Ford Edge vs Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

The 2021 Ford Edge retained much of its styling from the 2019 refresh, which successfully modernized its exterior. This refresh aligned the Edge with Ford's contemporary design language, making it a cleaner-looking alternative to the more aggressively styled Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured additional 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 enhancements and higher price tag.

Inside, the Edge's design began to show its age, with awkward tweaks over the years to fit new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models came with leather upholstery, and the ST models had sporty front seats with extra bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching. Despite these updates, the interior didn't feel as fresh as the exterior.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe showcased Jeep's knack for blending heritage with modernity. The iconic seven-slot grille returned, now with active shutters for improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency, and a forward rake reminiscent of the classic Wagoneer. The Grand Cherokee 4xe was available only as a two-row, five-passenger SUV, unlike its gas-powered counterparts, which offered three-row versions.

The trim lineup for the 4xe differed from the gas models, with options including the base 4xe, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve. The High Altitude package, introduced at the 2022 New York International Auto Show, added extra style to the Summit and Summit Reserve trims. The Overland trim, tested in silver with a black roof and 20-inch wheels, featured signature surf blue tow hooks and blue accents on trail-rated trims. Inside, the Grand Cherokee 4xe felt upscale, even in the base trim, with leather seats, wood and metal accents, and heated and ventilated front seats in the Overland trim. However, the presence of hard plastic materials below the hip point raised concerns about durability and noise over time.

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 model-specific suspension tuning. An optional package added upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires.

The Edge ST, introduced in 2019, aimed to compete with performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, though some enthusiasts were skeptical. While the Porsche comparison seemed ambitious, the Edge ST offered a sporty driving experience, especially since its competitors didn't emphasize performance. The Edge's towing capacities were respectable, with a maximum of 3,958 pounds for the base FWD four-cylinder, 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 offered higher towing capacities.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe's standout feature was its plug-in hybrid powertrain. A 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, combined with a 400-volt, 17-kWh battery pack, produced an impressive 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain outperformed Jeep's 5.7-liter V8, which delivered 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The 4xe came with standard four-wheel drive (4WD) and an eight-speed automatic transmission, achieving 56 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) and a total driving range of 470 miles.

The Grand Cherokee 4xe offered 25 miles of all-electric driving range, thanks to its aerodynamic design. An electronic front-axle disconnect helped save fuel by disengaging the engine from the front wheels when not needed. The E Select powertrain modes included Hybrid, Electric, and eSave, allowing drivers to optimize battery use. Regenerative braking and the Max Regen setting enabled one-pedal driving.

Jeep provided two off-road systems for the Grand Cherokee 4xe: Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II. The latter included an electronic limited-slip differential, a two-speed transfer case, and a 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio. The Trailhawk trim, the most off-road capable, offered 10.9 inches of ground clearance and a maximum wading depth of 24 inches. Despite its fuel efficiency, the 4xe's towing capacity was lower than the V6 and V8 models, maxing out at 6,000 pounds.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive in interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers. Legroom in both rows was second only to the Hyundai Santa Fe. Standard features included dual-zone automatic climate control. Cargo space measured 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 73.4 cubic feet with them folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Higher trims offered a foot-activated power liftgate.

The Edge's rotary shift knob aimed to free up center console space, but the narrow console width limited its effectiveness. A storage nook below the raised console was difficult to reach and easy to forget about.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, unlike its gas-powered counterpart, didn't offer a third-row option. However, the existing seats provided ample space for passengers. Folding the second row expanded cargo space from 37.7 cubic feet to 70.8 cubic feet, slight improvements over the previous generation. Head and legroom were sufficient for both front and rear passengers, making it a comfortable family vehicle for up to four people.

The available air suspension allowed the Grand Cherokee to lower quickly for easier loading and unloading. Despite testing the vehicle in hot conditions, the standard heated steering wheel promised comfort in colder weather.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured the latest Sync 4 infotainment system, with standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a 12-inch touchscreen. Other standard tech included Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST models came with a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. Four USB ports, including two rear USB ports added in 2021, ensured connectivity for all passengers. Sync 4's simple graphics and straightforward menus made it user-friendly, and not all competitors offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe boasted the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, an Android-powered interface with extensive customization options. The My Pages feature allowed users to personalize screen layouts with various displays and widgets. The Grand Cherokee 4xe included multiple screens, such as a 10.25-inch front-passenger display, standard on the base trim but optional on Overland and Summit trims, and standard again on the Summit Reserve.

A frameless 10.25-inch digital driver information display was standard on all trims, with a customizable gauge cluster. A wireless charging pad was optional, but four USB ports were standard. Optional dual rear-seat entertainment screens ran Amazon's Fire TV for Auto. The 19-speaker McIntosh stereo, available on higher trims, delivered exceptional audio quality, ranking among the best in the industry.

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

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered a mix of standard and optional advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Standard features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rear parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional upgrades included intersection-collision assist, standard on Summit and Summit Reserve trims, and night vision, available on upper trims. Front parking sensors and a 360-degree surround-view camera were optional on lower trims and standard on Summit and Summit Reserve. Jeep announced a hands-off driver assistance feature suite, requiring additional hardware, which wouldn't be available to early buyers via an OTA update. Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA had crash-tested the 2022 Grand Cherokee or Grand Cherokee 4xe at the time of writing.