2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Toyota Sienna aimed to redefine the minivan aesthetic, presenting a more SUV-like appearance. Its wide grille and horizontally arranged LED headlamp arrays gave it a sleek look, while the sculpted sliding side doors and various alloy wheel sizes added to its assertive stance. The rear design managed to look wide and low, maintaining Toyota's high standards of fit and finish. Inside, the Sienna emphasized width with horizontal lines, offering a higher seating position than a sedan and a simple, uncluttered dashboard. The center console was practical, featuring multiple cupholders and a large storage compartment. The second and third rows provided ample comfort for adults, with the second row sliding to configure space for maximum utility.

The 2021 Ford Edge retained much of its styling from the 2019 refresh, which successfully integrated Ford's current design language. The Edge Titanium featured extra chrome, while the ST trim boasted a blacked-out grille, 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 contrast stitching. Despite the dated interior, the Edge remained a cleaner-looking alternative to some of its competitors.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid marked Toyota's first hybrid minivan, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce 243 horsepower. It offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. The AWD system used a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, simplifying the mechanical setup. The Sienna's electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) aimed to maximize fuel efficiency, though it blunted throttle response. Four selectable drive modes allowed for some customization, with "Sport" mode offering a slightly livelier experience. The new TNGA front suspension and independent rear trailing arm suspension improved handling, and the Sienna achieved impressive EPA fuel economy ratings of 36 mpg city/highway/combined for FWD models and 35/36/35 mpg for AWD models.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured 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 and optional all-wheel drive. The Edge ST performance model came with an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6, delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, standard AWD, and model-specific suspension tuning. The ST also had an option package with upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels. The Edge's towing capacities ranged from 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model to 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered ST. While the Edge ST aimed to compete with performance SUVs, it fell short of the Porsche Macan but still offered a refined driving experience.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna excelled in convenience functions, with a standard third-row 60/40-split bench that stored easily into the floor. The second row slid up to 25 inches, facilitating access to the third row. The cabin featured 16 cupholders (15 with the spare tire option) and ample storage cubbies. The Sienna could carry a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed, offering 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101.0 cubic feet behind the first row. The hybrid's battery pack was cleverly tucked under the front seats, preserving cargo space. Power-operated sliding doors and tailgate responded to kick motions, enhancing family-friendly functionality.

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 trims featured a foot-activated power liftgate. The Edge's rotary shift knob freed up some console space, though the narrow console limited its utility. A storage nook below the raised console was difficult to reach and easy to forget.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna packed a nine-inch touchscreen standard across all grades, supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM. It included a year's trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect, a ten-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect. Bluetooth, Qi-compatible charging, and a 1500-watt inverter were available. Audio systems ranged from a six-speaker stereo to a 12-speaker JBL package with Dynamic Navigation. A rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display was optional. The driver enjoyed a multi-information display, with a 10-inch Head-Up Display available on Platinum trims. Limited and Platinum models offered a digital rearview mirror, and remote keyless entry with push-button start was standard.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured the latest Sync 4 infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a 12-inch touchscreen. Standard tech included Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST had a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. Four USB ports, including two rear USB ports, were available. Sync 4's simple graphics and straightforward menus made it user-friendly, and the Edge stood out for offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which many competitors did not.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including dynamic radar cruise control, lane-tracing assist, pre-collision system with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. The Star Safety System, 10 airbags, LATCH connectors, and a rear-seat reminder system were standard. A tire pressure monitoring system and inflator kit were also included, with an optional spare tire. The 2020 Sienna received high safety ratings, though 2021 ratings were pending.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," scoring "Good" in all crash tests and "Superior" 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. NHTSA awarded the Edge a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features under Ford Co-Pilot360 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 trim.