Compare the2023 Ford EdgeVS 2023 BMW X4

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Edge have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW X4 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Ford Edge are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X4 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Edge and the X4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available front and rear parking sensors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Edge the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 175 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X4 has not been tested, yet.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Edge 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 9 times as many Ford dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Edge’s warranty.

The Edge has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The X4 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Edge’s reliability 12 points higher than the X4.

The Edge’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 2 more horsepower (250 vs. 248) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 258) than the X4 xDrive30i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Edge ST’s standard 2.7 turbo V6 produces 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (380 vs. 369) than the X4 M40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Edge 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder gets better fuel mileage than the X4 M40i (21 city/28 hwy vs. 21 city/26 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Edge uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The X4 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Edge has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the X4 (18.5 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 X4 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Ford Edge as a “Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle” (PZEV). The BMW X4 is only certified to emission levels ranging from “Low Emissions Vehicle” (LEV) to “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV) standards.

For better stopping power the Edge’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the X4:

The Edge stops shorter than the X4:

For better traction, the Edge ST’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X4 (265/40R21 vs. 245/44R20).

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 X4 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Edge is 1.3 inches wider in the front than the average track on the X4.

For greater off-road capability the Edge ST has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X4 (8.2 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Edge to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Edge ST uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The X4 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Edge has 16.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X4 (113.9 vs. 97.8).

The Edge has 1.9 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, 2.8 inches more rear headroom, 5.1 inches more rear legroom and 4.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the X4.

The Edge has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X4 with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The Edge has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X4 with its rear seat folded (73.4 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

The Edge ST can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Edge can be unhitched and driven around locally. The X4 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Optional Trailer Sway Control on the Edge (except SE) uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X4 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Edge Titanium/ST’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 X4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Edge has a standard rear wiper. The X4 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Edge (except SE) 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 X4 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Edge owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Edge will cost $2255 to $4290 less than the X4 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Edge will be $15778 to $20298 less than for the BMW X4.

The Ford Edge has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The Ford Edge outsold the BMW X4 by almost 9 to one during 2022.