2021 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Ford Edge retained much of its styling from the 2019 refresh, which successfully aligned its exterior with Ford's contemporary design language. This refresh gave the Edge a cleaner appearance 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. Inside, the Edge's design began to show its age, with awkward modifications to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models came with leather upholstery, and the ST models had sporty front seats with contrast stitching.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 was designed as an electric vehicle from the ground up, showcasing a distinctive look that set it apart from Volkswagen's gasoline models. It replaced the rugged styling of the Tiguan and Atlas with a streamlined profile and wheels positioned at the corners. The ID.4 was part of VW's MEB platform, following the ID.3 hatchback. While it didn't resemble a traditional SUV, it shared this trait with other EV crossovers like the Chevy Bolt EUV and Hyundai Kona Electric. The interior combined Volkswagen's minimalist design with a tech-focused aesthetic, featuring piano black and matte plastic elements. The base ID.4 Pro had a leather-wrapped steering wheel and cloth seats, while the Pro S and 1st Edition models offered leatherette upholstery.

The 2021 Ford Edge primarily featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The Edge ST performance model offered a more powerful EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, producing 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque on 93-octane fuel. The ST came with standard AWD, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and specific suspension tuning. An optional package added upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires. The Edge ST aimed to compete with performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, although some found the comparison ambitious. The Edge's towing capacity ranged from 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model to 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered ST.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 launched with a single rear-mounted electric motor, producing 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, powered by an 82-kilowatt-hour battery pack. It marked the first rear-wheel drive (RWD) Volkswagen passenger car in the U.S. since the Beetle. An all-wheel-drive (AWD) version with a second electric motor arrived later in 2021, increasing power to 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. While not a performance car, the ID.4 offered balanced handling with RWD and a smooth ride. The AWD version provided more power and traction, performing well on twisty roads despite some body roll. Unlike many EVs, the ID.4 didn't emphasize regenerative braking, opting for a more traditional driving experience with friction brakes.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered competitive interior space, with the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers. Legroom in both rows was second only to the Hyundai Santa Fe. Cargo space measured 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 73.4 cubic feet with them folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. A foot-activated power liftgate was available on higher trims. The rotary shift knob freed up some console space, but the narrow console limited storage options.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 felt spacious compared to other EVs, offering more front and rear headroom than its electric competitors. However, the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 provided more rear headroom and legroom. The ID.4's cargo space was 30.3 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing the Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Kona Electric but falling short of the CR-V and RAV4. The ID.4 lacked a "frunk," prioritizing cabin space instead. The interior felt roomy, with good forward visibility but limited rearward visibility due to thick rear pillars. The ID.4 featured a unique twist-grip gear selector on the dashboard, freeing up console space, though storage options remained limited.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured Ford's latest Sync 4 infotainment system, with a standard 12-inch touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. It also included Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST models came with a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge had four USB ports, including two rear USB ports added for 2021. Sync 4 was praised for its simple graphics and user-friendly menu layouts.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 came with a standard 10-inch touchscreen (with an optional 12-inch screen) and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. A 5.3-inch display screen served as the instrument cluster, and haptic touchpads replaced most switchgear. While visually appealing, the touchpads were challenging to use due to the lack of tactile feedback. The ID.4 included a natural-language voice-control system, allowing drivers to bypass the touchpads. The ID.Light feature added a light strip at the base of the windshield, providing visual cues for various functions. The touchscreen was well-positioned, with smart graphics and easy-to-navigate menus.

The 2021 Ford Edge earned the IIHS "Top Safety Pick" designation, with 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" ratings for LATCH ease of use and headlights. The 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. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, and more.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 received the IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" designation and a five-star rating from the NHTSA for the RWD model. Standard driver aids included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The ID.4 introduced Travel Assist, which added automated lane centering to adaptive cruise control, and Emergency Assist, which stopped the car if the driver was incapacitated. Travel Assist performed well, smoothly following curves and responding to acceleration and deceleration.