Ford Edge vs Lexus TX

The 2021 Ford Edge maintained a consistent styling since its 2019 refresh, which successfully aligned its exterior with Ford's contemporary design language. This refresh resulted in a cleaner look, offering a more refined alternative to the more aggressively styled 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 ST-Line offered similar styling without the performance enhancements or higher price tag of the ST model. However, the interior of the Edge began to show its age, with a design that struggled to keep pace with the exterior's freshness. Over the years, the interior was awkwardly modified to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models offered leather upholstery, while the ST models provided sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, both featuring contrast stitching.

The 2026 Lexus TX was available in various trim levels, with the TX 350 offering Base, Premium, Luxury, and F Sport Handling specs, while the 500h hybrid came in F Sport Performance Premium and F Sport Performance Luxury trims. The 550h+ plug-in hybrid was exclusive to the top Luxury trim. For 2026, the 550h+ included a standard panoramic glass roof and the new Matador Red Mica paint option. Most models featured 20-inch wheels, but the 550h+ stood out with standard 22-inch wheels. The TX retained a large grille with a spindle shape, complemented by sharp bi-LED headlights and rear LED lighting spanning the vehicle's width. Roof rails were included for additional storage options. Inside, the TX offered two interior color options, with the PHEV adding a dark brown called Peppercorn. Ambient lighting and suede trim enhanced the cabin's warmth, but overall material quality fell short of luxury standards, with basic plastics present. The redesigned door handles, which reacted to pressure rather than pulling out, were a unique feature, though some might have preferred more attention to detail elsewhere in the cabin.

The 2021 Ford Edge primarily utilized 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 standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The Edge ST performance model featured an 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 included upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires. The Edge ST, introduced in 2019, raised eyebrows among car enthusiasts who were surprised to see the ST badge on an SUV. Ford claimed the Edge ST was benchmarked against performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan. While the Porsche comparison might have been a stretch, the Edge ST offered a sporty driving experience, especially considering its competitors didn't emphasize performance. The Edge was also noted for its refinement, although the turbo-four engine in non-ST models felt somewhat sluggish. Towing capacities were respectable, with the base FWD four-cylinder Edge capable of towing 3,958 pounds, four-cylinder AWD models towing 4,122 pounds, and the V6-powered Edge ST towing 4,525 pounds. However, competitors like the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered higher towing capacities of 5,000 pounds with AWD.

The 2026 Lexus TX offered a range of powertrains, with the base model producing 317 horsepower from its turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. The plug-in hybrid test car generated 404 horsepower from its 3.5-liter V6 and hybrid system. The onboard seven-kilowatt charger wasn't the fastest, but it allowed for a full battery charge in under three hours with a home charger. The TX provided various drive options, including charge mode, electric-only driving, standard hybrid mode, and gasoline-only mode, making it versatile for different driving scenarios. The TX also featured Normal, Eco, Sport, and Custom drive modes, with Sport mode enhancing throttle sensitivity for a more immediate response. The 550h+ offered a quiet and smooth ride, with seamless transitions between gas and electric power. The suspension absorbed bumps and potholes effectively, and the brakes were firm and linear. The AWD system could distribute power between the front and rear wheels, with a Trail Mode for improved traction on slippery surfaces.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive in terms of interior space, offering 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. Standard dual-zone automatic climate control added to the comfort. Cargo space was generous, with 39.2 cubic feet available with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This was only surpassed by the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. A foot-activated power liftgate was available on higher trim levels. The Edge featured a rotary shift knob designed to free up space on the center console, but the console's narrow width limited the available space. A storage nook below the raised console was difficult to reach, making it easy to forget items placed there.

Inside the 2026 Lexus TX 550h+, standard luxury features included multi-zone climate control, heated and cooled front seats, and heated second-row seats. The test car featured captain's chairs in the second row with a removable center console, while some trims offered a bench seat. The third row was spacious, with a recline function and ample headroom, making it comfortable for adults. Each seat had its own cupholder and USB-C port. A one-touch button on the second row facilitated entry to the third row, but folding the second row flat was more complicated, requiring a series of levers to be flipped in a specific order. The front seats were roomy but lacked thigh support. The heating function was excellent, remaining active through key cycles. The cupholders were versatile, accommodating various bottle sizes and removable if needed. Most climate controls were on the screen, but temperature controls remained physical dials. An Eco setting for climate controls saved battery charge but reduced effectiveness. A large bin in front of the gearshift accommodated small items, and the center console was narrow but deep, with a dual-opening lid that limited access. The TX offered excellent cargo space, with 20.2 cubic feet available with all seats in place, expanding to 57.4 cubic feet with the third row flat and 97 cubic feet with the second row folded. All TX models could tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Ford Edge was equipped with Ford's latest Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a 12-inch touchscreen. Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio (with a three-month free trial), and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot were standard. 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. While we hadn't driven a Sync 4-equipped Edge, our experiences with Sync 4 in other Ford models were positive, with simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts. Notably, not all competitors offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2026 Lexus TX's tech was a mixed bag. The 14-inch color touchscreen was user-friendly and responsive, but some features lacked polish. We couldn't manually input a satellite radio station, requiring us to scan channels from 07 to 311. Once a preset was recorded, this action wasn't necessary again, but it seemed like an oversight. Steering wheel buttons controlled volume and adaptive cruise control, but they were multi-functional and unlabeled. A mirror of the button appeared on the 12.3-inch gauge cluster, showing their current function. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard but occasionally conflicted with the native audio system. Smartphone connectivity was essential, as in-dash navigation required a subscription. Other subscription offerings included a voice assistant, digital key via the Lexus app, and remote start and lock/unlock, though we didn't have access to an active account to test these features. The back-up camera was clear and featured an available bird’s-eye view. The Advanced Park system could handle parking duties, and the rear-camera mirror provided an unobstructed view. With seven USB ports and wireless charging, devices stayed charged. The second row had an available 120-volt/1500-watt outlet for larger items.

The 2021 Ford Edge was recognized as an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," earning the top "Good" rating in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. 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 varying headlight ratings depending on 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 included standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner, such as 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 was standard on all but the base Edge SE trim, along with Evasive Steering Assist.

Every 2026 Lexus TX came with the Safety System+ 3.0 as standard, including forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, Lane Tracing Assist lane centering, lane departure warning with steering assist, traffic sign recognition, and Proactive Driving Assist. The latter gently applied brakes or steering if the vehicle got too close to another car, pedestrian, or bicyclist, though it was often turned off due to its random activation. Once the adaptive cruise control was set up through the confusing steering wheel controls, it worked well, though it braked hard when another driver cut in front and was slow to resume speed. Hands-free driving was available via subscription. The NHTSA hadn't released safety ratings for the 2026 Lexus TX 550h+, but the TX 350 and TX 500h earned five stars. The IIHS gave the TX an "Acceptable" score in the small overlap front crash test on the driver's side and a "Good" score for the passenger's side. Driver and passenger injury measures received "Good" scores.