2021 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Ford Explorer presented a striking family resemblance to other Ford SUVs, with its sporty, raked belt lines and squinting visages. It was available in six trim levels, each offering different exterior features like black or chrome grilles. The Explorer's interior included three rows of seats as standard, with cloth upholstery on the base model and leather available on higher trims. The dash featured a clean design with an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and a rotary gearshift that freed up storage space.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Edge maintained a cleaner look since its 2019 refresh, aligning with Ford's current design language. The Edge Titanium featured extra chrome, while the ST trim had a blacked-out grille and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Edge's design showed its age, despite updates like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium offered leather upholstery, and the ST had sporty seats with added bolstering. The interior space was competitive, with ample rear-seat headroom and legroom.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, weighing 4,345 pounds at its lightest, featured a base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This engine outperformed the Kia Telluride's V6. The Explorer Limited Hybrid offered a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims had a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, delivering 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, while the sport-oriented ST trim boasted 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Explorer's towing capacity ranged from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the trim and engine.

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. The Edge ST performance model featured an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6, generating 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel. The ST had standard AWD, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and model-specific suspension tuning. The Edge's towing capacity varied from 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model to 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered ST.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered seating for seven in the base model, with captain’s chairs in the second row reducing capacity to six in other trims. It provided 39 inches of legroom for second-row passengers and 21 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row deployed. However, the overall cargo volume with the rear seats folded was 81 cubic feet, which was less impressive compared to some competitors.

The 2021 Ford Edge, a five-seat vehicle, excelled in interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom. It had 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Edge featured a foot-activated power liftgate on higher trims and a rotary shift knob that freed up space on the center console, although the available space was still average.

The 2021 Ford Explorer came with an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, offering AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system, and a six-speaker audio system. Higher trims included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, HD radio, and an optional 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Explorer also provided multiple USB ports and 12-volt power points, with a wireless charging pad available from the Limited trim up.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured Ford’s 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 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 were user-friendly.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. It offered the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support. Higher trims included additional features like adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS Top Safety Pick, with top ratings in crash tests and front crash prevention tech. It received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. The Edge included standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner, such as 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 trim.