2021 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2020 Ford Edge

The 2020 Ford Edge, introduced in 2006, was based on the Ford Fusion sedan platform, offering a car-like ride and ample cabin space. The second generation, launched in 2015, received a styling update in 2019, which carried over to 2020. This update gave the Edge a crossover version of the Fusion's look, featuring angular headlights and a large trapezoidal grille. Inside, the Edge showed signs of aging with a layout unchanged since 2015, despite subtle updates. The center console had small, awkwardly arranged climate and radio controls, and a contemporary rotary shifter. The cabin quality was decent, with soft-touch materials and solid fit-and-finish, but marred by heavy use of hard plastics.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse, on the other hand, relied on styling details to differentiate its trim levels, reminiscent of past Chevy models. The exterior was a generic SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, appealing to buyers seeking a clean, handsome look. The Traverse shared its platform with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Cadillac XT6 but aimed for a more blue-collar feel. The interior featured restrained styling, with an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof as a standout feature. Materials in the higher-level RS trim were fairly good but not quite justifying the $50,000 MSRP.

The 2020 Ford Edge came standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided solid low-end acceleration but struggled at higher speeds. The Edge's suspension was designed for American roads, offering a smooth yet engaging ride. The sporty Edge ST variant featured a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine with 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, standard AWD, and sportier styling. The ST had turbo lag at low speeds but plenty of power at higher revs, with heavy steering and excellent cornering.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, generating 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 didn't feel as powerful as its specs suggested but provided sufficient power for highway merging and overtaking. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, with a quiet cabin and bump-absorbing suspension. However, it lacked agility on twistier roads, partly due to its AWD system, which required manual activation and didn't fully utilize its torque vectoring capabilities. The Traverse had a 5,000-pound towing capacity with the tow/haul mode engaged.

The 2020 Ford Edge offered a spacious cabin with a commanding view of the road. The seats were surrounded by ample cubbies and compartments, designed for commuting or road trips. The second-row head- and legroom were plentiful, and the Edge provided 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The SEL and Titanium trims featured a hands-free foot-activated power rear liftgate.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, with above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows. Heated front seats were standard on the RS trim, with ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, offering 23.0 cubic feet with all seats in place, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. A power liftgate was optional on the LT Cloth trim and standard on higher trims, with a gesture-activated liftgate on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2020 Ford Edge came standard with the SYNC 3 infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The system was user-friendly, with a row of icons at the bottom and a home button for easy navigation. Optional features included a voice-activated navigation system with SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link, a semi-digital instrument panel, and a dual rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The Traverse retained analog controls for audio volume and climate control, and its analog instruments were supplemented by a small LCD screen. The rearview camera mirror and optional HD surround-view camera system enhanced visibility and maneuverability. The Traverse also provided two USB ports for each row, with wireless phone charging standard on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2020 Ford Edge came standard with a full array of airbags, AdvanceTrac traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Ford Co-Pilot360 safety system included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring. The SEL trim offered the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package, adding adaptive cruise control and active lane centering. The Edge received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, it received "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating. Chevy offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist available only on higher trims.