2021 Audi Q5 vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Audi Q5 was a sharp-looking crossover SUV that carried the Audi design language well while maintaining its individual character within the lineup. It had an expressive face with LED headlights beside the big Audi Singleframe grille, emphasizing width. The body featured crisp character lines, and the rear showcased bold, large taillights. Inside, the Q5 was classy and modern, packed with technology yet maintaining an uncluttered appearance. The materials were authentic, with real wood and metal, and the 10.1-inch touchscreen was perfectly positioned for the driver.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Edge's styling hadn't changed much since its 2019 refresh, which successfully integrated the current Ford look with the existing Edge body shell. The Edge Titanium models featured extra chrome, while the ST trim had a blacked-out grille, standard 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. Inside, the Edge's design felt dated, awkwardly tweaked over the years to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models had leather upholstery, and the ST models had sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV took the already fun-to-drive Q5 and made it better by adding an additional 114 horsepower and 96 pound-feet of torque with a 14.1-kWh battery. The total combined output for the PHEV was 362 hp and 373 lb-ft of torque, matching well with the crossover’s 4,665-lb curb weight. The Q5 PHEV could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds and achieved impressive fuel-economy figures of 65 MPGe combined. It used a seven-speed S Tronic automatic transmission with full-time Quattro all-wheel drive and offered various driving modes to optimize battery usage.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered 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. 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 Edge ST could tow up to 4,525 pounds, while the base FWD four-cylinder Edge had a maximum towing capacity of 3,958 pounds. The Edge ST aimed to compete with performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, though it fell short of that benchmark.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV managed to carry its battery pack under the luggage compartment floor, preserving cargo space. It offered 25.1 cubic feet of space behind the second row and up to 53.1 cubic feet with the second row folded. The second row provided 37.8 inches of legroom, 37.7 inches of headroom, and 56.5 inches of shoulder room. The front seats were comfortable and supportive, with a wide range of adjustments, heating, and ventilation on the Prestige trim. The interior was smartly laid out with several storage options.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive on interior space, boasting the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers. It offered 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Edge featured dual-zone automatic climate control and a foot-activated power liftgate on higher trims. The center console had a rotary shift knob designed to free up space, though the narrow width limited its effectiveness. The raised console left room for a storage nook below, but it was difficult to reach and easy to forget.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV featured Audi’s latest MMI 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which was impressive and easy to use. The Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus 12.3-inch HD instrument cluster offered three customizable views. The Prestige Package included the Navigation Package, which optimized fuel consumption and battery usage in hybrid mode. The Integrated Toll Module (ITM) was standard on all Q5 models, and a Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system was available on Premium Plus models and standard on the Prestige trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay was included and worked seamlessly.

The 2021 Ford Edge received Ford’s 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 also featured 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 user-friendly, and the wireless connectivity was a notable advantage over some competitors.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV hadn’t been rated by the IIHS, but the 2020 Q5 gasoline model received top “good” ratings in every category except headlights, which received a “marginal” rating. The NHTSA awarded the 2021 Audi Q5 gasoline model five stars. Safety features included six airbags, an anti-lock braking system with brake assist, Audi Pre Sense basic, low-speed collision assist, power child safety locks, electronic stability control, and more. Available driver-assistance features included Audi Advanced Key, Audi Pre Sense rear, Audi Side Assist, adaptive cruise control, and a top-view camera system.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS “Top Safety Pick,” scoring top “Good” ratings in all crash tests and a “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. It received an “Advanced” rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention and “Acceptable” and “Poor” headlight ratings. The NHTSA gave the Edge a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features 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 SE trim.