Toyota 4Runner vs Ford Edge

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 contemporary design language, 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, standard 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The ST-Line offered the same exterior styling as the ST but without the performance upgrades and higher price tag. Inside, the Edge's design showed its age, despite updates to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen. Titanium models came with leather upholstery, and ST models had sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner maintained its rugged roots, tracing back to the SUV craze of the 1980s. Unlike many modern SUVs that evolved to car-based platforms, the 4Runner stayed true to its truck-based origins, sharing underpinnings with the Toyota Tacoma pickup. This design choice was not due to stubbornness but rather a strategic decision by Toyota, which already had the family-oriented Highlander in its lineup. The 4Runner's high ride height, boxy proportions, and sharply angled front bumper emphasized its off-road capabilities. Inside, the 4Runner's design was functional but dated, with a dash layout reminiscent of the late 2000s. Trims ranged from the base SR5 to the off-road-focused TRD Pro and the road-oriented Limited, each offering a variety of features and capabilities.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It came with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The performance-oriented Edge ST 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 included standard AWD, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and model-specific suspension tuning. The Edge ST could tow up to 4,525 pounds, while the base FWD model had a maximum towing capacity of 3,958 pounds. Despite its aging platform, the Edge was refined, though the turbo-four engine in non-ST models felt sluggish.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner came with a single engine option: a 4.0-liter V6 producing 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. It offered rear-wheel drive or available 4WD with a low range. The 4Runner's ride was harsh and cumbersome on paved roads, with significant body roll and a rough suspension. However, off-road, the 4Runner excelled, with its suspension effortlessly absorbing rocks, bumps, and other obstacles. The TRD Pro and TRD Off-Road models included features like Crawl Control and a locking differential, enhancing their off-road capabilities. The 4Runner could tow up to 5,000 pounds, which was more than most car-based crossovers but less than some compact pickups.

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. It featured dual-zone automatic climate control as standard. Cargo space was 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. A foot-activated power liftgate was available on higher trims. The center console's narrow width limited available space, despite the rotary shift knob designed to free up space.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner provided a maximum of 89.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity in the two-row version, with 47.2 cubic feet behind the second row. The three-row model offered slightly less space, with 88.8 cubic feet maximum and 46.3 cubic feet behind the second row. The third row, optional on select trims, reduced cargo space to just 9 cubic feet behind the rear seats. The 4Runner lacked a power rear liftgate but featured a power-open/close rear window, making it easy to stow items in the back. Despite its age, the 4Runner's cabin was functional, though not as spacious or efficient as more modern SUVs.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured Ford's latest Sync 4 infotainment system with a standard 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 included 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. Sync 4's simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts were user-friendly, and not all competitors offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, Satellite Radio, and multiple USB ports. While it lacked the option for a larger screen, it offered navigation, HD radio, and a 15-speaker JBL premium audio system as upgrades. The infotainment system's hard buttons and dials were practical, especially for drivers wearing gloves. Although more advanced systems were available in other vehicles, the 4Runner's straightforward layout was appreciated for its simplicity.

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. It received lower ratings for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and headlights. 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 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 SE trim.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner included the Toyota Safety Sense suite, with standard forward automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane-departure warning. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The TRD Pro also had an off-road camera system. The 4Runner earned four out of five stars in NHTSA frontal and side-impact testing and three stars in rollover testing. It had not yet been evaluated by the IIHS. The 4Runner came with a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.