Ford Edge vs Toyota RAV4 Plug-in 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 and more refined appearance compared to 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 signs of aging, with a design that struggled to keep pace with the exterior's freshness. Despite updates to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen, the interior felt somewhat dated. 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 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid presented a more modern and rugged design with its three distinct styles: Core, Rugged, and Sport. The PHEV version was available in the Rugged Woodland trim and three Sport grades, including the SE, XSE, and the exclusive GR Sport. The sixth-generation RAV4 maintained the same footprint as its predecessor but introduced buffer bumpers that extended its length. The Woodland trim, for instance, was an inch longer, while the GR Sport's assertive grille and rear diffuser added 1.9 inches. The RAV4 embraced a boxy, truck-like presence, with squared-off wheel arches and bulging fenders reminiscent of the Highlander models. The Woodland trim emphasized its ruggedness with a wide front fascia, solid panels replacing fog lights, and chunky all-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels. The Sport trims featured gloss black accents, and the GR Sport showcased racier elements like red brake calipers, a big rear wing, and a wide mesh grille.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered 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 enthusiasts questioned the use of the ST badge on an SUV. The Edge's towing capacities ranged from 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model to 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered Edge ST.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured an updated 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine, producing 186 horsepower, up from 177 horsepower in the previous model. The PHEV benefited from a larger 22.7-kWh battery pack and more efficient silicon carbide semiconductors, resulting in an estimated range increase from 42 miles to 52 miles in the SE and XSE models. With a total power output of 324 horsepower, the RAV4 PHEV became the most powerful RAV4 to date. It came with standard all-wheel drive, with a front motor rated at 203 horsepower and 201 pound-feet of torque, and a smaller rear motor for assistance and traction. The RAV4 PHEV offered multiple driving modes, including EV, Auto, Hybrid, and Charge, allowing drivers to optimize performance and efficiency. The GR Sport trim featured enhanced handling attributes, sitting 0.6 inches lower than the SE and XSE grades, with 20-inch black alloy wheels and summer performance tires.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive in terms of interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers. It provided ample legroom in both the first and second rows, second only to the Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge offered 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 aimed to free up space on the center console, but the narrow width limited its effectiveness. A storage nook below the raised console provided additional space, although it was somewhat difficult to access.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid's base SE trim came well-equipped with features like a power driver's seat, heated front seats, five USB ports, and push-button start. The front seats offered adequate bolstering and thigh support, with power adjustments extended to the passenger seat in the top XSE grade. Most trims featured synthetic leather upholstery branded SofTex, which could become sticky on hot days, but ventilated seats were standard on the GR Sport and XSE trims. The RAV4's interior dimensions remained largely unchanged, but clever storage solutions optimized space. The RAV4 offered 37.8 inches of rear legroom, accommodating a six-footer behind a six-foot driver, although it fell short of larger models like the Honda CR-V and Volkswagen Tiguan. The PHEV's cargo area measured 33.6 cubic feet, with a total of 63.5 cubic feet when the rear seats were folded.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured Ford's latest Sync 4 infotainment system, with a standard 12-inch touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/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 offered four USB ports, including two rear USB ports, one of which was USB-C. The Sync 4 system was praised for its simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts, making it user-friendly.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid boasted a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an enhanced 10.5-inch touchscreen system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a larger 12.9-inch touchscreen available on top trims. The touchscreen featured large customizable tiles and a quick menu for easy access to commonly used settings. Toyota's new operating system, Arene, improved responsiveness and loading times. The Voice Assistant responded to a wide range of prompts, and the system allowed drivers to locate chargers along their route. A built-in dash cam recorded and saved clips from exterior cameras, with adjustable sensitivity settings.

The 2021 Ford Edge earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) "Top Safety Pick" designation, with top "Good" ratings 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. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Edge a five-star overall safety rating. 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, and more.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured Toyota Safety Sense 4.0, a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features. The new OS offered a wider view for cameras and a broader detection range for radar, enhancing responsiveness and detection at night. The suite included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, updated lane-departure alert and lane-keep assist systems, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, and more. The RAV4's safety record was historically strong, and the redesign aimed to address previous shortcomings. Crash-testing results for the 2026 RAV4 PHEV were pending from the IIHS and NHTSA.