As you shop for your ideal car, it’s always worth looking into similar models that might serve as a better alternative. Personally, I have recently been looking into buying a 2020 Subaru Outback and saw that Consumer Reports recommends the 2020 Ford Edge as an alternate choice. It’s a somewhat odd suggestion, but it got us wondering, does the Edge really do anything better than the Outback does?

Style and comfort 

Outward appearances really matter when comparing the Outback and the Edge. The Outback is a wagon and the Edge features a sleek SUV body style. With the Outback, you get a rugged exterior but it’s balanced out with a lush interior. The Outback comes standard with cloth upholstery but there are many other interior upgrades you can pick from like faux leather or Napa leather.

What may surprise you though is that the Edge offers once of the nicest cabins in its class, for the price anyway. Its standard cloth upholstery is attractive enough but faux leather and genuine leather are options too.  The Edge is fairly comfortable but its rear-seats aren’t very supportive. 

Performance and capability  

The Outback is more versatile but the Edge offers more power. The Edge comes standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that creates a 250 horsepower. There’s also a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 that generates a 335 hp on the higher trim levels. Both engine options come with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Overall, the Edge feels smooth and capable. The SUV also has a decent fuel economy rating with a combined 22 mpg. It’s too bad though that the Edge isn’t it a good option when it comes to off-roading.

If you’re looking for a more off-road-ready vehicle, the Outback is the clear winner here. The Outback’s high ground clearance is ideal for going off-roading and it comes with X-mode which is designed to provide more control in unpredictable driving situations. There’s also a dual X-mode available on the Onyx Edition XT trim.

The main downside to be aware of on the Outback is that its base engine is just blah. It comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that offers an underwhelming 182 hp. The available turbocharged four-cylinder that makes a 260 hp is much more dynamic. 

In-car electronics 

As far as infotainment goes, both the Outback and Edge come with desirable features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Although, there is some give and take here. The Edge actually comes with a larger display screen compared to the Outback and offers more standard features including a wifi hotspot. The Outback’s overall setup looks more modern though compared to the Edge.

Safety ratings

Both the Outback and Edge have great safety ratings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave both vehicles a five-star crash-test score. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Outback a slightly higher rating as a Top Safety Pick+ while the Edge is a regular Top Safety Pick.

The final verdict

The Edge isn’t a bad car by any means. In fact, it’s an even match reliability-wise compared to the Outback and also has good safety ratings. Plus, it’s the more powerful option between the two. Still, we’d say that if you want something more adventure-ready, the Outback is the better option.