2019 Ford Edge vs 2020 Honda CR-V

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 updates, 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.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda CR-V maintained its familiar, curvy, car-like design, which leaned more towards a station wagon than an SUV. The interior, however, was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery clashing with low-quality plastics. The CR-V's cabin was roomy and well-packaged, offering excellent head- and legroom, and a smart two-position load floor in the cargo area. The CR-V's design emphasized practicality and family-friendly features.

The 2019 Ford Edge featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine in its non-ST trims, producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided reliable performance, with the option of adding all-wheel drive for an additional $1,995. The ST trim, however, boasted a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, delivering 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with all-wheel drive. The ST offered impressive acceleration and handling, especially in Sport Mode, while maintaining a smooth ride over rough roads. Fuel economy for the base engine was 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, while the ST managed 19/26/21.

The 2020 Honda CR-V simplified its lineup by replacing the previous base engine with a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The CR-V's CVT was well-tuned, providing a responsive and smooth driving experience, especially in Sport mode. The CR-V's car-like handling and low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its nimble performance. Fuel economy was a strong point, with FWD models achieving 30 mpg combined and AWD models 29 mpg combined, making it one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in its class.

The 2019 Ford Edge's cabin, though dated, was practical with deep storage 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 Edge provided more space than competitors like the Nissan Murano and Chevy Blazer, but slightly less than the Honda Passport.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and clever storage solutions. Its cabin was roomy, with excellent head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers. The center console featured a deep well with a sliding cover, inspired by the Honda Odyssey, and the rear had a two-position load floor for flexible cargo space. With the rear seats folded, the CR-V offered 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space. The door pockets were also spacious, making the CR-V highly practical for everyday use.

The 2019 Ford Edge's base infotainment system was underwhelming, with a small 4.2-inch non-touchscreen operated by buttons. However, the available 8-inch Sync 3 system on higher trims was much better, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The system was user-friendly, despite its average graphics.

The 2020 Honda CR-V's infotainment system showed its age, with the base LX trim featuring a 5-inch screen that lacked advanced features. Higher trims had a 7-inch touchscreen, which still felt small compared to competitors. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate, and even Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration felt tacked on. The Touring trim added a wireless phone charger and more USB ports, but overall, the CR-V's infotainment was not its strong suit.

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

The 2020 Honda CR-V included the “Honda Sensing” system as standard, offering forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. Automatic high beams were also standard, with blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring available on EX trims and above. The CR-V earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests and a Top Safety Pick designation from IIHS, with the Touring trim's LED headlights improving nighttime visibility.