2019 Toyota RAV4 vs 2020 Ford Edge

When comparing the 2019 Toyota RAV4 and the 2020 Ford Edge, both vehicles demonstrated distinct aesthetic philosophies and design elements that catered to different tastes and preferences.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 immediately stood out with its bold, chunky design and sharp edges, clearly inspired by the rugged Toyota Tacoma pickup. This aggressive, futuristic look conveyed a strong presence, which was consistent along the entire side profile and extended to the back, where the taillights seemed influenced by Toyota’s luxury brand, Lexus. The character line breaking up the rear C-pillar, although common among new vehicles, was not particularly visually appealing in the RAV4. About half of the RAV4's color options matched the body to the roof, while seven options offered a contrasting-color roof in gray or black, adding visual interest especially useful in the two-tone variations. However, this black strip across the rear pillar appeared unnecessary in the monotone color schemes, adding to design clutter.

Inside, the RAV4's cabin was surprisingly simple and elegant, featuring many elements within the new floating touchscreen and a “pod” packaging the remaining controls from the center of the dash to the cupholders. Trim levels ranging from the base LE to the upscale Limited provided varying levels of exterior and interior features, adding everything from steel 17-inch wheels and LED lighting in the base model to 19-inch chrome-finished alloy wheels, heated front seats, and ambient interior lighting in the top-tier Limited trim.

In contrast, the 2020 Ford Edge leveraged a fresh styling update from 2019, likening it to a crossover version of the Ford Fusion sedan. It shared angular headlights and a large, trapezoidal grille reminiscent of the Fusion. Despite these updates, the interior reflected signs of aging. The center console, with its small and awkwardly arranged climate and radio controls, only showed subtle changes since 2015. The contemporary rotary shifter, however, aided in solving some space and packaging issues. Cabin quality was solid with plenty of soft-touch materials but these efforts were compromised by the heavy use of hard plastics, especially in the center console.

Trim levels for the Edge, from the basic SE to the performance-focused ST, offered a diverse range of features. The base SE included practical features like a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, WiFi hotspot, and Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system, while higher trims like the Titanium introduced more premium features such as genuine leather upholstery, a 10-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, and a B&O by Bang & Olufsen 12-speaker premium sound system.

Performance-wise, both the 2019 RAV4 and the 2020 Edge had their strengths and weaknesses.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 came equipped uniformly with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This engine could be configured with front-wheel drive or two flavors of all-wheel drive—standard AWD or a torque-vectoring AWD available on the Adventure and Limited trims. The base AWD provided selectable drive modes such as Snow, Sand & Mud, and Rock & Dirt, displaying Toyota's attempt to revive some off-road capability.

The torque-vectoring AWD system was more advanced, allowing real-time power division between wheels which could enhance off-road performance. In day-to-day driving, the 2.5-liter engine excelled at highway speeds but felt sluggish in stop-and-go traffic due to a lack of low-end power. The ride quality was generally comfortable, but steering felt twitchy and rear-heavy, making fast corners awkward.

The RAV4’s fuel economy was commendable, with front-wheel-drive models returning 26 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined. AWD variants offered slightly lower numbers, and in one week, a combined 29.3 miles per gallon was observed.

The 2020 Ford Edge differed in that it provided a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine as standard, which delivered 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. Power was sent to the front or all-wheel drive through an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine offered solid low-end acceleration, ideal for city driving, although it struggled a bit at higher speeds.

For a more engaging driving experience, the Edge ST trim was the go-to model. It featured a robust 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, coupled with standard AWD. It showcased impressive performance, particularly in mid to high revs, and had enhanced cornering capabilities and heavy steering appropriate for a performance-oriented vehicle. Offering a Sport mode that improved throttle responsiveness and transmission mapping further elevated the driving experience.

Form and function were areas where both vehicles shone, although their approaches varied slightly.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 prioritized a clean, upscale interior with practical elements. The center stack contained climate controls, a tray for small items, drive-mode controls, and a compact shifter design to save space. Additionally, there was a deep center console bin and an integrated tray on the passenger side, providing ample storage options.

Cargo space in the RAV4 was noteworthy, offering 37.6 cubic feet with the rear seats up and expanding to 69.8 cubic feet with them folded. While this was slightly lower than the previous model year, it still exceeded models like the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee, though it fell short against the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester with their approximate 75 cubic feet capacity.

The 2020 Ford Edge, on the other hand, enjoyed a strong advantage in cabin layout. It offered a commanding road view without being overly upright, with plenty of deep compartments and cubbies designed for convenience. The spacious second-row head and legroom negated any need for front seat adjustments to accommodate rear passengers.

Regarding cargo capacity, the Edge provided 39.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, which increased to 73.4 cubic feet when the 60/40 split-fold rear seats were folded down. This figure outperformed vehicles such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Nissan Murano but was marginally less than the Honda Passport’s 77.9 cubic feet. The SEL and Titanium trims featured a hands-free foot-activated power rear liftgate, enhancing practicality.

Technologically, the 2019 RAV4 and the 2020 Edge offered robust infotainment and connectivity solutions.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running Toyota’s Entune 3.0 system, easy to use and featuring Apple CarPlay but not Android Auto. Higher trims included up to five USB ports and the Adventure model added a panoramic reversing camera and a larger 8-inch infotainment screen. The Limited trim optionally offered a JBL premium stereo. The Entune system, whether in 7-inch or 8-inch form, was user-friendly with a combination of touch controls and physical dials for major functions, enhancing driver usability.

The 2020 Ford Edge featured Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system as standard across all trims. This system included an 8-inch touchscreen, logical menu navigation thanks to a row of icons across the bottom and a home button in the upper left corner. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were integrated, eliminating the necessity for navigation upgrades if users preferred using their smartphone maps apps. Optional voice-activated navigation, standard on higher trims, and a pre-paid subscription service for five years with real-time traffic updates were noteworthy enhancements.

Standard technology also included two smart-charging USB ports. Higher trims offered semi-digital instrument panels and a dual rear-seat entertainment system, providing versatile technological options.