2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek embodied the adage “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” As car shoppers flocked to crossovers for their rugged looks, available all-wheel drive (AWD), and tall driving positions, Subaru imbued its Impreza hatchback with those same characteristics. This strategy allowed the Crosstrek to do a reasonably good impression of an SUV, giving it more character than the base Impreza hatch. The Crosstrek featured black body cladding, model-specific 17-inch wheels, and a taller ride height, affording 8.7 inches of ground clearance. The interior, virtually unchanged from the Impreza hatchback, was functional but somewhat plain-looking, with some questionable design choices like the clashing Plasma Yellow Pearl accents in the Sport trim.

The 2021 Ford Edge, on the other hand, maintained a consistent styling since its 2019 refresh, which integrated the current Ford look with the carryover Edge body shell. The Edge presented a cleaner alternative to the more stylized Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured extra chrome, while the Edge ST trim boasted a blacked-out grille, standard 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. Inside, the Edge's design showed its age, with awkward tweaks to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models offered leather upholstery, and the ST models had sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered two gasoline powertrain options. The Sport and Limited trims came with a new 2.5-liter boxer-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The base and Premium trims continued with the 2.0-liter boxer-four, generating 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission was standard on Base and Premium trims, while a continuously variable transmission (CVT) was optional. The Sport and Limited trims were CVT-only. All trims featured standard AWD with torque vectoring and X-Mode for loose surfaces. Despite its SUV-like stance, the Crosstrek's handling was predictable, with a comfortable ride and low wind noise. However, the new 2.5-liter engine, despite its additional power, did not feel dramatically different from the base 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, delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel, with standard AWD and model-specific suspension tuning. The Edge ST also offered an option package with upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires. The Edge's towing capacities ranged from 3,958 pounds for the base FWD four-cylinder to 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered Edge ST. While the Edge ST aimed to compete with performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, it fell short but still offered a refined driving experience.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered the same front and rear legroom as the Impreza hatchback, with slightly more rear headroom. Cargo space was 20.8 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 55.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Crosstrek was competitive in passenger space but lagged in cargo space compared to rivals like the Honda HR-V and Kia Seltos. CVT-equipped models featured a rear-seat reminder system, and the front had a handy cubby hole with USB and auxiliary ports. However, storage space was minimal, and the driving position, while higher than the Impreza, did not offer the commanding view of traditional SUVs.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive on interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom. Cargo space was 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The Edge featured a foot-activated power liftgate on higher trims and a rotary shift knob to free up console space, though the narrow console width limited its effectiveness. 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 Subaru Crosstrek used Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system, with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. Premium and Sport trims added WiFi, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a single-disc CD player. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation was standard on the Limited trim and optional on lower trims. The Crosstrek also featured a second screen above the main touchscreen for additional information. The 8-inch touchscreen was user-friendly, and Subaru included large analog knobs and buttons for essential functions, along with chunky steering wheel buttons for EyeSight driver-assistance features.

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

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2020 Crosstrek, virtually identical to the 2021 model, a “Top Safety Pick” with the highest ratings in all crash tests and front-crash prevention tech. EyeSight driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning, were standard on CVT-equipped models. The Limited trim also included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS “Top Safety Pick,” scoring top ratings in all crash tests and front crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. However, it received lower ratings for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and headlights. 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 included standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner, such as automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and forward-collision warning. Adaptive cruise control and Evasive Steering Assist were standard on all but the base SE trim.