2021 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban had a polarizing front-end design, borrowing heavily from the Camaro's design language. This resulted in small headlights and large, busy grilles that didn't favor the Suburban's massive frame. Despite the exterior's divisive look, the interior remained familiar and functional, with controls in their usual places. The infotainment system, climate controls, and other essential features were easily accessible, although the chrome strip around the touchscreen could reflect sunlight into the driver's eyes.

The Suburban offered various trim levels, from the base LS to the luxurious High Country. Each trim added more features, such as leather upholstery, heated seats, and advanced driver assistance systems. The Z71 trim catered to off-road enthusiasts with 4WD, tow hooks, and all-terrain tires, while the RST trim focused on on-road performance with 22-inch wheels and dark exterior accents. The High Country trim, which we tested, included a Deluxe package with adaptive air suspension, power-retractable running boards, and a panoramic sunroof, but it lacked the soft-touch materials found in true luxury SUVs.

The 2021 Ford Edge retained its styling from the 2019 refresh, which successfully integrated the current Ford look with the existing Edge body shell. This refresh made the Edge a cleaner-looking alternative to more aggressively styled competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured extra chrome accents, while the Edge ST trim had a blacked-out grille, 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 models had leather upholstery, while the ST models boasted sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Despite the dated interior, the Edge remained competitive in terms of rear-seat headroom and legroom, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came standard with a 5.3-liter V8 engine producing 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. An optional 6.2-liter V8 offered 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, while the newly available 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel engine generated 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) or optional four-wheel drive (4WD). The diesel engine provided excellent pickup and V8-level torque, making it suitable for both city driving and highway speeds. The Suburban's truck-based underpinnings resulted in some body roll and susceptibility to crosswinds, but the independent rear suspension improved ride quality.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The Edge ST performance model had an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel. The ST came with standard AWD, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and model-specific suspension tuning. 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 in terms of driving dynamics but remained a solid choice for those seeking a sporty crossover.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban excelled in cargo space, offering 144.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, 93.8 cubic feet with the second-row seats in use, and 41.5 cubic feet behind the third row. Passengers enjoyed a commanding view of the road and ample head- and legroom. The second-row captain's chairs were spacious, and the control layout was similar to GM's pickup trucks. However, the button shifter design and power-sliding center console were less intuitive and added unnecessary complexity.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive in interior space, with the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom in both rows. Cargo space measured 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Higher trim levels offered a foot-activated power liftgate. The rotary shift knob freed up some space on the center console, but the narrow width limited its usefulness. The raised console provided a storage nook below, but its out-of-the-way location made it difficult to access.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came standard with a 10.2-inch touchscreen running GM's intuitive infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The available wireless device charging pad added convenience. Optional features included a navigation system, rear entertainment system with large touchscreens, and a head-up display with easy-to-read graphics.

The 2021 Ford Edge received Ford's latest Sync 4 infotainment system, with standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a 12-inch touchscreen. Other standard features included Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST models also had a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge featured 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 not all competitors offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came equipped with automatic emergency braking, forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and rear parking sensors. The Teen Driver system allowed owners to set speed and volume limitations for secondary keys, promoting safe driving habits for younger drivers. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic assist, front parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. Unique options included the rear-view camera mirror and the Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated to provide alerts.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," scoring top ratings in all crash tests and front crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. However, it received lower ratings for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention tech, LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and headlight performance. 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 with stop-and-go and lane centering, along with Evasive Steering Assist, was standard on all but the base SE trim.