Ford’s first foray into the mid-size crossover market took place in 2006 when they introduced the Edge.
Almost a decade later, the Blue Oval is back with a second generation that promises more power, better technology and improved efficiency.
Sizing up the New Guy
Just to alleviate potential confusion, the Edge sits between the Escape and Explorer in Ford’s crossover lineup. For reference, it’s about the same size as a Nissan Murano or a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Perhaps more importantly, it’s roughly four inches longer than the old Edge courtesy of an increased wheelbase that allows for more interior volume.
Ford completely revised the interior styling. As you might remember, the old Edge had a square looking dashboard and frankly, a low rent interior.
Cabin Fever
This time around Ford designed the interior to have lines that carry on from the front doors onto the dashboard to give you more of a feeling that the cabin is built around its passengers.
The materials are also much nicer from the door panels to the dash. Thankfully, the latest generation of Ford’s center abandons the buttonless interface you would find in, say, the current Fusion.
There are more compartments to store your stuff and in general, Ford says it worked to address complaints about interior build quality in the first-generation. The previous model had a low rent cabin that did nothing to ease Ford away from the popularly negative image that so many people still associate with domestic vehicles. The new dashboard is layered with a soft touch material that feels sturdy if you press a finger into it and most of the panels have metal accents meant to mimic what you would find in a premium German product. It really is difficult to criticize the new Edge on interior quality without nitpicking.
Twin Scroll Turbo Four Pot Now Standard
Ford also changed plenty about the new Edge that you can’t see. The base engine is now a 2.0-liter turbo, but it isn’t the same version you’ve seen before. Most of the internal components have been changed and it now has the same twin-scroll turbocharger as the larger 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder you would find in the Mustang. In other words, you get more torque much sooner.
Of course, you can still get the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 and then there’s the hot-rod Sport model that gets the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, an engine available exclusively on that model.
Oh and you can also tow up to 3,500 lbs with any of those powertrains including the four-cylinder.
But no matter which version you choose, they’re all paired with a six-speed automatic and available with either front- or all-wheel drive. The base powertrain is easily gutsy enough to get the Edge going. You really don’t need to upgrade. My only complaint is that the transmission doesn’t do a good job of picking the right gear under hard acceleration. It you bury the throttle to overtake a car on the highway, the transmission will downshift once and then a second time to find the right ratio. That could be improved, but the shifts are otherwise smooth and comfortable.
Now speaking of all-wheel drive, the system in the ’15 Edge is new. It uses a clutch pack to share power between the front and rear axles with the capability to send up to 100 percent of the available torque to the front or rear. The Edge can also distribute power side-to-side by pulsing the brakes as needed to maintain stability.
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Multi Link Means More Driving Refinement
Ford is also moving to a multi-link rear suspension to bring the Edge out of the handling Stone Age for a more refined ride and I have to say it feels comfortable and sure-footed.
The Sport models also get monotube shocks for improved handling without sacrificing ride comfort.
If that all seems a little too geeky, take this point home: Ford expects to
sell roughly half of the new Edge with the new turbocharged four-cylinder engine and honestly that’s the powertrain we would pick because it has as rouhgly much power as a V6 with even better torque characteristics.
Conveniently Technological
If engine specs aren’t interesting to you, this certainly will be: the Edge is available with a long list of the latest technologies including blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning and lane keeping assistance along with Ford’s hands-free liftgate to name a few.
None of that is really new, but it’s new to the Edge. So are inflatable rear seat belts, Ford’s hands-free liftgate and a forward facing 180-degree camera that has a dedicated cleaning nozzle.
Finally, Ford is debuting its new “enhanced parking assistance” system. Like the old version, it can parallel park the car, but now it can pull back out or back into a perpendicular space.
And speaking of space, there’s quite a bit in this vehicle. At about 39 cubic feet with all seats standing, it roughly ties the Nissan Murano. Fold the second row and you get about 73, which puts the Edge ahead, bringing us to my final point. Ford priced the new Edge to be slightly less expensive than the Murano at every trim level before you add optional packages, but at those stages it’s still competitively equipped.
The Verdict:
It’s more robust than the model it replaces. It’s also more stylish, better packaged and perhaps most importantly, the Edge positioned to continue as a segment leader.
