Harry Gibson on October 11, 2022 No Comments
Are you thinking of purchasing an SUV and you’re considering between Ford Edge VS RAV 4? Well, if that is the case, then you are at the right place because this article will be all about these two models and we are going to cover all you need to know.
- Edge VS RAV4
- Ford Edge
- Edge Specs
- Edge Problems
- RAV4
- RAV4 Specs
- RAV4 Problems
- Which Is Better?
- Conclusion
- F.A.Qs
Performing proper research before you decide to purchase a new or a used car should be one of your top priorities. Why we are saying this? Well, mainly because cars have problems. Even new ones if you don’t know what to choose well. Yes, that’s right, even new models can have problems.
This is why you need to put up your sleeves and learn all about the model that you intend to purchase. You need to study all the specs of the model as well as reports on problems from previous owners that already purchased this specific model. This way you will have a heads-up when it comes to the possible issues that might arise. But you shouldn’t worry because we are going to help you out.
First, we are going to cover something more about the Ford Edge vs RAV 4. Then we will cover the Ford Edge and we will learn about the model and its specs, common problems, etc. After that, we will do the same thing about the RAV 4 and we shall compare the two models in the end. So, if you want to learn more, follow along.
RAV 4 vs Ford Edge
So, let’s take a look now and the Ford Edge VS RAV 4. Let’s introduce ourselves to the topic and learn in general a bit more about these two models. Let’s take a look at what these models are and to which class of cars they belong.
As you probably know, both the Edge and the RAV 4 are crossover SUVs. But the interesting part is that even though they belong to the same class of cars, they are actually quite different. The Edge is made by Ford and the RAV 4 by Toyota understandably. But there is also one bigger difference than that.
The Edge is a mid-size crossover SUV. While the RAV 4 is a compact crossover SUV. And between these two vehicles, there is a big size difference. The Edge is simply way bigger than the RAV4. More about the dimensions of these two models, we are going to elaborate on later in the article.
The important thing to note is that the Edge was introduced in 2006 and as of 2022 there are two generations released of this model. While the RAV4 has much greater longevity on the market and they released 5 generations in total for this model alone. So, we can see that the RAV4 has a much longer lineage than the Edge.
And the thing worth noting is that the RAV4 is a global model. This means that it is offered globally. While the Edge is only offered locally in US and Canada.
More on the comparisons we will discuss later on after we cover both of these models. Now let’s discuss the Ford Edge first and then the RAV 4 before we decide between Ford Edge vs RAV 4.
Ford Edge VS RAV 4: What Is The Ford Edge
Now let’s start discussing more about what is the Ford Edge before we compare the Ford Edge VS RAV 4. So, what is the Ford Edge?
Well, this is a model that was introduced by Ford in 2007. The Edge had a goal to fill up the spot in the mid-size SUV segment.
This model was built together with Mazda. If you didn’t know, Ford and Mazda had a partnership that lasted up until 2008 when they parted ways.
Nevertheless, the Edge was one of the last models that they produced together. The Ford Edge in general is a mid-size crossover SUV. So, what this means?
Well, it means that this is an SUV for the city. It is not that capable when it comes to driving off-road. So, if you plan to purchase this model for off-road, don’t do it. You will end up disappointed with it because it is not performing well for this purpose.
As of 2022, there is a total of two generations of the Ford Edge released on the market. The most recent one was released in 2015. So, the most recent model is getting pretty old now. But this doesn’t mean that this model is outdated. In 2019 the model was refreshed by Ford. They improved many different things and included new features. And more on what we are going to cover next before we compare the Ford Edge vs RAV 4.
Ford Edge Specs
Now before we dive into the Ford Edge VS RAV 4, let’s talk about the specs of the second generation of the Edge. We will cover the second generation mainly because it is a far more recent and newer model than the first one and the chances that people want to buy it are much higher than the older one.
Nevertheless, this model was introduced in 2014 and 2015 was the first model year of this generation. This generation of the Edge is pretty much 7 years old as of now.
The model was based on the Ford CD4 platform that is shared with the Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, and Lincoln MKX. This model is assembled at the Oakville Assembly plant in Ontario, Canada.
This model price starts at $39,500 and comes in a few different trim levels. The base trim level is the SE, then the SEL, ST-Line, Titanium, and ST.
If you want something well-equipped we would recommend going for the Titanium or ST. ST is the sporty version. So, if you are with a sporty spirit, you will highly likely enjoy this trim. But what about the Ford Edge vs RAV 4? More on that in a bit.
Ford Edge VS RAV 4, Ford Edge Specs #1: Engines & Transmissions
In terms of engines, it is worth noting that you have two options. Namely, the 2.0L turbo inline-4 engine that is producing 250hp and 275lb-ft of torque. And the 2.7L V6 EcoBoost turbo that is producing 335hp and 380lb-ft of torque. The more powerful engine only comes with the ST trim level.
The model comes with two automatic transmissions. A 7-speed automatic and an 8-speed automatic. But what about the Ford Edge vs RAV 4? More on that in a bit.
Ford Edge VS RAV 4, Ford Edge Specs #2: Fuel Economy
The fuel economy of the 2.0L is rather good. It gets 23 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined.
Ford Edge VS RAV 4, Ford Edge Specs #3: Safety
The safety aspect of the Ford Edge is also good. The 2016 model got 5-stars overall on the NHTSA crash safety tests, as well as Good scores on most of the IIHS tests. So, we can say that it performs rather well in this aspect.
Common Problems With The Ford Edge
Now let’s take a look and discuss the common problems with the Ford Edge before we dive into covering the Ford Edge vs RAV 4. What kind of problems bother this Ford Edge?
Well, the biggest problem that this model has especially with the 2.7L engine is the oil pan. These oil pans tend to crack. They are made out of plastic and they tend to fail and cause major oil leaks.
Carbon buildup on the intake valves is really common in the early generation of the 2.7L because this engine did not have dual fuel injection at the time, so the intake ports become clogged with carbon.
Not to mention that spark plugs and ignition coils also tend to fail on the 2.0L and 2.7L EcoBoost engines mainly because of the use of direct injection.
Head gaskets are also another weak point on the early 2.7L and 2.0L turbo engines. Especially on the 2.0L where coolant gets into the cylinders and could cause major engine damage and make the engine overheat and crack the engine block. The replacement for a long block is almost $7,500.
Overall, these are the major issues. And we will advise that you get a later model year instead of a 2016 or 2017. Mainly because the 2.7L was revised in 2018 and most of the problems were sorted out. But what about the Ford Edge vs RAV 4? More On that in a bit.
Ford Edge Reliability
When it comes to the Ford Edge reliability, we can say that this model is fairly reliable. Still, try to avoid the 2016 and 2017 model years if you can. They have many issues with coolant leaking into the cylinders on the 2.0L and oil pan leaks on the 2.7L engine. Now before we talk about the Ford Edge vs RAV 4, let’s take a look at the RAV 4.
Ford Edge VS RAV 4: What Is The Toyota RAV 4
We learned what is the Ford Edge and we understood that this model is a mid-size SUV. Now let’s cover something more about the RAV4 before we dive into the specs of the model.
The Toyota RAV4 is a model that was firstly introduced in 1994 and is produced to this day. This makes the RAV4 badge almost 30 years old. Which is quite an achievement for a model.
What is interesting is that the RAV4 was one of the first EVs ever put into production. The model produced between 1997 and 2003 was offered as an EV option for fleet use and also it was offered to the public in 2002. This model was able to go for up to 120 miles on a single charge and had a 60,000-mile battery warranty.
But we assume that the world was not yet ready for electric cars back then. It wasn’t that trendy to be aware of your carbon footprint on this planet and think about the environment back in the day. So, unfortunately, the electric RAV4 failed to create an impact. But the gas-powered one did create an impact and was produced for 5 entire generations. And more on the specs in the following chapters before we cover the Ford Edge vs RAV 4.
Toyota RAV4 Specs
So, we have covered the Ford Edge and learned all about the current model. Now before we compare the Ford Edge vs RAV 4, let’s take a look at the RAV 4 and cover something more about this model and understand more about it.
As we noted in the introduction, the RAV4 is a compact crossover SUV. This means that this car belongs in the compact crossover class. Unlike the Edge which is a mid-size SUV. So, there is a big difference in size when it comes to these two models.
As we noted previously, the RAV4 has 5 generations in total with the last one introduced in 2018. 2019 was the first model year of this new SUV and we think that this is quite the best SUV that Toyota has released in recent years. Considering that the 4Runner is pretty outdated, the RAV4 is probably the most advanced model.
Nevertheless, this model is based on the GA-K platform by Toyota, which is shared with the Toyota Venza which is another good alternative to this model. The model is assembled in Georgetown, Kentucky, and Woodstock, Ontario.
The base price of the RAV4 is $28,300. So, it is quite cheaper than the Edge. The model comes with a 36,000-mile warranty or 3 years in total.
There are also a few trim levels. Namely, the LE, XLE, TRD, Adventure, and Limited. The TRD is perfect for people who want to experience something rather different and unique. But what about the Ford Edge VS RAV 4? More on that in a bit.
Ford Edge VS RAV 4, Toyota RAV4 Specs #1: Engines & Transmissions
In terms of engines, it is worth noting that this model has only one engine available to choose from. And this is the 2.5L inline-4 engine that is producing 203hp and 184lb-ft of torque. This engine implements double overhead camshafts and 4 valves per cylinder. Also, it has variable valve timing that makes it extra fuel efficient.
The transmission used on the RAV4 is an 8-speed automatic. But what about the Ford Edge VS RAV 4? More on that in a bit.
Ford Edge VS RAV 4, Toyota RAV4 Specs #2: Fuel Economy
The fuel economy of the RAV4 is pretty much excellent. This model is able to deliver 27 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 33 mpg combined. So, it is probably one of the best performers out there that is not actually a hybrid model.
Ford Edge VS RAV 4, Toyota RAV4 Specs #3: Safety
In terms of safety, we can say that the RAV4 performs rather well. On the IIHS testing, the model got really good scores and the 2022 model got the Top Safety Pick award.
So, considering this, we can say that this is a really good performer in this aspect. But what about the Ford Edge vs RAV 4? We will get to that in a moment after we discuss the common problems with the RAV4.
Common Problems With The Toyota RAV4
So, we have covered the specs of the RAV4, and before we discuss the Ford Edge vs RAV 4, let’s take a look at the common problems with this model.
The most reported problem in the present generation of the RAV4 is the problem with the transmission, with more than 49 reports. Many owners reported that the car hesitates and then lurches forward at a lower speed. This was reportedly owed to bad software. The ECU had to be reprogrammed in order for the transmission to shift correctly. Not a big deal since it is able to be solved without opening the transmission.
Also, many owners reported that the engine produced loud noises when accelerating. This was reportedly due to bad insulation inside of the cabin and mostly affected the XLE trim owners.
Other problems included minor issues with the side mirrors that vibrated and rattled when driving on uneven terrain.
2019 models had issues with the battery getting empty too soon. Supposedly this was due to a parasitic loss somewhere in the electrical system. But what about the Ford Edge vs RAV 4? More about that we will cover in a bit.
Toyota RAV4 Reliability
When it comes to the Toyota RAV4 reliability, we can say that this model is built really well without major defects.
It is not as luxurious as a Lexus or any other high-end SUV. But it works and that is the most important if you want a vehicle to take you from point A to point B on the cheap.
The fuel efficiency of this model is probably the high point of this model since it can get 30+ mpg on the highway. So, if you want to drive a lot on the highway and you want an SUV, this is the model that you are looking for.
The current model is still fresh and readily updated by Toyota each year. So, you can expect only the best. But what about the Ford Edge VS RAV 4? Let’s discuss more on that next.
Ford Edge VS RAV 4: Who Is The Winner
Now let’s discuss about the Ford Edge VS RAV 4. Who is the winner of this duel? Well, our personal favorite is the RAV4. But this doesn’t have to be always the case. Why so?
Well, both the Edge and RAV4 belong to different categories. The Edge has a longer wheelbase of more than 7 inches than the RAV4 and also it is longer overall by about 12 to 13 inches. And this is quite a lot.
And another thing is that the Edge has three-row seating, something that the RAV4 does not have. This is why when it comes to accommodating more people and more cargo, the Ford Edge is a clear winner.
And on top of that, the Edge has a more capable engine. The 2.7L EcoBoost engine is a really good engine that has been refined through the years and nowadays it performs rather well. Still, we would recommend avoiding the 2016 and 2017 models because of problems with the engines.
Also, the last aspect is the price. The Edge is much more expensive than the RAV4. The Edge starts at almost $40,000 while the RAV4 only costs $28,000. And this $12,000 difference is a lot for many people.
This is why if you want something on a budget but is still an extremely good value, and you don’t need a lot of space, we would recommend you the RAV4 anytime. The RAV4 has proven itself through the years to be a pretty reliable machine.
This is why if you need space for something bigger go for the Edge, if you need something smaller go for the RAV4. You can also go to any dealership and test drive the model to see which one of these fits you best for yourself.
Conclusion To Ford Edge VS RAV 4
In this article, we have covered quite a bit. First, we learned the difference when it comes to the RAV4 and the Edge. Then we covered both of these models in-depth.
We learned the specs of the last generations, we learned the price, trim levels, and common problems. Lastly, we compared the Ford Edge vs RAV 4 and gave you our honest opinion on which model is the best for you.
F.A.Qs
Now let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
Is The RAV4 AWD
This really depends on the model. There are AWD models and there are FWD models. So, it is up to you which model you prefer to purchase. The AWD is a good thing to have if you drive in the snow or in the mud. If you drive only in the city, then FWD will do the trick.
What Does RAV4 Stand For
The RAV4 name stands for Recreational Active Vehicle With 4-Wheel-Drive. So, the RAV4 is intended to be a recreational vehicle. Even though now it is more like a crossover SUV. Since the 4Runner took that spot when it comes to recreational vehicles in the Toyota lineup.
Does The RAV4 Have 3rd Row
Modern RAV4 does not have 3rd-row seating. This is the case because there is not enough room to comfortably seat 7 people. Still, there was a time when this model had 3rd row. And that was between 2005 and 2011.
How Big Is A Ford Edge
The Ford Edge is a mid-size SUV. This model has a wheelbase of 112.2 inches and an overall length of 192 inches for the 3-row seater. The curb weight is about 4,060 lbs for the AWD model
Where Is The Ford Edge Made
The Ford Edge is produced in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Then these vehicles are imported here to the US. The model is also produced in China and is a really good seller over there.
Is Ford Edge Or Escape Bigger
The Edge is a mid-size SUV and the Escape is a compact crossover SUV. So, there is a big difference between the two models in terms of size. The Edge has a 6 inches longer wheelbase than the Escape.
