2019 Ford Edge vs 2020 Volvo XC90

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 featured a new rotary shifter but still felt like a decade-old design. However, the Edge offered plenty of standard and available features across its SE, SEL, Titanium, and ST trims, with the ST trim adding performance touches from Ford Performance.

In contrast, the 2020 Volvo XC90 showcased modern Volvo design at its peak, proving that a big SUV could be as beautiful as a sedan. The R-Design trim featured blacked-out, honeycomb grille treatment, black window surrounds, mirrors, a more aggressive chin spoiler, and 22-inch rims. The "Thor's hammer" LED headlights and tall, thin, curving LED taillights were standard, emphasizing the vehicle's width and stability. The interior boasted a Thunder Grey Metallic exterior with a beige-leather and aluminum interior, offering a luxurious and well-crafted cabin with options for matte wood trim and wool fabric seats.

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, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was available 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 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.

The 2020 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission. The T5 model produced 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the T6 added a supercharger for 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The T6 Polestar tune increased these figures to 330 horsepower and 325 pound-feet. The T8 plug-in hybrid delivered 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque with an 11.6-kWh battery, offering up to 18 gas-free miles. However, the T8's added weight negated its speed advantage. Fuel economy for the T6 AWD was 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while the T5 AWD achieved 20/27/23.

The 2019 Ford Edge's cabin, though dated, was practical with deep cargo bins, USB ports, and large in-door pockets. The ST trim featured bucket seats with pronounced side bolsters, but these 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.

The 2020 Volvo XC90's Sensus infotainment system was faster and more responsive, with all climate controls integrated into the touchscreen. The cabin layout was stellar, with seven seats standard and an optional integrated booster cushion for young children. The six-seat configuration was available on T6 and T8 powertrains. The first and second rows provided generous legroom and comfort, while the third row was suitable for small children. Cargo space was up to 85.7 cubic feet with the last two rows folded.

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, streaming music, Bluetooth, and voice recognition. The SEL trim and above offered an 8-inch Sync 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration.

The 2020 Volvo XC90 came standard with Volvo Pilot Assist, a semi-automated driving system combining adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. The R-Design trim featured a Bowers & Wilkins stereo with 19 speakers and 1,400 watts of power. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was high-resolution and easy to navigate, though onboard apps were slow to load. The instrument panel could display the map between analog-style dials but lacked major reconfiguration options.

The 2019 Ford Edge included a reversing camera, traction control, and a full complement of airbags as standard. Ford’s 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 with rear cross-traffic alert. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a lane-centering system.

The 2020 Volvo XC90 received top safety scores from NHTSA and IIHS, though the latter's headlight test lowered its rating to a Top Safety Pick. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, pedestrian detection, a driver-attention monitor, blind-spot monitoring, and traffic-sign recognition. Volvo's commitment to safety was evident in its use of high-strength steels and advanced safety systems.