Instrumented Test
Some vehicles can be described as having an edge. The Porsche 911 GT3 has an edge. The Subaru WRX STI has an edge. Even some SUVs—like, say, the Porsche Macan Turbo—have an edge. The redesigned-for-2015 Ford Edge, however, is as edgy as the Hyundai Sonata is melodic and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is fast. Which is to say not very.
In the case of this particular test vehicle, decked out in dressy Titanium trim and equipped with the 3.5-liter V-6 and all-wheel drive, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. We just had to surrender our racing helmets to appreciate it. Because it’s not that kind of car.
Like most of its competitors, the Edge is a utilitarian family shuttle first and foremost. Furthermore, the Edge is a consistent seller for Ford and a valuable part of its crossover family, bracketed by the smaller Escape below and the three-row Explorer above. Ford couldn’t afford to get it wrong, so the company built a vehicle pretty much free of rough edges, so to speak, thus rendering the winsome crossover an Edge in name only, especially from the driver’s seat.
Indeed, the only Edges to be found are on the exterior. Chamfered forms and a rather muscular stance characterize the design, as do the tall, thick body; subtle fender bulges; and fast-sloping rear window. To that, Ford added a fair amount of décor, including optional 20-inch darkened five-spoke wheels on our test example, conjoined taillamps, and polygonal LED lights in the corners of the front bumper. All together, the Edge Titanium looks classy, stylish, and rather benign, like a kinder, softer Jeep Grand Cherokee. Or perhaps more accurately, a less ostentatious Lincoln MKX.
The second-generation Edge shares many of its chassis bits with the satisfying Fusion sedan. The electric power steering is direct but pretty much devoid of feel. A compliant suspension and relatively high-profile (50-series) Pirelli all-season tires deliver a velvety ride, more so than the tauter 2015 Edge Sport we recently tested, which rode on standard 21-inch wheels wrapped by 40-series tires. Roadholding suffers considerably, though, with the Titanium model’s 20-inch tires sliding loose with just 0.78 g of lateral grip compared to the Sport’s 0.83 g. Brakes, too, lacked the Sport’s bite, requiring a rather long 187 feet to come to a stop from 70 mph, 11 feet more than the Sport.
The 280-hp 3.5-liter V-6 is the largest of the Edge’s three available engines, yet its 250 lb-ft makes it the least torquey of the lot. Its 7.7-second zero-to-60 time is no surprise considering it’s down 35 horsepower and a huge 100 lb-ft of torque compared to the twin-turbo 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 found under the hood of the Sport. (The 3.5-liter boasts a 35-hp advantage over the base, 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo, but is still 25 lb-ft shy in torque.) Passing acceleration is therefore sluggish, especially in the real world, thanks to a transmission that seems reluctant to kick down; when it does, it can do so harshly. Fuel economy failed to impress us, too, as we averaged just 18 mpg overall, with much of our driving done on the highway.
Don’t let the data turn you off completely, though, since the overall experience of driving the Edge is actually quite pleasant. Much of the credit goes to its sensible, comfortable, and serene cabin. Allowing just 64 decibels of noise penetrate those environs at 70 mph, the Edge is an ideal listening environment for your favorite music, whether that be hip hop or a nuanced Handel concerto. Cooled front seats (which are also heated) came as part of the Equipment Group 302A that constituted $5645 of our Ford’s $45,045 as-tested price, and they proved heroic on a hot day, putting our backsides into a deep freeze on their iciest setting. The rear seat is huge, just how we like ’em here in America, and best of all, the MyFord Touch system is less touchy now, thanks to the addition of conventional buttons and knobs for the stereo and climate controls. The Edge will soon step up to the latest Sync 3 infotainment system as the technology filters throughout Ford’s lineup.
In the end, this Edge proved to be smooth, like a river rock, and we enjoyed our time with it. Driven as intended, it is a swell thing. Want an Edge with a bit more, er, edge? The Sport model we tested recently was priced within $500 of this one. The choice is yours.
