North Georgia Ford Compares 2017 Ford Edge VS 2017 Subaru Outback Near Ellijay, GA

The rear seatbelts optional on the Edge inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Outback doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

The Edge Titanium/Sport offers an optional 180-degree camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Outback only offers a rear monitor.

Both the Edge and the Outback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all-wheel drive, collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Edge is safer than the Subaru Outback:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are over 6 times as many Ford dealers as there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Edge’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2016 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 11th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 22nd, below the industry average.

The Edge has more powerful engines than the Outback:

As tested in Car and Driver the Ford Edge turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Outback 2.5i 2.5 DOHC 4 cyl.:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Edge SE 2.0 ECOBoost FWD offers an optional system to automatically turn off the engine when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Outback doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Edge has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Outback doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Edge stops shorter than the Outback:

For better traction, the Edge has larger standard tires than the Outback (245/60R18 vs. 225/65R17). The Edge Sport’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Outback (265/40R21 vs. 225/65R17).

The Edge SE/SEL’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Outback 2.5i/2.5i Premium’s standard 65 series tires. The Edge Sport’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Outback Limited/Touring’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Edge SE/SEL has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Outback 2.5i/2.5i Premium. The Edge Sport’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Outback Limited/Touring.

The Edge has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Outback’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Edge’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Outback doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Edge’s wheelbase is 4.1 inches longer than on the Outback (112.2 inches vs. 108.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Edge is 3 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Outback.

The Edge Sport AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Outback 3.6R Limited pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Edge Sport AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure-Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the Outback 2.5i Limited (26.2 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

The Edge Sport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Outback doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Edge Titanium AWD is quieter than the Outback 3.6R Limited:

The Edge has 5.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Outback (113.9 vs. 108.1).

The Edge has .4 inches more front hip room, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear legroom, 2.5 inches more rear hip room and 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Outback.

The Edge has a much larger cargo area than the Outback with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 35.5 cubic feet).

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Edge SEL/Titanium/Sport’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Outback doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Edge’s available cargo door can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Outback doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The engine computer on the Edge automatically engages the starter until the car starts with one twist of the key and disables the starter while the engine is running. The Outback’s starter can be accidentally engaged while the engine is running, making a grinding noise and possibly damaging the starter and ring gear.

The Edge Titanium/Sport’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Outback doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the Edge and the Outback have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Edge is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Outback prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Edge’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Outback’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. The Outback Premium//Limited’s optional windows’ rear windows don’t close automatically.

On a hot day the Edge’s driver can lower the front windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Outback can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Edge SE/SEL’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Outback’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Edge Titanium/Sport’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Edge Titanium/Sport keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Outback doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Both the Edge and the Outback offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Edge has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Outback Base doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Edge SEL/Titanium/Sport offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Outback doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Edge Sport’s optional Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Outback doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Edge is less expensive to operate than the Outback because it costs $567 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Edge than the Outback, including $149 less for a starter, $11 less for fuel injection and $294 less for front struts.

The Car Book by Jack Gillis recommends the Ford Edge, based on economy, maintenance, safety and complaint levels.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Edge second among midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Outback isn’t in the top three.