2021 Toyota RAV4 vs 2021 Ford Edge

In the past, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 stood out for its rugged-looking exterior, reminiscent of a traditional SUV. Toyota designed the RAV4 with boxy fender flares, chiseled taillights, and a scowling front end. These features created a sharp contrast with the more approachable look of previous RAV4 generations and most other compact crossovers available in the market. The exterior was fairly aggressive for a family car, making the RAV4 distinct from its competitors and elevating it above being just an ordinary vehicle.

Underneath its rugged exterior, the RAV4 was built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform. This platform had been used for various other Toyota models, including sedans, hatchbacks, and the Toyota Sienna minivan. While the TNGA platform provided a solid and well-engineered foundation, it meant that the mechanical aspects of the RAV4 were more aligned with conventional cars like the Camry, despite its off-road-inspired styling.

For those looking to further enhance their gasoline RAV4, Toyota offered a few options. The RAV4 Adventure model came with an Ice Edge (white) roof for a retro appearance, complemented by orange interior accent stitching and trim. The TRD Off-Road model featured matte black 18-inch wheels, standard LED fog lights, dark gray exterior trim, red interior accents, and a front skid plate.

Inside, the RAV4 featured large rubberized knobs and door handles, adding a rugged touch to the cabin. While the material quality was decent at lower trim levels, it did not improve proportionally with higher trims. The TRD Off-Road model, tested with SofTex upholstery, claimed to be lighter than leather and durable, fitting well with the outdoorsy theme. However, genuine leather was not available, even on the range-topping Limited trim level.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Edge retained much of its styling since its 2019 refresh, which successfully integrated the then-current Ford design with the existing Edge body shell. This resulted in a cleaner look, offering an alternative to the more complex styling of competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe.

The Edge Titanium trim level featured extra chrome accents to denote its higher status, while the Edge ST trim included a blacked-out grille, standard 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. Ford also offered the Edge ST-Line, retaining the exterior styling of the ST but excluding performance upgrades and high pricing.

Inside, the Edge's design had started to show its age. The interior design did not seem as fresh as its exterior and had been awkwardly modified over the years to accommodate new features, such as a larger touchscreen. The Titanium model offered leather upholstery, while the ST model featured sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching.

In 2021, the Toyota RAV4 came with a single engine option for gasoline models. The “Dynamic Force” 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produced 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The standard setup was front-wheel drive (FWD), but an all-wheel-drive (AWD) option was available. Although the gasoline engine provided decent performance, those seeking more power could opt for the 219-hp RAV4 Hybrid or the 302-hp RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid.

The Dynamic Force inline-four engine delivered an impressive 40% thermal efficiency, a level of efficiency typically seen only in racing engines. However, the rest of the RAV4 did not match the engine’s dynamism. The transmission struggled and hesitated when shifting gears, diminishing the overall driving experience. While the steering was responsive to small inputs, it lacked the necessary feel, creating a videogame-like experience. Toyota included a “Sport” driving mode, but it only added weight to the steering without improving responsiveness.

Despite the buzziness of the engine, the rest of the RAV4 provided a smoother ride on the highway. It offered low cabin noise levels and a suspension that absorbed road imperfections well. This comfort was more relevant for typical RAV4 usage, even though the Dynamic Force engine and TNGA platform had the potential for something more exciting.

Instead of focusing on on-road driving dynamics, Toyota emphasized off-road capability. The RAV4 did not feature traditional off-road components like a two-speed transfer case or locking differentials, but the Adventure and TRD Off-Road models included a torque-vectoring rear axle and 8.6 inches of ground clearance. The TRD Off-Road model also had specific suspension tuning and Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail all-terrain tires. These models had a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, compared to 1,500 pounds for other RAV4 variants. The added off-road features made the TRD Off-Road model capable of handling rougher terrain, but its limited suspension articulation and shallow angles could be a disadvantage on real off-road trails.

For the 2021 Ford Edge, most models featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine that produced 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. This engine was mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, available with either FWD or AWD.

The performance-oriented Edge ST model featured an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel. The ST model came with standard AWD, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and unique suspension tuning. An option package included upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires.

The Edge ST garnered attention when it debuted in 2019, although some enthusiasts were skeptical about the ST badge on an SUV. Despite this, Ford claimed that the Edge ST was developed with performance benchmarks, including those from the Porsche Macan. While the Porsche comparison was ambitious, the Edge ST delivered a satisfactory driving experience, especially considering none of its competitors emphasized performance. The Edge was also noted for its refinement despite being based on an aging platform, although the turbo-four engine in non-ST models was sometimes sluggish.

Ford cited respectable towing capacities for the Edge: 3,958 pounds for the base FWD four-cylinder model, 4,122 pounds for the AWD four-cylinder, and 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered Edge ST. However, competitors like the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport could tow up to 5,000 pounds with AWD and optional engines.

In terms of interior space, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 featured a tall, upright roof that provided competitive headroom in both rows, along with good outward visibility. However, legroom in both rows was slightly behind many competitors. The front seats in the RAV4 TRD Off-Road tester were extremely comfortable with a form-fitting shape, but the rear seats had flat, hard bottom cushions that made long road trips less appealing.

A 60/40 split-folding bench rear seat was standard, but unlike the Ford Escape or Nissan Rogue, it did not slide fore and aft. The RAV4 offered 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, which was above average but still trailed behind the Honda CR-V. The wide opening made loading cargo easier, although the lip of the cargo area was higher than in the Honda.

The RAV4 had oversized knobs and steering-wheel controls that were easy to use, even with gloves on. The center-console storage bin and the space ahead of the shifter were fairly large, albeit at the expense of the overall console storage space. Like older SUVs with similar styling, the RAV4 did not feature large cupholders or a place for loose change, but it did provide a large shift lever and other vehicle controls.

On the other hand, the 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive with its interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom in both rows, second only to the Hyundai Santa Fe. Dual-zone automatic climate control was standard in the Edge.

Cargo space in the Edge was impressive: 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats upright and 73.4 cubic feet with them folded, only outmatched by the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Higher trims featured a foot-activated power liftgate.

The Edge's rotary shift knob was designed to free up space on the center console, but the narrow console meant that the additional space was only average. There was a storage nook below the raised console, but its difficult-to-reach location could lead to items being forgotten.

For 2021, the Toyota RAV4 offered standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, along with Amazon Alexa compatibility and SiriusXM satellite radio (three-month trial included). Most trim levels featured a 7-inch touchscreen, while the Limited trim came with an 8-inch screen, and the RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid was available with a 9-inch display. Up to five USB ports could be found in the RAV4, including three in the front row and two in the back. A JBL premium audio system was also available.

The infotainment system, like in other Toyota models, was user-friendly but not a standout feature. The touchscreen was placed atop the dashboard, with easily readable graphics and shortcut buttons for navigation, Bluetooth, and audio. However, the system lacked flashiness, and the gasoline RAV4 did not include a head-up display (HUD), which was available on the RAV4 Prime model.

In comparison, the 2021 Ford Edge was up-to-date with its technology. The Edge featured the latest Sync 4 infotainment system, with standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a 12-inch touchscreen. Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio (three-month trial included), and a built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot were standard. The Edge ST came with a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.

With wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, drivers did not need to plug in their devices. The Edge had four USB ports, including two rear USB ports and one USB-C, added for the 2021 model year.

While we did not drive a Sync 4-equipped Edge, our experiences with Sync 4 in other recent Ford models were positive. The graphics and menu layouts were simple, making it easy for new users to adapt. It was worth noting that not all competitors offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, giving the Edge an edge in this department.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), with top "Good" scores in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, the RAV4 missed out on the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating due to mixed headlight scores, with certain trims receiving "Marginal" or "Poor" ratings.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the RAV4 a five-star overall rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests, and five stars in side crash tests.

The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 bundle included features such as forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and Lane Tracing Assist (automated lane centering). Higher trim levels added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic emergency braking, and park assist. Some option packages also included a 360-degree camera system.

Similarly, the 2021 Ford Edge earned a "Top Safety Pick" from IIHS, with top "Good" ratings in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. However, the Edge received a lower "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention tech, an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings depending on the trim level.

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 featured a robust array of 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 Edge SE trim level.