2020 Toyota 4Runner vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner had a timeless design characterized by tall slab sides, a high beltline, short overhangs, and a near-vertical front fascia. Its utilitarian attitude was reminiscent of an XJ Jeep Cherokee, with flared wheel wells designed to accommodate bulky off-road tires and short overhangs for tackling steep pitches. The hood scoop, a visual cue for the off-road-focused TRD trim, was one of the few non-functional elements. The front end featured small, angular headlights, and the grille varied by trim, with body-color bars on most trims and blacked-out accents on the TRD Pro. The trim lineup included SR5, SR5 Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, TRD Pro, Limited, Nightshade Special Edition, and the new Venture Special Edition, which added blacked-out trim pieces and off-road features.

Our test model, a Limited trim, aimed at comfort rather than capability, featured leather upholstery and an 8-inch touchscreen. Despite the chrome and leather, the 4Runner's utilitarian DNA was evident, with plenty of plastic and a seating position designed for off-roading rather than highway driving.

The 2021 Ford Edge retained its styling from the 2019 refresh, which integrated the current Ford look with the carryover Edge body shell. This refresh resulted in a cleaner look compared to the Chevy Blazer or Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured extra chrome, while the Edge ST trim had a blacked-out grille, standard 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The Edge ST-Line offered the same exterior styling as the ST but without the performance upgrades and higher price tag.

Inside, the Edge's design showed its age, with awkward tweaks to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen. Titanium models had leather upholstery, while ST models had sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner featured a 4-liter V6 engine with a 5-speed automatic transmission, producing 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. This engine was not smooth or efficient, designed for lumbering and plowing ahead rather than quick acceleration. It had a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds but poor fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 16 mpg city, 19 highway, and 17 combined. Our test model managed 17.7 mpg over 400-plus miles. The 4Runner excelled off-road, with body-on-frame construction and advanced traction systems like Toyota's CRAWL control and Multi-Terrain Select. The full-time 4WD system on the Limited trim was better for maintaining forward progress, while the part-time system in TRD models handled crawling up boulders.

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 and available in FWD or AWD. The Edge ST performance model featured an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 with 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, standard AWD, and model-specific suspension tuning. The ST also had an option package with 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. The Edge had respectable towing capacities, with a maximum of 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered Edge ST.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner offered excellent outward visibility and a relatively tidy turning radius of 18 feet, 7 inches. The dashboard featured large, chunky knobs for HVAC controls and slightly smaller knobs for the stereo. The steering wheel had an array of buttons for various controls, though they were not illuminated. The 4Runner's tall seating position provided a commanding view, and power-retractable running boards made entry and exit easier. The 4Runner offered an optional third row of seats, though they were best for short and occasional use, with limited legroom and narrow, thin design.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive on interior space, with the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom in both rows. It had 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. Higher trim levels offered a foot-activated power liftgate. The Edge's rotary shift knob freed up space on the center console, though the narrow width limited its usefulness. The raised console provided a storage nook below, but it was difficult to reach and easy to forget about.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The onboard navigation system was challenging to use, and Google Maps via Android Auto provided a more efficient route. The 4Runner also had Amazon Alexa compatibility, Bluetooth connectivity, a single USB media port, and various subscription services. Higher trims offered a JBL stereo and navigation system. Despite these updates, the 4Runner lagged behind competitors in total features and usability, with the most advanced features hidden in the powertrain.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured Ford's latest Sync 4 infotainment system with a 12-inch touchscreen and standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. It also had Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST models included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge had four USB ports, including two rear USB ports added for the 2021 model year. Sync 4's simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts made it easy to use, and not all competitors offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), which included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and automatic high beams. It also had eight standard airbags. The NHTSA awarded the 4Runner four out of five stars overall, with three stars in the rollover test. The IIHS gave it a Good rating in most crash tests but a Marginal rating in the small overlap front: driver-side test. The adaptive cruise control worked well, but the high center of gravity and imprecise steering made a more active lane-keeping assist system desirable.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," with top ratings in all crash tests and a Superior rating for front crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. It received an Advanced rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, and Acceptable ratings for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use and headlights (depending on trim level). The NHTSA gave the Edge a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. The Edge's 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 with stop-and-go and lane centering, along with Evasive Steering Assist, was standard on all but the base SE trim.