Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs Ford Edge

The 2021 Ford Edge maintained a consistent styling since its 2019 refresh, aligning its exterior with Ford's contemporary design language. This refresh effectively integrated the current Ford aesthetic with the existing Edge body, offering a cleaner look compared to the more elaborate designs of 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 body kit. The ST-Line offered similar exterior styling without the performance enhancements and higher price tag of the ST model. Inside, the Edge's interior began to show its age, with a design that struggled to keep pace with the exterior's freshness. Over the years, the interior was awkwardly modified to accommodate new features, such as a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models offered leather upholstery, while the ST models included sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, both featuring contrast stitching.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid drew styling inspiration from Toyota's Tacoma pickup, particularly in its trapezoidal grille and upright fascia, giving it a rugged appearance favored among three-row midsized SUVs. However, the design introduced a softer character line from the bottom of the doors over the rear wheel arch, reminiscent of the Toyota Supra and Sienna, which added unnecessary visual weight and made the Highlander appear somewhat bloated. The rear design echoed the trapezoidal grille, resulting in a body that felt disjointed compared to more cohesive designs like the Kia Telluride, Jeep Grand Cherokee, or Honda Pilot. Inside, the Highlander's unconventional asymmetrical dash featured a metallic styling element that spanned the passenger side and enveloped the infotainment pod, breaking up monotony and providing a storage tray. The infotainment touchscreen was positioned high on the dash for easy visibility. The Highlander Hybrid Bronze Edition introduced light grey fabric seat upholstery with an incomplete motif of triangles, which seemed more fitting for a paper towel than a car. The fabric attracted dirt and stains, raising durability concerns for families. Other trims offered more conventional materials, with genuine leather available only on the top Limited and Platinum trims. The rear seating area featured more hard plastics for durability, with the third row suffering from uncomfortable armrests.

The 2021 Ford Edge primarily utilized 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 standard 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, 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 included upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires. The Edge ST, introduced in 2019, raised eyebrows by carrying the ST badge, previously associated with Ford's hot hatchbacks. Ford claimed the Edge ST was benchmarked against performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, though this comparison seemed ambitious. The Edge ST offered a sporty driving experience, especially considering its competitors didn't emphasize performance. The Edge was refined for its aging platform, though the turbo-four engine in non-ST models felt sluggish. Towing capacities were respectable, with the base FWD four-cylinder Edge towing up to 3,958 pounds, four-cylinder AWD models up to 4,122 pounds, and the V6-powered Edge ST up to 4,525 pounds. However, competitors like the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered higher towing capacities of 5,000 pounds with AWD.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine producing 243 horsepower, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard front-wheel drive (FWD). All-wheel drive (AWD) was available through a supplemental electric motor powering the rear axle during initial acceleration or when additional traction was needed. Toyota estimated a 0-60 mph time of just over 8 seconds, slightly slower than gasoline-only SUVs in its class. The hybrid powertrain's electric motors provided initial acceleration, followed by the gasoline engine for sustained power. Under light or moderate acceleration, the engine hum was subtle, but it became a drone under heavy acceleration due to the CVT's lack of gear shifts. Braking was traditional, with a soft pedal feel and seamless transition from regenerative to physical brakes. The ride quality was soft, with the suspension effectively smoothing road bumps while maintaining adequate cornering confidence. The Highlander Hybrid prioritized comfort over sportiness, with a quiet cabin free of wind and road noise on highways, provided the engine wasn't heavily taxed.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered competitive interior space, with the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers. Legroom in both rows was second only to the Hyundai Santa Fe. Standard dual-zone automatic climate control enhanced comfort. Cargo space measured 39.2 cubic feet with 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 center console space, but the console's narrow width limited its utility. A storage nook below the raised console was difficult to reach, making it easy to forget items placed there.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid's front seats were well-cushioned, with ample adjustments for drivers of varying heights. However, the driver's door armrest was awkwardly positioned, requiring an uncomfortable lean to use. Storage options were plentiful, with a deep tray under the infotainment screen, a small shelf in front of the passenger, and a large center armrest bin, complemented by large door pockets. The second-row seats offered generous head- and legroom, accommodating six-footers comfortably. Captain's chairs slid and reclined for versatility, with a second-row bench available at no extra cost, increasing passenger capacity to eight. Built-in window shades, USB charge ports, and a household power outlet enhanced the second-row experience. Access to the third row was through a wide pass-through or by sliding and folding the seats. The third-row seat was less accommodating, intended for occasional use by children, with limited headroom and legroom. Cargo space behind the third row was 16 cubic feet, expanding to 48.4 cubic feet with the seatbacks folded, and 84.3 cubic feet with the second row stowed, offering average capacity for the class.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured Ford's latest Sync 4 infotainment system, with standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a 12-inch touchscreen. Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio (with a three-month free trial), and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot were standard. Edge ST models included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge offered four USB ports, with two rear USB ports, including one USB-C, added for 2021. 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 Highlander Hybrid's technology features met expectations, with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen standard and a 12.3-inch touchscreen available on top trims. The larger display's glossy surface reflected the front passenger seat, obscuring the screen in harsh lighting. The infotainment system was responsive, with logically organized menus and physical shortcut buttons for common features, along with separate climate control buttons and knobs. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration were standard, with wireless charging on XLE trims and above. Limited trial periods for satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and remote vehicle monitoring and control were included. Navigation and an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system were standard on Limited and Platinum trims and optional on supporting models.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," scoring "Good" in all crash tests and "Superior" for front crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. It received an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, "Acceptable" 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 Ford Co-Pilot360 included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), post-collision braking, dynamic brake support, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control (with stop-and-go and lane centering) and Evasive Steering Assist were standard on all but the base Edge SE trim.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid received a five-star overall score from the NHTSA, with four stars for frontal collision and rollover protection. The IIHS named the standard Highlander a Top Safety Pick+, with "Good" ratings across the board. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, a blind-spot monitor, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. A surround view camera system and adaptive headlights were exclusive to the top Platinum trim. The safety systems generally performed as expected but required some fine-tuning. The adaptive cruise control occasionally resulted in abrupt stops, and the lane-keep assist created excessive steering resistance. The lane-departure warning was prone to false alarms, though sensitivity adjustments were possible through driver menus.