2020 Acura MDX vs 2019 Ford Edge

The 2019 Ford Edge received a facelift that included a new grille, headlights, and lower front fascia. The rear of the vehicle featured new taillights and a larger black panel replacing the red connector between the taillights, giving the Edge a sportier appearance. Despite these exterior updates, the interior remained largely unchanged from previous models, feeling dated and heavily reliant on plastics. The cabin included a new rotary shifter but still felt like a decade-old design.

The Edge offered plenty of standard and available features across its SE, SEL, Titanium, and ST trims. The base SE came with 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, push-button start, and rain-sensing wipers. The SEL trim added black roof rails, dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable front seats, rear parking sensors, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Titanium trim included 19-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, and a Bang & Olufsen 12-speaker premium sound system. The ST trim featured performance enhancements like a blacked-out grille, 20-inch machined aluminum wheels, and an upgraded exhaust system, along with leather seating and ambient lighting.

The 2020 Acura MDX was a good-looking crossover SUV with a sleek and low-slung design, though its styling was not groundbreaking. The MDX featured Acura's signature Jewel Eye LED headlights, which added a rich look to the front of the vehicle. The headlights flanked a trapezoidal grille with a prominent Acura logo, giving the MDX an expressive face. The paint and chrome details were flawless, a testament to Acura's strength in exterior finishes.

Inside, the MDX had a modern and simple design, with a center stack that featured twin infotainment screens. The high-quality materials and superior fit and finish gave the cabin a solid and well-built feel. The MDX's interior was free from excessive padding and stitching, focusing instead on a clean and functional design. The knobs and switches operated with authority, adding to the overall sense of quality.

The 2019 Ford Edge offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine for all non-ST trims, producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive for an additional cost. The ST trim featured a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, delivering 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with all-wheel drive. The ST provided impressive acceleration and handling, especially in Sport Mode, and maintained a smooth ride over rough roads. The 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 mpg.

The 2020 Acura MDX came with two powertrain options: a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and a Sport Hybrid model with a 3.0-liter V6 engine and three electric motors, producing a combined 321 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The MDX displayed good straight-line performance and nimble handling, especially with the Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, which used torque vectoring to improve cornering. The MDX's suspension provided a comfortable ride, making it a suitable companion for long drives.

The 2019 Ford Edge's cabin, though dated, was practical with deep cargo bins, USB ports, and large bottle holders. The front seats were comfortable, but the ST trim's bucket seats were not ideal for tall 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 rear seats folded down.

The 2020 Acura MDX featured sliding and reclining second-row seats, making it easier to access the third row and share legroom between rows. The MDX offered 15.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 43.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 90.9 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. The interior included a flexible center console, multiple storage compartments, and tri-zone climate control, providing a comfortable and functional space for passengers.

The 2019 Ford Edge's base infotainment system included a small 4.2-inch non-touchscreen with basic functionality like a USB port, WiFi hotspot, and Bluetooth. The SEL trim and higher offered an 8-inch Sync 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration, providing a more user-friendly experience.

The 2020 Acura MDX came with standard tech features like Siri Eyes Free, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and an eight-speaker audio system. The Technology Package added features like rain-sensing wipers, navigation, and a premium audio system. The Advance Package included additional tech like a surround-view camera system and heated and ventilated front seats. The Entertainment Package offered a rear entertainment system with a DVD player and wireless headphones.

The 2019 Ford Edge included standard safety features like a reversing camera, traction control, and front- and side-impact airbags. The Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assistance features was also standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beams, and blind-spot monitoring. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a lane-centering system.

The 2020 Acura MDX came with standard AcuraWatch, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. The Technology Package added blind-spot monitoring, and the Advance Package included Head-Up Warning. The MDX also featured a sophisticated body design for crash protection and received high safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.