Compare the2025 Subaru ForesterVS 2024 Ford Edge

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Forester are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Edge doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Forester has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Edge doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Forester (except Base/Premium) offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Edge doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Forester Premium/Sport/Limited/Touring’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Edge doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Forester Touring has a standard 360-Degree Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Edge only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Ford With 41 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Ford.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 16 places higher in reliability than Ford.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Forester lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Edge doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Forester gets better mileage than the Edge:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Forester uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Edge requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Forester has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Edge. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Forester higher (7 out of 10) than the Ford Edge (5 to 6). This means the Forester produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Edge every 15,000 miles.

The Forester has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Edge doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Forester’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Edge AWD are solid, not vented.

The Forester stops much shorter than the Edge:

The Forester Sport handles at .82 G’s, while the Edge Titanium pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Forester’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the Edge’s (35.4 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Forester has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Edge (8.7 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Forester to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Forester’s minimum ground clearance is .5 inch higher than on the Edge ST (8.7 vs. 8.2 inches).

The Subaru Forester may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 850 pounds less than the Ford Edge.

The Forester is 5.5 inches shorter than the Edge, making the Forester easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Forester has liquid-filled engine mounts. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Edge uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The Forester has 1 inch more front headroom and .7 inches more front legroom than the Edge.

The front step up height for the Forester is 2 inches lower than the Edge (15.5” vs. 17.5”). The Forester’s rear step up height is .8 inches lower than the Edge’s (17.25” vs. 18”).

The Forester has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Edge with its rear seat folded (74.4 vs. 73.4 cubic feet).

A Trailer Stability Assist is standard on the Forester, using the Vehicle Dynamics Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the Edge and isn’t available on the Edge SE.

The engine in the Forester is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Edge. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 42% lower rating, Ford is ranked 26th.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Forester to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Edge doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Forester Touring is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Edge’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Subaru Forester outsold the Ford Edge by 44% during 2023.