Ford Edge vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2021 Ford Edge retained much of its styling from the 2019 refresh, which successfully aligned its exterior with Ford's contemporary design language. This refresh gave the Edge a cleaner and more refined appearance compared to the more flamboyant designs of competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured additional chrome accents to signify their premium status, while the Edge ST trim boasted a blacked-out grille, standard 20-inch wheels, and a sporty body kit. The interior, however, began to show its age, with a design that struggled to keep up with the evolving exterior. Despite updates to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen, the interior felt less modern. The Titanium models offered leather upholstery, while the ST models provided sporty front seats with enhanced bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, both adorned with contrast stitching.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV maintained a familiar look with slight styling changes, presenting a front end that resembled a conventional gas-powered car more than an EV. The 2027 model continued the design language of the 2023 version, balancing between a large hatchback and a subcompact SUV. The RS model added gloss black exterior trim for a touch of flair. Inside, the Bolt underwent a more significant transformation, featuring a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The push-button gear selector was relocated to the steering column, freeing up space in the center console. While the cabin was dominated by hard plastic surfaces, the Bolt offered thin padding at elbow touchpoints. The base LT trim came with cloth upholstery, while the RS trim upgraded to Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching. Despite the abundance of hard plastics, the Bolt provided a practical and spacious interior.

The 2021 Ford Edge was equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The Edge ST performance model featured a more powerful EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, producing 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque on 93-octane fuel. The ST came with standard AWD, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and model-specific suspension tuning. An optional package added upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires. The Edge ST aimed to compete with performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, although some found the comparison ambitious. The Edge offered respectable towing capacities, with the base FWD model capable of towing 3,958 pounds, the AWD four-cylinder model 4,122 pounds, and the V6-powered Edge ST 4,525 pounds.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV introduced a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, reducing costs and reliance on rare earth minerals. The Bolt's motor, sourced from Chevy's Equinox EV, delivered 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. The Bolt's acceleration was estimated to be in the low seven-second range for 0-60 mph, making it quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs. The Bolt offered one-pedal driving with adjustable brake regeneration levels. The ride was firm but not overly stiff, and the Bolt's low center of gravity contributed to its agility on curvy roads. The 2027 Bolt EV achieved an EPA-estimated range of up to 262 miles on a full charge, a 15-mile improvement over its predecessor. Charging speed increased to 150 kW, allowing the Bolt to recharge from 10% to 80% in 25 minutes.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered competitive interior space, with the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers. Legroom in both the first and second rows was second only to the Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge provided 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. A foot-activated power liftgate was available on higher trim levels. The Edge's rotary shift knob was designed to free up space on the center console, but the narrow width limited its effectiveness. A storage nook below the raised console was difficult to reach and easy to forget.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV featured an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants. Taller drivers might have wished for more telescoping extension from the steering wheel. The rear seats were also upright, providing plenty of headroom and adequate thigh support. The Bolt's flat floor reduced the penalty for center-seat passengers. The Bolt offered 16.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional storage. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, and the release latches were easily accessible from the cargo area. While there was no frunk, the Bolt provided ample storage for personal items, including a large bin with movable dividers, a big floor tray, and a deep center armrest bin.

The 2021 Ford Edge was equipped with Ford's latest Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring a 12-inch touchscreen and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot were also standard. The Edge ST models included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge featured four USB ports, with two rear USB ports, including one USB-C, added for the 2021 model year. The Sync 4 system was praised for its simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts, making it easy for new users to acclimate.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV came with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch center touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto were not supported, but some Android Auto features were integrated into the system. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and a wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with logical menus, sharp graphics, and quick responses. The Bolt's navigation system could help drivers find charging stations and precondition the battery for optimal charging rates. The Bolt also offered vehicle-to-load charging, allowing it to serve as a backup power source for a home.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," earning top "Good" ratings in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. It received an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention and "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings, depending on the trim level. The NHTSA awarded 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 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 with stop-and-go and lane centering was standard on all but the base Edge SE trim level.

Crash test results for the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV were not available at the time of writing, but it was expected to achieve high scores based on the 2023 Bolt EUV platform. Standard advanced safety features included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitors with active steering assist, and a safety alert seat. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, automatic wipers, rear-pedestrian alert, and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise hands-free automated highway driving system was available for an additional cost, making the Bolt EV one of the few budget EVs to offer such an advanced system.