2022 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Ford Edge retained much of its styling from the 2019 refresh, which successfully modernized its exterior. This refresh harmonized the Edge's look with Ford's contemporary design language, making it a cleaner alternative to the more aggressively styled 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. However, the interior design of the Edge began to show its age, despite updates to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models offered leather upholstery, and the ST models included sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler offered a more rugged and customizable experience. Buyers had to choose between the classic two-door or the more practical four-door model, and then decide on a powertrain, ranging from a turbocharged four-cylinder to a plug-in hybrid. The Wrangler came in four core trims: Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, with numerous special editions like the High Tide model, which added features such as LED exterior lighting, a body-color hardtop, and a Gorilla Glass windshield. The High Tide also included the Xtreme Recon package, which featured a 1.5-inch suspension lift, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, and 35-inch BF Goodrich T/A KO2 tires. Despite its rugged appeal, the Wrangler's interior remained basic, with durable cloth upholstery and a driving position that required some acclimation.

The 2021 Ford Edge primarily used 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 offered 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, with standard AWD and model-specific suspension tuning. The Edge ST could tow up to 4,525 pounds, while the base FWD model could tow 3,958 pounds. Despite some criticism, the Edge ST was considered a refined vehicle, though the turbo-four engine in non-ST models was noted to be somewhat sluggish.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide was equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine with eTorque mild-hybrid electrification, producing 285 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm. The eight-speed automatic transmission was a mandatory $4,000 option, and the Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system was also included. The EPA estimated a combined fuel economy of 21 mpg for the Wrangler Unlimited with the eTorque V6, but real-world testing showed an average of 16.8 mpg. The Wrangler's driving experience was unique, with a rough ride, vague steering, and a noisy cabin, but it offered an immersive and adventurous experience that appealed to off-road enthusiasts.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered competitive interior space, with the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom in both rows. It provided 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. Higher trim levels featured a foot-activated power liftgate. The center console design included a rotary shift knob to free up space, but the narrow console width limited its utility.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide's raised suspension made entry and exit challenging, especially for shorter individuals. The manual height adjuster for the driver's seat required frequent readjustment. The Wrangler's seats were comfortable, with durable cloth upholstery, but the interior was dominated by plastic and rubber materials. Visibility was mixed, with some areas requiring leaning forward to see traffic lights and the large spare tire obstructing the rear view. Rear-seat passengers faced similar entry and exit difficulties but had access to air conditioning vents, cupholders, and large grab handles. Cargo space was 31.7 cubic feet behind the rear seat, expanding to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

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 system's simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts were user-friendly, and the Edge included four USB ports, with two rear USB ports added for the 2021 model year.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide, based on the Sport S trim, had a 7-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. While the larger Uconnect 8.4 infotainment system offered additional features like satellite radio, connected services, and a navigation system, the basic setup provided essential functionality. The Wrangler High Tide also included remote engine starting, satellite radio, passive keyless entry, single-zone automatic climate control, and heated front seats and steering wheel as part of the Cold Weather Group.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," with top 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 awarded 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.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide included the Safety Group and Advanced Safety Group, adding blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, the Wrangler's crash-test ratings were less impressive. The NHTSA gave it a three-star rating for rollover resistance, and the IIHS rated it "Marginal" in the left front small overlap crash test and the new side-impact test. Headlight performance was rated "Poor" for standard lights and "Marginal" for LED upgrades.