2020 Subaru Ascent vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2020 Subaru Ascent, resembling a larger Subaru Forester, was designed with practicality and utility in mind. It featured gray plastic cladding for 360-degree protection, an oversized grille, and exaggerated fender flares for a robust appearance. The Ascent's roof rails and 20-inch aluminum wheels on three of its four trims added to its functional yet appealing design. The base model, starting at $31,995, came with 18-inch wheels and lacked dark-tinted privacy glass. Upgrading to the Premium trim at $34,395 offered better detailing and a superior infotainment system, while the Limited trim at $39,345 added leather seats. The top-tier Touring trim, priced at $45,045, included premium leather, a panoramic sunroof, and other luxury features. The test vehicle, a Touring trim, was priced at $46,285 and featured a stylish Abyss Blue Pearl paint and Java Brown leather interior, offering a more upscale feel than previous Subaru models.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Edge maintained a consistent design since its 2019 refresh, which successfully integrated Ford's current look with the existing Edge body shell. The Edge presented a cleaner alternative to the more elaborate designs of competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Titanium model featured additional chrome accents, while the ST trim boasted a blacked-out grille, standard 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The ST-Line offered the same exterior styling as the ST but without the performance upgrades. Inside, the Edge's design showed its age, with awkward tweaks to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium model included leather upholstery, and the ST model had sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching.

The 2020 Subaru Ascent was equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and all-wheel drive (AWD). With 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, it provided good acceleration for its size. However, the powertrain was thirsty, averaging 18.9 mpg during testing, below the EPA estimate of 22 mpg. The Ascent's handling was not particularly sporty, with slow and numb steering and a suspension that struggled with undulating road surfaces. The CVT, while decent, produced uneven power delivery and an unpredictable driving experience. Despite these drawbacks, the Ascent excelled in off-road conditions, thanks to its Active Torque Split AWD system, X-Mode off-road traction system, Hill Descent Control, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It came with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The performance-oriented Edge ST featured a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine producing 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, standard AWD, and model-specific suspension tuning. The Edge ST could tow up to 4,525 pounds, while the base FWD model could tow 3,958 pounds. The Edge's performance was respectable, though the non-ST models' turbo-four engine felt sluggish. The Edge ST, while not quite comparable to a Porsche Macan, offered a sporty driving experience that set it apart from competitors.

The 2020 Subaru Ascent provided a comfortable interior, especially in the Touring trim, with soft leather, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The driver's seat was 10-way power-adjustable with a manual thigh support extension. The Ascent's front seats offered significant track travel, making it appealing to tall individuals. The dashboard featured a useful shelf and upscale ambient lighting, though the control panel's appearance was dated. The Ascent offered a choice between a 3-person second-row bench seat or individual captain's chairs, with the latter available in Premium and Limited trims. The third-row seat was relatively comfortable, with easy access and acceptable space for shorter trips. The Ascent provided 17.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 47 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86 cubic feet with the second row folded.

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. It featured dual-zone automatic climate control as standard. The Edge provided 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Higher trim levels included a foot-activated power liftgate. The Edge's rotary shift knob freed up space on the center console, though the narrow console width limited the available space. The raised console allowed for a storage nook below, but its out-of-the-way location made it difficult to reach and easy to forget items placed there.

The 2020 Subaru Ascent came with a Starlink infotainment system, including Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and integrated apps like Pandora. Premium trim added an 8-inch touchscreen, text-messaging capability, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and Starlink Safety and Security connected services. The Touring trim featured a high-resolution screen and navigation. While the screen size was relatively small, the display's operation was satisfying, with stereo knobs for tuning and volume and separate climate controls. However, the voice-control system was outdated and unresponsive. The Ascent Touring offered a 180-degree front camera view and a 180-degree rear camera view, but lacked a top-down 360-degree view camera and front parking sensors. The PIN Code Vehicle Access system allowed owners to lock the key fob inside the vehicle while engaging in outdoor activities.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured the latest Sync 4 infotainment system with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge had 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 for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a notable advantage over some competitors.

The 2020 Subaru Ascent received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It featured Subaru's EyeSight system, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Premium trim added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, while Limited trim included LED steering-responsive headlights and reverse automatic braking. The EyeSight Assist Monitor projected indicators onto the windshield, enhancing driver awareness. The Ascent also included a rear-seat reminder system and Starlink Safety Plus connected services, with a free three-year subscription.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS Top Safety Pick, scoring top ratings in crash tests and front crash prevention tech for vehicle-to-vehicle situations. However, it received lower ratings for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and headlight performance. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (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, 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 SE trim.