2020 Ford Edge vs 2021 Lexus NX

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, updated in 2019, carried over to 2020 with angular headlights and a large trapezoidal grille, giving it a crossover version of the Fusion look. Inside, the layout remained largely unchanged since 2015, with small, awkwardly arranged climate and radio controls. The rotary shifter was a contemporary design cue, solving some space issues. The cabin quality was decent, with soft-touch materials and solid fit-and-finish, but the heavy use of hard plastics detracted from the overall feel.

The 2021 Lexus NX retained the sharp design lines of its familial styling, similar to the smaller UX and larger RX. The NX F Sport variant featured a honeycomb grille, triple-beam LED headlights, and 18-inch F Sport wheels, giving it a sportier appearance. Inside, the F Sport models had exclusive quilted NuLuxe sport seats and optional Circuit Red interior. The material fit and finish were excellent, typical of Lexus, though the gauge cluster and center stack design showed their age. The NX offered a smooth, comfortable ride, with minimal road and wind noise, maintaining the brand's reputation for a quiet cabin.

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. It provided solid low-end acceleration but struggled at higher speeds. The suspension was designed for American roads, soaking up potholes while remaining refined and engaging. The Edge ST variant featured a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, delivering 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, with standard AWD. The ST had a bit of turbo lag at low speeds but excelled at higher revs, offering heavy steering and fantastic cornering. A Sport mode enhanced throttle response and transmission mapping, while an optional ST Performance Brake Package included unique wheels, summer performance tires, and upgraded brakes.

The 2021 Lexus NX 300 and 300 F Sport were powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, with a six-speed automatic transmission. The NX accelerated from zero to 60 mph in around seven seconds, with some engine noise under hard acceleration. The F Sport models featured Active Sound Control, enhancing the engine note electronically. The NX offered FWD as standard, with AWD available on all trims, allowing up to 50 percent of torque to be transferred to the rear axle. Fuel economy was decent, with the FWD model achieving 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. The NX had a 2,000-pound towing capacity and a top speed of 124 mph. An adaptive-suspension system, based on the LC 500 sport coupe, provided a smooth, comfortable ride, though the steering was numb.

The 2020 Ford Edge excelled in cabin layout, offering a commanding view of the road and plenty of cubbies and compartments. The second-row head- and legroom were ample, with no need to move the front seats forward for rear-seat comfort. The Edge provided 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 73.4 cubic feet with the 60/40 split-fold rear seats folded down. This was more than the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Nissan Murano but slightly less than the Honda Passport. The SEL and Titanium trims featured a hands-free foot-activated power rear liftgate.

The 2021 Lexus NX had an upscale interior with comfortable front seats and good legroom in the second row. Heated and ventilated seats were available, and the NX offered a 60/40 split-folding rear seat. The cabin was quiet, with minimal road and wind noise. However, the NX had limited cargo space, with 17.7 cubic feet behind the second-row seats and 54.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down, making it one of the smallest in its class. A power liftgate with kick sensor technology and power-folding rear seats were available options.

The 2020 Ford Edge came standard with the SYNC 3 infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto integration. The system was user-friendly, with a row of icons at the bottom and a home button for easy navigation. A voice-activated navigation system with pinch-to-zoom map control was optional on the SEL and ST trims and standard on the Titanium. The Edge also included two smart-charging USB ports and an optional dual rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2021 Lexus NX featured an 8-inch touchscreen, with a 10.3-inch screen available as part of the Navigation package. The package included predictive traffic information, ETA calculation, and fuel station guidance. New for 2021, the infotainment system added HomeLink to the Navigation package, enabling Lexus Enform Destination Assist. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with integrated Google Assistant. Other standard features included keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a USB port, HD Radio, and a WiFi hotspot. The Lexus Premium Audio system was standard, with an eight-speaker setup, while the Navigation package added two speakers. A Mark Levinson 14-speaker audio system was available on the top-tier NX. The Lexus Enform Remote mobile app allowed users to lock/unlock doors, start/stop the engine, and adjust climate control remotely.

The 2020 Ford Edge came standard with front and side-impact airbags, AdvanceTrac traction control, Roll Stability Control, Curve Control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and a child seat anchoring system. The Ford Co-Pilot360 safety system included automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. 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 Lexus NX came standard with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, including a rearview camera, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high beams, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. Optional safety features included park assist, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive headlights. The NX received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests, with "Superior" front crash-prevention technology and an "Acceptable" LATCH system rating. The NHTSA awarded the NX a five-star overall safety rating. Lexus backed the NX with a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty.