Ford Edge vs Toyota bZ

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, while the ST trim boasted a blacked-out grille, 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The ST-Line offered similar styling without the performance enhancements. Inside, the Edge's interior 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.

The 2026 Toyota bZ, available in XLE and Limited trims, offered a choice between single-motor FWD or dual-motor AWD, with two battery sizes. The larger battery provided more power, performance, and range, with prices ranging from $36,495 to $46,895. The XLE test vehicle featured FWD and the optional larger battery, transforming it into the XLE Plus. The bZ's restyled exterior looked better with body-color trim, and the interior boasted a cleaner dashboard and center console. The 14-inch touchscreen integrated climate control, and the fabric seats had an upscale pattern. However, the digital driver display was criticized for its placement and readability.

The 2021 Ford Edge primarily used a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard FWD and optional AWD. The Edge ST performance model featured a 2.7-liter V6 engine with 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, standard AWD, and model-specific suspension tuning. The Edge ST's performance was compared to SUVs like the Porsche Macan, though some found this comparison ambitious. 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 bZ offered a single electric motor with a 57.7-kWh battery pack, providing 165 horsepower and 198 pound-feet of torque, with an EPA-estimated range of 236 miles. The optional 74.7-kWh battery increased power to 224 hp and extended the range to 314 miles. Dual-motor models produced 338 hp and offered ranges of 288 to 278 miles, depending on the trim. The bZ's charging capabilities included compatibility with Tesla Superchargers and a CCS adapter. Efficiency tests showed favorable results, with the bZ averaging 4.5 miles per kWh in Eco mode. The bZ's driving experience was generally agreeable, though it struggled with traction and handling on winding roads.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered competitive interior space, with the most rear-seat headroom among midsize crossovers and ample legroom. Cargo space measured 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with them folded. The Edge featured a foot-activated power liftgate on higher trims and a rotary shift knob to free up console space, though the narrow console limited its effectiveness.

The 2026 Toyota bZ, built on a skateboard-style EV platform, provided easy entry and exit with 8.1 inches of ground clearance. The front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, heated and ventilated options, and a comfortable seating position. The bZ lacked a traditional glove compartment but compensated with ample storage solutions. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed generous legroom, though foot space was limited. Cargo space measured 27.7 cubic feet, with an underfloor storage well and a maximum of 56.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured the Sync 4 infotainment system with a 12-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST models included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Sync 4 system was praised for its simple graphics and user-friendly interface.

The 2026 Toyota bZ came with a 7-inch digital driver display and a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The driver display was criticized for its placement and readability, while the infotainment system lacked a home screen for simultaneous data display. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and various connected service plans. The Drive Connect feature powered the navigation system and voice assistant, which performed well in tests.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," with top ratings in crash tests and front crash prevention tech. It received lower ratings for vehicle-to-pedestrian tech, LATCH ease of use, and headlights. The NHTSA awarded the Edge a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included Ford Co-Pilot360, with adaptive cruise control and Evasive Steering Assist available on higher trims.

The 2026 Toyota bZ featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, with high-beam assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. Proactive Driving Assist provided subtle braking and steering inputs. The Limited trim added Traffic Jam Assist and other advanced features. The bZ's adaptive cruise control had inconsistent responses, and the driver monitoring system was overly sensitive. The IIHS rated the bZ's front-crash avoidance tech highly but gave lower ratings for headlights and frontal-impact crash tests.