2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV was nearly indistinguishable from its non-hybrid counterparts, save for a subtle “P400e” badge on the tailgate. Land Rover cleverly integrated the charging port into the grille, maintaining the SUV's sleek design without any unnecessary styling changes. This approach was appreciated, as it kept the vehicle's aesthetic appeal intact, despite the added cost of the hybrid powertrain.

Inside, the Range Rover Sport PHEV exuded luxury with high-quality materials throughout the cabin. The test vehicle, priced at $93,200 with options, featured Firenze Red paint, a black roof, and 21-inch aluminum wheels, enhancing its visual presence. The interior offered excellent front-seat comfort with heated and ventilated seats, though the narrow inboard armrests were less comfortable. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed a tall riding position and a panoramic glass roof, which brightened the black-on-black interior.

The 2021 Ford Edge retained much of its styling from the 2019 refresh, which successfully modernized its look. The Edge Titanium models featured extra chrome, while the ST trim boasted a blacked-out grille, 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The interior, however, showed its age, with a design that had been awkwardly updated to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen. Titanium models offered leather upholstery, and ST models had sporty front seats with added bolstering and contrast stitching.

Despite its aging platform, the Edge remained competitive in terms of interior space. It offered the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and impressive legroom in both rows. Cargo space was also generous, with 39.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 73.4 cubic feet with them folded. The center console, though designed to free up space, was still only average in width, and the storage nook below was difficult to reach.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV combined a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with a 141-hp electric motor and a 13-kWh battery, producing a total of 398 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. Land Rover claimed an all-electric driving range of up to 31 miles, but the test vehicle struggled to achieve this. The SUV defaulted to gas-electric hybrid mode, and attempts to use pure electric mode were often thwarted by the gas engine kicking in, possibly due to climate control use or hilly terrain.

Despite these frustrations, the Range Rover Sport PHEV delivered quick acceleration and felt athletic on mountain roads, thanks to its adaptive air suspension and various driving modes. The regenerative brakes, though grabby, worked effectively. Off-road capability remained strong, with multiple traction settings and the ability to ford 33.4 inches of water. However, recharging the battery took up to 14 hours using a standard outlet, and the battery often didn't reach full capacity overnight.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered two engine options. Most models featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in FWD or AWD. The Edge ST performance model came with an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6, delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, standard AWD, and model-specific suspension tuning. An optional package added upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires.

The Edge ST aimed to compete with performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, though it fell short of that benchmark. Nonetheless, it offered a sporty driving experience, especially compared to its competitors. The base four-cylinder engine, while adequate, felt sluggish at times. Towing capacities ranged from 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model to 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered Edge ST, though competitors like the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered higher towing capacities.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV's cargo space was compromised by the battery placement, reducing the already tight 27.5-cubic-foot area behind the back seat. The raised cargo floor also made it easy for items to fall out when opening the tailgate. Despite this, the SUV comfortably accommodated five passengers, with excellent front-seat comfort and a dual-glove-box design for additional storage. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed a tall riding position and a panoramic glass roof, though entry and exit could be challenging without optional side steps.

The 2021 Ford Edge excelled in interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom in both rows. Cargo space was generous, with 39.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 73.4 cubic feet with them folded. The center console, though designed to free up space, was still only average in width, and the storage nook below was difficult to reach. Dual-zone automatic climate control was standard, and higher trims offered a foot-activated power liftgate.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, which could be frustrating to use. Despite spending time setting it up, the system occasionally behaved unpredictably, and the lack of haptic feedback from the touchscreen didn't help. While the SUV offered easy access to primary stereo and climate functions, the overall complexity of the technology could be overwhelming for some drivers.

The 2021 Ford Edge came equipped with the latest Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring a 12-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST models also included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Sync 4 system was praised for its simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts, making it easy for new users to acclimate. The Edge also featured four USB ports, including two rear USB ports added for the 2021 model year.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with numerous advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), though the onboard technology could be distracting. The optional Driver Assist Package included a new steering-assist system, which could induce head-toss when negotiating curves at high speeds. The lane-keeping assist system also worked too abruptly, leading to its deactivation during the test. Crash-test ratings were unavailable, but the SUV's nearly 5,500-pound weight provided a sense of security in collisions.

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, LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and headlights. The NHTSA awarded the Edge a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, dynamic brake support, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control and Evasive Steering Assist were standard on all but the base trim.