2020 Jeep Renegade vs 2019 Ford Edge

The 2019 Ford Edge underwent 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.

In contrast, the 2020 Jeep Renegade maintained its signature Jeep design elements, such as round headlights, a 7-slot grille, and trapezoidal wheel arches. The Renegade's interior, especially in the High Altitude trim, featured a black leather interior with contrast stitching and metallic accents, giving it a more luxurious feel. However, the use of hard plastics and an all-black color scheme made it look less premium. The Renegade's boxy design made the interior feel spacious, but practical storage spots were limited, and rear-seat space was cramped.

The 2019 Ford Edge offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine across all non-ST trims, producing 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The ST trim featured a more powerful 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, delivering 335 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque, exclusively with all-wheel drive. The Edge ST provided impressive acceleration and cornering abilities, making it a fun yet comfortable ride. Fuel economy for the base engine was 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, while the ST returned 19/26/21 mpg.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade came with two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged engine, despite its energetic feel, suffered from turbo lag and a transmission calibrated for fuel economy rather than performance. The Renegade's driving dynamics were less refined, with a flinty ride and sloppy steering. Fuel economy for the turbocharged engine was 23.6 mpg, falling short of the EPA estimate of 26 mpg 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 trim's bucket seats were not ideal for taller drivers. Rear-seat space was generous, with ample head- and legroom, and cargo space measured 39 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade's interior felt spacious due to its boxy design and panoramic glass roof. The front seats were comfortable with an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, but the rear seats were cramped. Practical storage spots were limited, and cargo volume was modest at 18.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 50.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2019 Ford Edge's base infotainment system featured a small 4.2-inch non-touchscreen with basic functionality. Higher trims offered an 8-inch Sync 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The system was user-friendly despite its middling graphics.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade impressed with its Uconnect infotainment system, featuring an 8.4-inch touchscreen. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Renegade also offered a comprehensive driver information center and a parking assist system for both parallel and perpendicular spaces.

The 2019 Ford Edge came standard with a reversing camera, traction control, and a full complement 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 a lane-centering system.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered an Advanced Tech Group package that included adaptive cruise control, full-speed forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Safety and Security Group added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning. The Renegade earned a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and commendable scores from the IIHS, though it did not retain its Top Safety Pick rating from 2019.