2021 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was a nod to the past, with Chevy using styling details to give each trim level its own identity. The exterior was a generic SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to many buyers. However, it lacked the personality of the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride, and the streamlined appearance of the Mazda CX-9. The Traverse's restrained styling highlighted the cosmetic elements of different trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country. The interior mirrored the exterior's simplicity, with an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof as a standout feature. Materials in the RS model were decent but not quite up to the $50,000 price tag.

The 2021 Ford Edge's styling had remained largely unchanged since its 2019 refresh, which successfully integrated the current Ford look with the existing Edge body shell. The Edge was a cleaner-looking alternative to the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Titanium model featured extra chrome, while the ST trim had a blacked-out grille, 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The interior, however, showed its age, with a design that had been awkwardly updated to fit new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium model had leather upholstery, and the ST model boasted sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Despite the impressive specs, the Traverse didn't feel as powerful as expected, though it provided sufficient power for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic performed well but occasionally had rough shifts. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin, bump-absorbing suspension, and precise steering. However, it lacked agility on twisty roads, partly due to its AWD system, which required manual activation and could send torque to individual wheels but didn't noticeably improve handling. The Traverse had off-road and tow/haul drive modes, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

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 FWD and optional AWD. The Edge ST performance model featured a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine with 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet 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 was a decent performer, though not quite on par with performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan. The Edge had respectable towing capacities, with the base FWD model towing up to 3,958 pounds, AWD models up to 4,122 pounds, and the V6-powered ST up to 4,525 pounds.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, depending on the second-row configuration. Headroom and legroom were above average in all three rows. Heated front seats were standard on the RS model, with ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, with 23.0 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. A power liftgate was optional on the LT Cloth trim and standard on higher trims, with a gesture-activated liftgate on the Premier and High Country models. Despite its size, the Traverse had limited interior storage options, typical of midsize three-row crossovers.

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. Dual-zone automatic climate control was standard. Cargo space was 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. A foot-activated power liftgate was available on higher trims. The Edge's rotary shift knob freed up space on the center console, but the narrow console width limited its usefulness. The raised console provided a storage nook below, but its out-of-the-way location made it easy to forget items placed there.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The 8-inch screen in the RS model was user-friendly, with large smartphone-like icons and analog controls for audio volume and climate control. The Traverse's analog instruments, supplemented by a small LCD screen, were functional but might seem dated to tech-savvy buyers. The rearview camera mirror and optional HD surround-view camera system improved rear visibility and maneuverability. Each row had two USB ports, but wireless phone charging was only standard on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured the latest Sync 4 infotainment system with a 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 model included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge had four USB ports, with two rear USB ports, including one USB-C, added for 2021. Sync 4's simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts made it user-friendly. Not all competitors offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, giving the Edge an edge in tech.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, it got "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests and five stars in side-impact crash tests. The Traverse offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert available as options.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," with top "Good" ratings in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. It received an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention tech, an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings. 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 crash tests. The Edge came with a decent amount of 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.