Sales for the Ford Edge have held fairly steady since the introduction of its second-generation in 2015. For 2021, Ford has decided to give the Edge a massive interior upgrade. A 12-inch vertically oriented touchscreen now joins the Edge’s interior as standard. Additionally, the new screen comes paired with SYNC 4, the newest generation of Ford’s infotainment system. Aside from livening up its interior, the new screen should give the Edge a fighting chance as competitors also receive major updates.

What’s new in the 2021 Ford Edge?

In terms of the exterior, not a whole lot. For 2021 The Ford Edge remains largely the same on the outside with minor tweaks throughout. The same goes for the sportier Edge ST. According to Ford, new minor tweaks in the interior include a new Ceramic interior option for the range-topping Titanium Elite trim level. The SEL trim level also gets a new cloth interior option available. Carbonized Gray and Lithium Gray also join the fold as the Edge’s newest exterior colors.

Both available engines carry over from the 2020 model. As standard, the 2021 Ford Edge is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost engine developing 245 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. The smaller engine of the two consumes 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The Edge ST gets a larger 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 engine developing 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. The larger engine consumes 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

Is the new screen that much of an upgrade?

In short, absolutely. The new 12-inch touchscreen display is a massive upgrade over last year’s 8-inch screen. The best part of the new screen is that it comes as standard in the 2021 Edge. However, Ford has yet to release pricing for the 2021 model, so there could be a slight price bump to account for the new screen. Aside from the sheer size, the next big upgrade is the inclusion of Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment system, a massive leap forward over the previous SYNC 3.

Since SYNC 4 is connected to the web, it can update itself over the air. SYNC 4 also allows buyers to connect their phones via wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The lack of additional cables should help clean up the overall interior. It seems as though the screen comes at a pivotal time for the Edge seeing as reviews by Car and Driver have previously pointed out the Edge’s lack of a well put together interior.

What if I like the screen but not the edge?

If you love the 12-inch screen but not the Ford Edge, there’s good news for you. The 2021 Ford F-150 also features a 12-inch display with the all-new SYNC 4 infotainment system. Unlike in the Edge, however, the F-150’s screen is horizontally oriented. The result is that while it is the same size, it doesn’t have as dramatic of an impact on the interior layout.

If EV’s are more your speed, then the Ford Mach-E also gets the 12-inch display. Like in the Edge, the Mach-E’s screen is vertically oriented and features the new infotainment system. Since the Mach-E has yet to arrive in dealerships, you’ll likely be able to get it sooner if you opt for the Edge.