When the Edge first appeared about a decade ago, it was Ford's first play in the midsize
crossover segment and went on to become a huge success.
And now for 2015, the Edge is redesigned with more polish and maturity to further its story.
2015 Ford Edge TitaniumWhile the Escape and Explorer contribute the most to Ford’s utility
vehicle coffer, the Edge is the middle sibling and doing quite well in its own right, competing
against the likes of the Nissan Murano and besting it in sales.
It’s exclusively a 2-row 5-seater and is priced in that upper 20s to upper 30s price
range, in front or all-wheel drive.
It’s now derived from the Fusion sedan and comes with a new powertrain mix.
No longer an option, the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost engine moves over to
the “standard equipment” column while the non-turbo 3.5-liter V6 becomes a $425
option.
A new 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine powers the racier Edge Sport but that’s for another
show.
The trim level I’m driving is also new for 2015; it’s the top-of-the-line Edge Titanium,
added to meet market demand for more premium offerings.
This one is 2-wheel drive and priced from $36,495.
But to get one exactly like this colored in the exceptional White Platinum paint and stuffed
with the wide ranging 302A Equipment Group, it’ll cost you $42,290 before any available
incentives.
Slightly longer and taller than before, Ford has walked the fine line of improving upon
an already popular model while maintaining its identity.
It’s an excellent step forward.
The Edge has been in my possession for over a week now and a few days ago I took the family
on a foliage tour through New England.
The Edge could not have been a more agreeable companion giving the 3 of us a vehicle crafted
for enjoyable road trips.
My biggest takeaways?
The 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine is enough…much to my surprise…and provides very decent
mileage.
It’s super quiet…much more so than before and that lends to an even greater sense of
luxury.
And lastly, the ride is not Euro-tuned…it’s American soft and sumptuous without being
sloppy on the back roads.
It looks good and treats you right.
With production moved from Spain to Cleveland, this improved motor makes slightly more energy
now – rated at 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque – through a twin-scroll turbo
reducing lag, a lighter engine block, and a higher compression ratio.
So unlike before, you can specify an Edge with this engine and all-wheel drive while
increasing towing capacity from 1,500 pounds to 3,500 pounds.
AWD is a $1,495 option.
The gas mileage meter barely moves from before, rated at 20mpg city/30mpg highway.
Regular gas is fine but premium is recommended for improved performance.
A smooth shifting 6-speed auto with a fun Sport mode and paddle shifters is standard.
Everything about the Edge looks and feels more premium, no matter if you’re a passenger
or the driver.
The new rear suspension in conjunction with a stiffer body means the Edge is more engaging
to drive as well as more sophisticated in how it handles rough roads.
It’s relaxed yet astute in every aspect of its personality.
The living space is family room friendly with straightforward controls, great visibility,
all day seating comfort and the luxury level touch of Titanium service where just about
everything is done for you.
While the 2016 model gets the new SYNC3 system, this short run of 2015s still uses MyFord
Touch…an infotainment unit that doesn’t offend me and offers voice and touchscreen
control.
A button push gives you angles from the front-mounted 180-degree camera replete with its own washer
but it’s not the awesomeness of Nissan’s 360 degree camera.
And a Ford technology that’s been around for a while – Enhanced active park assist
– now adds automatic perpendicular parking to parallel parking as well as the ability
to steer you out of a space.
I had mixed results with the perpendicular option, a feature I have little need for anyhow.
Other safety tech includes Blind Spot detection with rear cross traffic alert, lane departure
warning and lane keep assist, auto high beams, rain-sensing wipers and inflatable seat belts
in the back.
The perforated leather seats provide heated and cooled functionality in the front, heated
in the rear, remote start and a heated steering wheel are your friends in winter and the Panoramic
Vista Roof is enormous.
Those in the back have reclining seats with plenty of space in each direction and power
folding functionality means lowering the seats is a simple button push away, leading to wide,
expansive cargo room.
2 USB ports in the front and a high tech, configurable gauge cluster give the cabin
a modern feel but by in large it’s a simply adorned, easy to use space perfectly geared
for its intended audience – it won’t scare away technophobes.
Ford gets an A on this redo, furthering its leadership in the utility vehicle segment.