Ford Edge vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

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 appearance compared to the more elaborate designs of competitors like the 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 interior, however, began to show its age, with a design that struggled to keep up with new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models offered leather upholstery, and the ST models included sporty front seats with contrast stitching.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid pursued a conservative design, drawing inspiration from the popular RAV4. This approach resulted in a vehicle that resembled a larger RAV4, offering seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior prioritized function over form, with the Platinum trim adding a touch of luxury. Despite some hard plastic surfaces, the controls were logically arranged, and the climate system was user-friendly. However, the infotainment interface had its drawbacks, such as a small volume knob and the absence of a tuning knob.

The 2021 Ford Edge primarily featured 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 offered a more powerful EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, producing 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, with standard AWD and model-specific suspension tuning. The Edge ST's performance was compared to SUVs like the Porsche Macan, although some found this comparison ambitious. The Edge's towing capacity ranged from 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model to 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered Edge ST.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid emphasized efficiency with its hybrid powertrain, achieving up to 36 mpg in combined driving. The Hybrid Max configuration, however, focused on performance, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, producing 362 horsepower. This setup allowed the Grand Highlander to accelerate swiftly, with a traditional six-speed automatic transmission avoiding the droning common in CVTs. The Hybrid Max's fuel economy was rated at 27 mpg, with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. During testing, the Hybrid Max averaged 23.3 mpg on a mountainous route, with an expected 24-25 mpg in typical driving conditions. The powertrain provided confident acceleration, while the ride quality was soft and isolating, though handling was secure only up to a modest point.

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. Cargo space measured 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with them folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. A foot-activated power liftgate was available on higher trims. The rotary shift knob freed up space on the center console, but the narrow console limited available space, and the storage nook below was difficult to access.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid provided comfortable seating in all three rows, with nearly 100 cubic feet of maximum cargo space. The Platinum trim featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, and supportive cushions. The second-row captain’s chairs offered a pass-through or a generous portal to the third row. The Grand Highlander’s rearmost seats were reasonably comfortable for adults and tall teens, with ample crush space behind them. Cargo space measured 20.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.5 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2021 Ford Edge was equipped with Ford’s Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring a 12-inch touchscreen, 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 system's simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts were user-friendly, and the Edge offered four USB ports, including two rear USB ports added for the 2021 model year.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims, with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Toyota Connected Services offered features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, automatic collision notification, and a digital voice assistant. The infotainment system was easy to use, though it lacked the ability to display multiple main-menu screens simultaneously, and the low-contrast font could be difficult to read. The Platinum trim included a color head-up display, a camera-based digital rear-view mirror, and a JBL premium audio system.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS “Top Safety Pick,” with top ratings in all crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. It featured Ford Co-Pilot360, which 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.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features and driver-assistance technologies. It included lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control, though it lacked hands-free operation. Proactive Driving Assist was standard but could be irritating in certain situations. The Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but did not achieve the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating due to “Acceptable” ratings for headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection.