2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of Honda’s fifth generation of compact crossovers, had a design that was both familiar and enjoyable. Its exterior featured soft, curvy lines that gave it a car-like appearance, closely resembling Honda’s sedan lineup. The CR-V’s styling leaned more towards a station wagon than an SUV, making it a modern family transportation staple. However, the interior was a mix of high-quality materials and low-grade plastics, which detracted from its overall premium feel. The base model started at an MSRP of $26,270, with four trim levels available, each offering different features and upgrades.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Edge maintained a consistent design since its 2019 refresh, which aligned its exterior with Ford’s more recent models. The Edge’s styling was clean and less flashy compared to competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Titanium trim added chrome accents, while the ST trim featured a blacked-out grille, 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. Inside, the Edge’s design showed its age, with awkward tweaks to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models had leather upholstery, and the ST models boasted sporty front seats with added bolstering and contrast stitching.

The 2020 Honda CR-V simplified its lineup by replacing the previous base engine with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which provided a smooth driving experience. The CR-V’s car-like road manners, nimble handling, and low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its excellent performance. Fuel economy was impressive, with FWD models achieving 30 miles per gallon combined and AWD models managing 29 mpg. The CR-V also introduced a hybrid version for those seeking even better fuel efficiency.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Edge ST performance model featured a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, producing 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, with standard AWD and model-specific suspension tuning. The Edge’s towing capacities ranged from 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model to 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered Edge ST. While the Edge ST aimed to compete with performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, it fell short of that benchmark but still offered a refined driving experience.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and clever storage solutions. Its cabin was roomy, with excellent head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers. The cargo compartment offered 75.8 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded, thanks to a smart two-position load floor. The center console featured a deep well with a sliding cover, inspired by the Honda Odyssey minivan, providing ample storage for small items. Even the door pockets were spacious, making the CR-V a practical choice for families.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive in interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom in both rows. Cargo space was 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Edge’s rotary shift knob freed up some space on the center console, but the narrow width limited its overall utility. A storage nook below the raised console was available but difficult to reach, making it less practical for everyday use.

The 2020 Honda CR-V showed its age in terms of infotainment. The base LX trim came with a 5-inch screen, offering limited features like Bluetooth connectivity and Pandora compatibility. Higher trims had a 7-inch touchscreen, which still felt small compared to competitors. The infotainment system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available only with the larger screen, and the navigation system was exclusive to the Touring trim. However, the CR-V did offer plenty of USB ports, with two in the front and two high-powered ports in the backseat.

The 2021 Ford Edge kept up with modern tech trends, featuring Ford’s latest Sync 4 infotainment system with a 12-inch touchscreen and standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot were also standard. The Edge ST models came with a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge included four USB ports, with two rear USB ports added for the 2021 model year. Sync 4’s simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts made it user-friendly, and the wireless connectivity was a notable advantage over competitors.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came standard with the “Honda Sensing” system, which included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. Automatic high beams were also standard, while blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring were available on EX trims and above. The CR-V earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests and a Top Safety Pick designation from IIHS, although lower trims had less effective halogen headlights.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS “Top Safety Pick,” scoring top ratings in most crash tests and front crash prevention tech. However, it received lower ratings for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention and headlight performance. NHTSA awarded the Edge a five-star overall safety rating. The Edge came with standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner, including automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and forward-collision warning. Adaptive cruise control and Evasive Steering Assist were standard on all but the base SE trim.