2020 Toyota RAV4 vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2020 Toyota RAV4, following its 2019 redesign, showcased a bolder and more angular appearance, enhancing its rugged look. The Adventure trim, introduced the previous year, improved off-roading capabilities with a torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, multiple driving modes, and downhill assist control. The new TRD Off-Road trim for 2020 took these features further with matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, and a TRD suspension setup, providing a versatile ride on various surfaces. The TRD Off-Road's distinct wheels, tires, and badges set it apart, while the Lunar Rock gray paint with a white roof added a unique touch.

Inside, the 2020 RAV4 TRD Off-Road featured TRD logos on the front-seat head restraints, rubber floor mats, and a rubber cargo mat, making it practical for dirt and off-road conditions. The cabin boasted quality construction with plush center-armrest padding, soft-touch upper door-panel trim, and rubberized surfaces, contrasting with some inexpensive-looking plastic. The TRD Off-Road trim was near the top of the RAV4's trim-level ladder, offering a blend of equipment and value, especially in the XLE trim with top option packages.

The 2021 Ford Edge retained its refreshed look from 2019, integrating the current Ford design with the existing Edge body shell. 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. The interior, however, showed its age, with a design that seemed less fresh and awkwardly tweaked to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models had leather upholstery, while the ST models had sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 came with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The RAV4 Hybrid, a separate model, delivered 219 horsepower and up to 40 mpg in combined driving but was not available in the TRD Off-Road trim. The non-turbo, non-hybrid powertrain of the test vehicle provided good numbers for the class, feeling energetic, especially in Sport mode. The 8-speed automatic transmission generally performed well, though it occasionally struggled with gear selection. The TRD Off-Road model featured a torque-vectoring AWD system with fuel-saving driveline disconnect technology and multiple terrain-specific driving modes, making it capable on various surfaces. The RAV4 averaged 23.4 mpg, slightly below the EPA estimate of 27 mpg in combined driving.

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 producing 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, with standard AWD and model-specific suspension tuning. The Edge ST also had an option package with upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires. 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 but still offered a refined driving experience.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 provided easy access with well-placed seating hip points and an 8-way adjustable driver's seat. The front passenger seat lacked height adjustment but offered good thigh support. The TRD Off-Road trim featured SofTex upholstery, which could trap sweat on hot days, but the Weather Package added heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat had generous legroom, and the interior offered ample storage, including a dashboard shelf. Cargo space was 37.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. The test vehicle also had a robust roof rack and an optional hands-free power liftgate.

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 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 featured a foot-activated power liftgate. The Edge's rotary shift knob freed up space on the center console, but the narrow console width limited the available space. The raised console provided a storage nook below, though it was difficult to reach and easy to forget items placed there.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4's technology was user-friendly and practical. Depending on the trim level, it featured a 7- or 8-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM satellite radio, and multiple connected services packages. A 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was free for three months or 2GB of data usage. The TRD Off-Road's infotainment system impressed with superb voice-recognition technology and an optional Technology Package that included wireless smartphone charging, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a digital rear-view mirror.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured the latest Sync 4 infotainment system with a standard 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 had a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge also 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 for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a notable advantage.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 included Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0) with advanced driving assist safety features like Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, radar adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, front and rear parking assist with automated braking, and blind spot assist with rear cross-traffic alert. Toyota also offered a free 1-year subscription to Safety Connect services. The RAV4 received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with top marks for crash protection and ADAS performance, though headlight performance varied.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS Top Safety Pick, scoring top ratings in crash tests and front crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. It received lower ratings for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention tech, LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and headlight performance. The NHTSA gave the Edge a five-star overall safety rating. The Edge included standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner, such as 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.