2021 Toyota Highlander vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Ford Edge retained much of its styling from the 2019 refresh, which successfully modernized its exterior. This refresh integrated the current Ford design language with the existing Edge body, resulting in a cleaner look compared to the more elaborate designs of competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured additional chrome accents, while the ST trim boasted 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 enhancements and higher price tag. However, the interior of the Edge showed signs of aging, with a design that struggled to keep up with new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models included leather upholstery, and the ST models had sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander stood out in the crowded midsize SUV market with its distinctive design. Its front end, while less dramatic than the 2021 Sienna minivan, made a statement with wide headlights, a long hood, and an assertive trapezoidal grille. The side profile featured a character line reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and the taillights had a Lexus-like appearance. The Highlander looked longer and lower than its predecessor without sacrificing size. The new XSE trim level added a more aggressive front end, 20-inch wheels with black accents, and a unique front fascia and lower spoiler. The Limited trim, just below the Platinum, featured chrome roof rails and accents, giving it an upscale look. Inside, the Highlander excelled in luxury, with near-flawless fit and finish, tan leather seats, dark brown trim, and wood details, even if they weren't real wood. The Highlander prioritized comfort and convenience, making it an excellent family car.

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. It came with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The Edge ST performance model featured an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, delivering 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque on 93-octane fuel. The ST had standard AWD, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and model-specific suspension tuning. An optional package included 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's towing capacities were 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model, 4,122 pounds for the AWD model, and 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered ST. While respectable, these figures were lower than the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, both rated to tow 5,000 pounds with AWD.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options. The Highlander Hybrid was available as a separate model. The Highlander's powertrain provided smooth and predictable operation, suitable for merging onto highways but not for winning drag races. It compared well with competitors like the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, and non-ST Ford Explorers. The Highlander XSE trim added higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers, power steering, and a rear stabilizer bar, enhancing driving excitement without turning it into a track beast. The Highlander's soft and comfortable suspension contributed to its family-friendly nature.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive in interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers. Legroom in both the first and second rows was second only to the Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge provided 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space 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. Higher trim levels included a foot-activated power liftgate. The Edge's rotary shift knob freed up space on the center console, but the narrow console width limited its usefulness. The raised console created a storage nook below, but its out-of-the-way location made it easy to forget items placed there.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled in interior space and functionality. It featured shelves ahead of the front seats, large enough to hold even the biggest cell phones, with a pass-through for charging cords. A wireless charging pad was standard on trims above the LE, located within the center console. Second-row passengers enjoyed ample legroom, with seats that moved forward and backward to balance space between the middle and third rows. The third row could accommodate adults if the second-row passengers compromised on legroom. However, the rear-seat climate control air vents were positioned on the ceiling, blowing directly on the middle-row passengers' heads. The Highlander offered 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 84.3 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. While not as spacious as a minivan, it provided ample room for most needs.

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 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 user-friendly, and the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were notable advantages over some competitors.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander offered an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen available on the Limited trim and standard on the Platinum trim. Both systems were user-friendly, but navigation was an optional feature. The navigation system performed well for specific addresses but struggled with points of interest compared to Google Maps. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard across the lineup. The 12.3-inch screen was bright, crisp, and fast, though it only displayed certain apps on the full width. The JBL audio system sounded good but not exceptional. The Highlander included a volume knob and a tuning knob, but the limited use of the large screen for navigation raised questions about its value.

The 2021 Ford Edge earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) "Top Safety Pick" designation, with top "Good" ratings in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. However, it received an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings depending on the trim level. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded 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 came with 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 with pedestrian detection, 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.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander upgraded its safety features to Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support. Intersection support could engage the automatic emergency braking system when detecting an oncoming vehicle making a left-hand turn at an intersection. The Highlander also included road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. The NHTSA awarded the Highlander five out of five stars, and the IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick+.