furthermore, the EcoSport Trend only has fabric seats, while the Raize 1.0 Turbo has fabric and synthetic leather seats. It also has a urethane steering wheel, while the top-spec Raize has a leather steering wheel.
The top-spec Raize's cockpit
The Raize 1.0 Turbo is also kitted out with a digital gauge cluster, whereas the EcoSport Trend gets an analog unit. Both do come with digital trip computers.
Then again, the EcoSport does have a tilt and telescopic steering column, while the Raize has a tilt-only steering column.
Moving on to on-board entertainment, both vehicles are fitted with a nine-inch touchscreen headunit. The one on the Raize comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the one on the EcoSport Trend does not. Both also have Bluetooth and USB connectivity.
A peek inside the Ford EcoSport's interior
For speakers, the Raize gets a six-piece set. The EcoSport Trend, meanwhile, gets four.
| Toyota Raize 1.0 Turbo CVT | On-board tech | Ford EcoSport Trend 1.5 AT |
| 9-inch touchscreen | Infotainment system | 9-inch touchscreen |
| Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, USB | Connectivity options | Bluetooth, USB |
| 6 | # of speakers | 4 |
| With | Power-folding side mirrors | With |
Toyota Raize vs Ford EcoSport: Engine and Performance
Under the hood, the Raize uses a 1.0-liter turbocharged inline-3 gasoline engine. This three-banger is capable of making up to 97 horsepower and 140 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to its front wheels through a continuously variable transmission.
On the flip-side, the EcoSport uses a 1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline engine that can make up to 121 horsepower and 150 Nm of torque. It is also a front-wheel-drive model, though it uses a six-speed automatic gearbox.
The Toyota Raize's 1.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine
To sum it up, the Ford model is a fair bit more powerful than the Toyota. They might also provide a different driving feel due to their difference in gearboxes.
For suspensions, both vehicles use MacPherson struts for the front and a torsion beam suspension for the rear. The Raize does come with front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. Meanwhile, the EcoSport Trend has disc brakes for all four wheels. Both also come with manual, hand-operated parking brakes.
| Specs | Toyota Raize 1.0 Turbo CVT | Ford EcoSport Trend 1.5 AT |
| Engine | Inline-3 turbocharged gasoline | Inline-4 gasoline |
| Displacement | 1.0-liters | 1.5-liters |
| Transmission | CVT | 4-speed automatic |
| Horsepower | 97 | 121 |
| Torque | 140 Nm | 150 Nm |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD |
Toyota Raize vs Ford EcoSport: Safety
For safety, both the top-spec Raize and the EcoSport Trend come standard with anti-lock braking with electronic brake-force distribution, stability control, parking sensors, a reverse camera, hill-start assist, an engine immobilizer, ISOFIX child seat tethers, and a security alarm.
The Raize however does have more airbags at six, while the EcoSport Trend has four. Also, the Toyota model has blind-spot detection and rear-cross traffic alert, which aren’t present on the EcoSport Trend.
| Toyota Raize 1.0 Turbo CVT | Safety Equipment | Ford EcoSport Trend 1.5 AT |
| 6 | Airbags | 4 |
| With | Anti-lock braking w/ EBD | With |
| With | Reverse camera | With |
| With | Hill-start assist | With |
| With | Stability control | With |
| With | ISOFIX | With |
| With | Blind-spot detection | None |
| With | Engine immobilizer | With |
| With | Security alaerm | With |
Toyota Raize vs Ford EcoSport: Price
| Toyota Raize Variants | Price |
| Raize E 1.2 MT | Php 746,000 |
| Raize E 1.2 CVT | Php 816,000 |
| Raize G 1.2 CVT | Php 906,000 |
| Raize 1.0 Turbo CVT | Php 1,031,000 |
| Raize 1.0 Turbo CVT (White pearl) | Php 1,036,000 |
| Ford EcoSport Variants | Price |
| EcoSport Trend 1.5 MT | Php 750,000 |
| EcoSport Trend 1.5 AT | Php 998,000 |
| EcoSport Titanium 1.5 AT | Php 1,100,000 |
| EcoSport EcoBoost Titanium 1.0 AT | Php 1,190,000 |
Toyota Raize vs Ford EcoSport: Conclusion
With a sticker price that’s slightly higher by Php 32,000, the Raize offers a bit more in terms of interior amenities. You get a more capable touchscreen and a leather-wrapped steering wheel among other niceties, as well as blind-spot detection.
The Raize from the rear
Then again, the EcoSport’s inline-4 power unit is just more powerful than the Raize. So if that’s your priority, then you might want to lean more towards the Ford. Moreover, the EcoSport has larger dimensions than the Raize, which could mean better interior space on the Ford.
A view of the EcoSport's rear end
Just to be sure though, do give these two models a good ol’ test drive.
For more car comparisons like this, keep it here on Philkotse.