2019 Ford Edge vs 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

The 2019 Ford Edge received a facelift that included a new grille, headlights, and lower front fascia, giving it a sportier appearance. The rear also saw updates with new taillights and a larger black panel replacing the red connector between the taillights. Despite these exterior changes, the interior remained largely unchanged from previous models, feeling dated and heavily reliant on plastics. The cabin did offer useful features like a new rotary shifter and plenty of standard and available features across its SE, SEL, Titanium, and ST trims. The SEL trim, in particular, provided a good balance of features and price, while the ST trim added performance touches from Ford Performance, including a blacked-out grille and 20-inch machined aluminum wheels.

In contrast, the 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid's design echoed Toyota's classic trucks, with a front that resembled the 4Runner and a body that reclaimed the original RAV4's large greenhouse. The XSE trim, exclusive to the Hybrid, featured glossy black trim on the roof, A-pillars, mirrors, fender flares, and 18-inch wheels, giving it a sporty look. The interior boasted high-quality materials, including padded dash and door trim with blue stitching, and large, easy-to-use knobs and buttons. The cabin felt upscale with features like a thick PRNDL gear selector, tall door handles, and snug front seats with blue-striped cloth inserts.

The 2019 Ford Edge offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine across all non-ST trims, producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, provided a reliable performance with either front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. The ST trim, however, featured a more powerful 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, delivering 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with all-wheel drive. The ST's performance was impressive, with fantastic acceleration and balanced handling, especially on curving back roads. Fuel economy for the base 2.0-liter engine with front-wheel drive was 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, while the ST returned 19/26/21.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with two electric motors and a 1.6-kilowatt battery, producing a total of 219 horsepower. The hybrid system provided a seamless and quiet driving experience, with the continuously variable transmission (CVT) ensuring smooth power delivery. The RAV4 Hybrid's handling was stable and responsive, particularly in the XSE trim with sport-tuned dampers and springs. Fuel efficiency was a standout feature, with the RAV4 Hybrid averaging 36 mpg over 400 miles and EPA ratings of 41 mpg city, 38 highway, and 40 combined.

The 2019 Ford Edge's cabin, though dated, was practical with deep cargo bins, USB ports, and available wireless charging. The front seats were comfortable, but the ST's bucket seats were not ideal for taller drivers. The rear seats offered ample head- and legroom, and the cargo space was generous with 39 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid provided excellent sightlines and generous cargo space, with 37.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 70 cubic feet with the seats folded. The second-row legroom was ample, and the air conditioning was highly effective. The large knobs and switches enhanced ergonomics, though some controls were not illuminated at night. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with clear menus and customizable home screens.

The 2019 Ford Edge's base infotainment system featured a small 4.2-inch non-touchscreen with basic functionality, including a USB port, WiFi hotspot, and Bluetooth. The available 8-inch Sync 3 system, standard on higher trims, offered a more intuitive interface with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid's infotainment system was superior to those in Lexus models, with a touchscreen that accepted swiping and pinching gestures. The system included Apple CarPlay but not Android Auto. The JBL stereo was adequate, and the lane-keep assist was not designed for semi-automated operation. Toyota's Safety Connect provided standard stolen-vehicle alerts, automatic crash notifications, and SOS assistance for three years.

The 2019 Ford Edge came standard with a reversing camera, traction control, and a full complement of airbags. Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beams, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, was also standard. Higher trims could be upgraded with the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package, adding adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a lane-centering system.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid earned a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top ratings from the IIHS, except for its headlights. Toyota Safety Sense, standard on the RAV4 Hybrid, included forward emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise, traffic-sign recognition, and auto high beams. Unique safety features included an airbag in the front passenger seat's cushion and a driver's knee airbag. Rear emergency braking was optional.