Ford Edge vs Toyota Venza

The 2021 Ford Edge retained much of its styling from the 2019 refresh, which successfully modernized its exterior. This refresh harmonized the Edge's look with Ford's newer designs, making it a cleaner-looking alternative to the more aggressively styled Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured extra 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 upgrades.

Inside, the Edge's design showed its age, despite attempts to update it with new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models came with leather upholstery, and the ST models had sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching. However, the interior design didn't feel as fresh as the exterior.

The 2022 Toyota Venza re-emerged on the TGNA-K platform, shared with several other Toyota and Lexus models, ensuring a proven and formidable foundation. Measuring 186.6 inches long, 73.0 inches wide, and 65.9 inches tall, with a 105.9-inch wheelbase, the Venza was on the shorter end of the midsize crossover segment. Its modern exterior design, with a deeply scalloped body side and a prominent nose, gave it a Lexus-like appearance. The tailgate featured a striking LED light stripe, and the overall design was more suited for urban environments than off-road adventures.

Inside, the Venza's elegant layout and high-quality materials echoed Lexus standards. The layered dash and well-placed touchscreen display, available in 8-inch or 12.3-inch sizes, added to the sophisticated feel. The front seats were supportive and comfortable, and the rear seats could easily accommodate three adults. The interior's overall design and materials made the Venza feel upscale and luxurious.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in 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, delivering 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, though some enthusiasts were skeptical about the ST badge on an SUV. While the comparison to Porsche might have been ambitious, the Edge ST offered a sporty driving experience, especially considering its competitors didn't emphasize performance. The Edge's towing capacities were respectable, with a maximum of 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model, 4,122 pounds for the AWD four-cylinder, and 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered ST. However, competitors like the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered higher towing capacities.

The 2022 Toyota Venza featured a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder gasoline engine combined with three electric motors, producing a total of 219 horsepower. The hybrid powertrain balanced electric and gas drive for optimal efficiency and performance. Drivers could choose electric-only (EV) mode for short distances or select among Normal, Eco, and Sport drive modes to adjust performance. Regenerative braking helped recharge the lithium-ion battery, with the main charge coming from the gas engine's motor-generator.

The Venza offered a smooth and agile driving experience, similar to the Camry, thanks to its shared wheelbase. While the taller body and higher ground clearance didn't encourage aggressive cornering, the Venza excelled as a midsize family hauler, delivering a comfortable and efficient ride. The hybrid system's transparency and lack of need for charging infrastructure made it convenient for drivers without access to home charging stations or reliable public charging.

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 was generous, with 39.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Higher trim levels offered a foot-activated power liftgate.

The Edge's rotary shift knob was designed to free up space on the center console, but the narrow console width limited the available space. The raised console provided a storage nook below, though its out-of-the-way location made it easy to forget items placed there.

The 2022 Toyota Venza seated five in two rows, with bucket seats in the front and a 60/40-split folding second-row bench seat. Both rows offered good headroom and legroom, with 45.2 inches of hip room in the second row, accommodating three adults comfortably. The cabin felt roomy, especially with the available Star Gaze fixed panoramic glass roof on the Limited trim.

Convenience features included an overhead console with LED map lights and a Safety Connect button, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and a four-way power-adjustable front passenger seat on XLE and Limited models. The electric parking brake and sliding sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors added to the convenience. The cabin had ample storage, with a large glove compartment, four cupholders, and four bottle holders.

The Venza's lithium-ion battery pack was located beneath the second-row seats, minimally impacting cargo capacity. The Venza offered 28.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 55.1 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. Toyota focused on making the Venza's cabin a quiet oasis, adding sound-blocking and absorbing insulation throughout, resulting in a serene and quiet ride.

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. The Edge also had four USB ports, including two rear USB ports 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. Not all competitors offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, giving the Edge an edge in this area.

The 2022 Toyota Venza's hybrid powertrain required no special attention, making it convenient for drivers without access to charging infrastructure. The Venza's hybrid system was transparent in operation, with a tank of gas yielding well over 500 miles. Toyota's Predicted Efficient Drive (PED) program used the navigation system to analyze driving habits and optimize battery charging, enhancing fuel efficiency.

The LE and XLE models came with an eight-inch touchscreen, AM/FM/HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa capability, and Bluetooth connectivity. The Limited trim added a nine-speaker JBL audio system, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, and intelligent touch-capacitive controls. Both multimedia setups included Toyota Connected Services, with various trials for Safety Connect, Service Connect, Remote Connect, and WiFi Connect.

An Advanced Technology Package for the Limited trim included a head-up display (HUD) and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The 10-inch HUD was highly visible, even with polarized sunglasses. A digital rearview mirror was also available, providing a clear view even with passengers or cargo blocking the rear window. The instrument cluster featured a 5-inch display on LE models and a 7-inch display on XLE and Limited models.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," scoring top ratings in all crash tests and front crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. However, it received a lower "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 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 the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner 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 with stop-and-go and lane centering, along with Evasive Steering Assist, was standard on all but the base SE trim.

The 2022 Toyota Venza's standard Toyota Star Safety System included stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, smart stop technology, and a rearview camera. The Venza also had eight airbags, including driver and front-passenger advanced airbag systems, side airbags, knee airbag, seat-cushion airbag, and side-curtain airbags. Three-point seatbelts, LATCH lower anchors, child protector locks, and window lockout controls were standard.

Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0) included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, daytime bicycle detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams, lane tracing assist, and road-sign assist. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and hill-start assist were standard on all trims. XLE and Limited models added front and rear parking assist with automated braking, and Limited models also had fog lamps.

The 2022 Toyota Venza received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.