Dodge Durango vs Ford Edge

The 2021 Ford Edge retained much of its styling from the 2019 refresh, which successfully integrated Ford's current design language with the existing Edge body shell. This gave the Edge a cleaner look compared to the more elaborate designs of competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured extra chrome accents, while the ST trim boasted a blacked-out grille, 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The ST-Line offered the same exterior styling as the ST but without the performance upgrades. Inside, the Edge's design showed its age, despite updates to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models had leather upholstery, and the ST models included sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching.

The 2021 Dodge Durango's exterior styling had remained largely unchanged since its third generation debuted in 2011. Built alongside the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Durango maintained a distinct look with a muscular stance and athletic styling, especially evident in the new SRT Hellcat model. This model featured a cold-air scoop, twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, rear spoiler, and a unique front end. The Durango offered six different 20-inch wheel varieties and one 18-inch version, with 11 exterior colors and six interior color schemes. The cabin received a new instrument panel for 2021 and either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The interior became more premium with higher trim levels, offering various upholstery options, including leather and suede. The updates to the dashboard aligned the Durango with Dodge's muscle cars, providing a modern appearance.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered 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 came with 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 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel, with standard AWD and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The ST also had model-specific suspension tuning, with an option package for upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires. The Edge ST aimed to compete with performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, though it fell short in comparison. The Edge's towing capacities were 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model, 4,122 pounds for the AWD model, and 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered ST, which were respectable but not class-leading.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered four engine options: a 3.6-liter V6, a 5.7-liter HEMI V8, a 392 HEMI V8, and a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8. All engines were paired with eight-speed automatic transmissions, with RWD standard and AWD optional or mandatory on certain models. The V6 engine produced 293 hp (single exhaust) or 295 hp (dual exhaust) and 260 lb-ft of torque. The 5.7-liter V8, standard in the R/T and optional in the Citadel, delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The SRT 392 model featured a 392 HEMI V8 with 475 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. The SRT Hellcat's supercharged 6.2-liter V8 produced 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, offering smooth acceleration and controlled power. The Durango's steering was precise, but the chassis showed its age, with a reactionary suspension on rural roads and track settings. The Hellcat's brakes performed well, even under repeated laps. The Durango R/T with the Tow N Go Package had a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds, with stable performance and a 50/50 AWD torque distribution in "Tow" mode. The SRT models included SRT Performance Pages for detailed performance information.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive in interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom in both rows. It featured dual-zone automatic climate control as standard. 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. Higher trims offered a foot-activated power liftgate. The rotary shift knob freed up space on the center console, but the narrow console width limited its utility. The raised console provided a storage nook below, though it was difficult to reach and easy to forget items placed there.

The 2021 Dodge Durango excelled as a family hauler, offering comfortable seating, ample storage space, and family entertainment options. It wasn't as elegant as the Toyota Highlander or Honda Pilot, nor as bulky as the Nissan Armada or Ford Expedition. The Durango's midsize packaging made it versatile, with seating for five in two rows and up to seven across three rows. The front and second-row seats were spacious, with the third row offering more room than many competitors, comparable to the Subaru Ascent, Toyota Highlander, and Honda Pilot. The third row was also easy to access. The Durango had 21 seat options, providing plenty of choices for buyers. Cargo space was average for its class, functioning as expected. Dodge's fit and finish had improved significantly, winning awards for initial vehicle quality.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured the latest Sync 4 infotainment system with a 12-inch touchscreen, standard 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 Edge 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 not all competitors offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2021 Dodge Durango came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen on the SXT and GT models, while higher trims had a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the new Uconnect 5 system. Uconnect 5 was five times faster than its predecessor, offering user profiles, connected services, dual Bluetooth connections, Amazon Alexa, TomTom navigation, SiriusXM with 360L, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and OTA updates via the 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system was easy to navigate, with clear graphics and responsive touch. The Durango also offered a family entertainment system with a Blu-ray/DVD player and two 9-inch screens. SRT models had unique appearance features, including a "smoke show" start-up animation and serpentine font. The gauge cluster's design made it difficult to read the exact speed, but the TomTom navigation system was user-friendly and responsive. A head-up display would enhance usability, but it wasn't available.

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. It received lower ratings for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and headlight performance. 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 tests. The Edge came with 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, 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 2021 Dodge Durango lagged behind its rivals in safety. It came standard with a rearview camera and federally mandated passive safety features like airbags and electronic stability control. Depending on the trim level or package, buyers could add adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams, rear-cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and forward-collision warning. Many competitors offered these features as standard. The IIHS had not yet rated the 2021 Durango, but the NHTSA gave it a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating. Front crash testing ratings were pending.