2022 Ford Edge

As long as an SUV can drive in a straight line, make a left and right-hand turn, and not spill coffee when going over speed bumps, then the majority of US drivers will consider it a good performer. It seems as though Ford took this to heart when it developed the Edge's suspension and chassis setup because the driving experience is so dull that you can basically break it down into these simple elements. Once on the road, the steering offers virtually zero feedback, but there's enough weight to inspire confidence when cruising on the highway. Throw the Edge through a set of twisty roads at speed, and you'll be met with minimal body roll, but understeer will creep in sooner than later, mitigating any sort of fun. The suspension setup aims to provide sedan-like damping, so it may feel slightly stiff at lower speeds but softens up as you speed up.

If you're looking for a more entertaining driving experience, then the Mazda CX-5 is a good option. Inside the Ford's cabin, road noise is kept to a minimum. With a complement of comfortable seats and contemporary amenities, the Edge is a pleasure to drive on long road trips.

The Ford Edge SUV manages to fly under the radar but stands out at the same time. The exterior looks aren't anything special, but it's still a handsome-looking thing, and the same can be said about the interior; it's not all that flashy and refined, but it's attractive enough, but most importantly, it's comfortable and well specced. The 2.0-liter engine under the hood offers strong performance and fair economy. The Edge isn't as exciting to drive as some of its Japanese rivals, but it is comfortable enough for long road trips. What the Edge does well is offer a lot of car for not a lot of money; its standard features list is impressive, its Sync 4A infotainment system and 12-inch display are great to use, and it comes with a good amount of driver-assistance tech. There's also lots of passenger and cargo space in the Ford Edge. It's no wonder that this vehicle sells as well as it does.

The Ford Escape was fully redesigned for 2020 and still feels as fresh as ever. This crossover SUV is smaller than the Edge, so it will only make sense for those who don't need the extra space afforded by the Edge. Under the hood of the Escape, you'll find a 1.5-liter turbocharged 181-hp three-cylinder EcoBoost engine. This makes the Escape feel surprisingly peppy, all while using less fuel. Thanks to its more compact dimensions and lighter weight it's also a more fun drive, but by comparison, the Edge is still more comfortable over longer trips. The interior is arguably more pleasing and feels more up to date, and the standard and optional features list is also slightly more impressive and includes offerings such as a head-up display. The Escape doesn't offer as much space, but it is the better car overall.

The Edge sits below the Explorer in Ford's SUV lineup. The Explorer can seat up to seven people and also comes with a range of more powerful engines. Under the hood of the Explorer, you get to choose between a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-pot that develops 300 hp or a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 that can deliver as much as 400 hp in ST guise. It even offers a 318-hp hybrid option. The Explorer offers more utility in nearly every aspect; it has a higher towing capacity than the Ford Edge, it can carry more people and stuff, and it's better equipped. This comes at a significant price increase on higher trims, but in lower-spec forms, it's closely matched to well-specced Edge variants. Ultimately, it will be entirely up to the buyer to decide if they need the extra seating capacity and luxuries such as standard tri-zone climate control. If you don't need the space, stick with the cheaper Explorer.