2020 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2020 Ford Edge

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a range of trim levels, including Essential, Preferred, Luxury, and Ultimate. The latter two trims featured a turbocharged engine for enhanced power and performance, which was also available as an option on the Preferred trim. In Canada, all-wheel drive (AWD) was standard on all trims except the Essential, where it was an optional upgrade from front-wheel drive (FWD). The Santa Fe's design was bold and experimental, with a distinctive grille shape, stacked lighting elements, and unique fender stampings. Inside, the SUV boasted a dramatic dual-cowl dashboard design and high-contrast interior colours, although the materials used were not as impressive as the design itself.

The 2020 Ford Edge, on the other hand, was based on the same platform as the Ford Fusion sedan, offering a car-like ride and ample cabin space. The second-generation Edge, updated in 2019, featured angular headlights and a large trapezoidal grille. Inside, the layout remained largely unchanged since 2015, with some updates in 2019. The centre console had small, awkwardly arranged controls, but the rotary shifter was a modern touch. The cabin quality was decent, with soft-touch materials and solid fit-and-finish, though marred by the use of hard plastics. The Edge's styling was fresh but lagged behind competitors like Honda and Toyota, which updated their models more frequently.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a standard 185-horsepower 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, but the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine was the preferred choice, delivering 235 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. This engine provided better performance, especially at higher altitudes, and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Santa Fe offered a towing capacity of 1,587 kilograms and had varying fuel efficiency depending on the engine and drivetrain configuration. The turbocharged engine with AWD consumed 12.0 L/100 km in the city, 9.2 on the highway, and 10.7 combined. The Santa Fe was known for its smooth ride, decent handling, and quiet highway experience, although it lacked driver engagement.

The 2020 Ford Edge featured a standard 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque, providing solid low-end acceleration. The Edge ST trim offered a 2.7-litre twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine with 335 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque, delivering a more engaging driving experience. The Edge's suspension was designed to handle rough roads, offering a refined and engaging ride. The ST trim had a Sport mode for enhanced throttle response and performance information, along with an available ST Performance Brake Package.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe was designed with thoughtful attention to detail, offering creative storage spaces and stain-resistant fabric in cloth seat versions. The SUV featured comfortable front seats with power adjustments and a heated steering wheel. The back seat was spacious and comfortable, with reclining options for longer trips. However, the Santa Fe's cargo space was limited, with 1,017 litres behind the rear seat and a maximum of 2,019 litres. The hands-free "smart" liftgate was a convenient feature, opening automatically when the key fob was detected nearby.

The 2020 Ford Edge excelled in cabin layout, providing a commanding view of the road and ample storage compartments. The second-row seats offered generous head- and legroom, ensuring comfort without needing to adjust the front seats. The Edge provided 1,110 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 2,078 litres with the rear seats folded. The SEL and Titanium trims featured a hands-free foot-activated power rear liftgate, adding convenience for loading and unloading.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe's infotainment system was user-friendly, with stereo control knobs, shortcut buttons, and a programmable button. It included Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Preferred trim added SiriusXM satellite radio and Blue Link connected services with three years of free service. The Luxury trim featured a surround-view camera system, while the Ultimate trim offered a larger display, navigation, wireless charging, and a premium sound system. The head-up display provided valuable information, including blind-spot alerts.

The 2020 Ford Edge came standard with the SYNC 3 infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with easy-to-use icons and a home button. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, allowing users to use their preferred navigation apps. The Edge included two smart-charging USB ports and a rearview camera. The SEL and ST trims offered a semi-digital instrument panel with dual screens, standard on the Titanium trim.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe earned a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. It offered a range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance. The Preferred trim included an ultrasonic occupant alert system, while the Luxury trim added a Blind View Monitor. However, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were only available on higher trims.

The 2020 Ford Edge came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including airbags, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Ford Co-Pilot360 safety system was standard, offering automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The SEL trim offered the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package, adding adaptive cruise control and active lane centring. The Edge received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.