FORD Edge 2020

Body, cabin and cargo space

The Ford Edge’s dimensions place it right in line with the average intermediate five-seater SUV. The result is a cabin that’s significantly more spacious than that of a compact utility vehicle such as the Ford Escape, with a much smaller footprint than that of a seven-seater midsize vehicle like the Ford Explorer. This makes it very appropriate for a nuclear family, regardless of the age—and leg length—of the children.

The large cargo area is notably high below the windows and the top of the seat back, which makes it easy to stack luggage. When folded, the back seat lies flush with the floor of the trunk. The centre section also flips back separately so you can carry two passengers and long items at the same time.

The front seats are firm but quite well-bolstered. It would be nice if there were more adjustment options, such as the height of the lumbar support or the length of the seat cushion. The combination of a prominent footrest, a high-mounted seat (even when lowered to the maximum), and the somewhat short reach of the telescopic steering wheel bothered some of our testers. Most found the rear seat well formed, but too low to support the thighs properly.

The rather classic dashboard is very functional. There are physical knobs for the main functions, rather than the touch buttons used from 2011 to 2014, and the touchscreen for the Sync 3 system is very logical. That said, the lack of switches for the ventilation mode, heated steering wheel, and traction control—all of which are essential features in this part of the world—pose a problem in the long run.

The Edge was the second Ford vehicle to feature a rotary gearshift dial (after the Fusion sedan from which it derives). Even though the good old “gear stick” is still the most natural, the rotary selector is more user-friendly than the series of buttons used on some competitor models.

Strangely, Ford did not take this opportunity to add storage space under the centre console. On the other hand, there’s a good-sized cubby with a retractable cover at the bottom of the centre stack, with 12-volt and USB sockets. The cup holders with retention tabs are great and a large console under the armrest also comes in mighty handy.

Other highlights

Convenience features: Dual-zone automatic temperature controls, central touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and push-button start come standard since 2019. Hands-free power liftgate, park assist, ventilated seats, and panoramic sunroof are optional, depending on the model.

Fit and finish: Improved in 2015 and even better since last year, with increased use of soft-touch materials on the dashboard and doors. Leather upholstery on Titanium and ST models only. The SEL model features strong, durable ActiveX material as an option.

Safety features

• Antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist
• Stability and traction control
• Hill start assist
• Front airbags
• Driver knee airbag
• Airbag integrated into the glove compartment (to prevent the passenger from submarining under the seatbelt)
• Front side airbags
• Side curtain airbags
• Five adjustable headrests
• Rearview camera with lens-washer
• Surround view cameras (optional on the Titanium and ST models, not available on SE and SEL models)
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Blind-zone monitoring system with rear cross traffic alert
• Forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection
• Automatic post-impact braking
• Lane departure alert
• Automatic high beams
• Adaptive cruise control, lane control system, and evasive steering assist (included in the Ford CoPilot360 Assist+ package in the SEL, Titanium, and ST models; not available in the SE)

Crash test results

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Overall score: 5 / 5
Frontal impact: 5 / 5
Side impact: 5 / 5
Rollover resistance: 4 / 5

Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS)
Moderate overlap frontal impact: 4 / 4
Small overlap frontal impact:
- driver side: 4 / 4
- passenger side: 4 / 4
Side impact: 4 / 4
Rear impact: 4 / 4
Roof strength: 4 / 4

IIHS Top Safety Pick

Visibility

Not one of the Ford Edge’s strengths because some of the windows are rather narrow and the roof pillars are too wide. Large mirrors make it easier to change lanes and back up, but they reduce the field of view at intersections. Kudos to Ford for equipping all models with blind zone monitoring and a lens-washing system for the rearview camera.

Headlights: All models have LED headlights as a standard feature. The headlights that come with the 301A (Titanium) and 401A (ST) packages pivot during turns, allowing them to light farther ahead in some curves. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates them as acceptable (3/4), but those on the other models as poor (1/4), especially as they tend to blind oncoming motorists.

Mechanical overview

Ford equipped the Edge with the Fusion sedan’s outstanding platform when it revamped the 2015 model. The platform’s excellent rigidity allowed Ford to revisit the suspension to improve handling without compromising comfort. At the same time, Ford finally added electric-assisted steering.

None of this has changed with the 2019 update, except in the ST model. It has undergone a host of minor modifications to enhance its power and responsiveness compared to the previous Sport version.

Last year’s refresh, however, marked the disappearance of the 3.5‑litre V6 in the SE, SEL, and Titanium models. In keeping with the trends, the only engine available for these models is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder direct injection engine that provides more torque than the old six-cylinder but less power at high revs.

V6 fans have to choose the ST model, whose powerful 2.7-litre twin-turbo engine delivers no less than 335 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. But to obtain these values, you have to use 93 octane gas, which is hard to find and very expensive. Both engines take regular gas, with slightly lower performance as a result.

In both cases, two gears were added to the automatic transmission, for a total of eight. With the rotary gearshift dial, the switch on the lever for manual drive mode has been replaced by paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.

All models now come with all‑wheel drive, with the strange exception of the SEL, which continues to offer it as an option. This system engages automatically when the front wheels lose grip, under high acceleration, and in some curves.

Unlike the Jeep Grand Cherokee or even the Ford Explorer, the Ford Edge does not offer a terrain management system, which modulates the response according to pavement conditions—mud, snow, sand, etc. And it isn’t particularly good for off-road use because of its rather low ground clearance.

Other highlights

Fuel consumption: We measured 10.1 L/100 km during our road test, three quarters of which was conducted on the highway. This is roughly equivalent to the result obtained with the Hyundai Santa Fe, which has a similar engine, as well as the average city/highway driving performance posted by Natural Resources Canada.

With the ST model’s V6, you can expect an extra 1 to 2 L/100 km under realistic driving conditions. Despite the Ecoboost label, performance always comes at a price with a gas engine!

Driving impressions

Road handling was quite good in the first generation of the Ford Edge and represented a small revolution among Ford SUVs. The manufacturer raised this a notch without compromising comfort when it revamped the Edge five years ago.

The heavy feeling when cornering that plagued the 2007–2014 models may not have completely disappeared, but it’s much less obvious in the current model. Only the Chevrolet Blazer and some versions of the Jeep Grand Cherokee show better agility in their class than the Edge.

Precise and well-geared, the steering enhances driving pleasure, especially as it provides decent feedback and excellent directional stability at cruising speed. This is an element that Ford has definitely mastered.

Ford is also good at adjusting the suspension: in the Edge it absorbs most of the bumps without relaying them to the cab. The 19-inch wheels on our model did not overly affect ride, but the 21-inch wheels, optional in the ST version, do have some effect.

On the other hand, the spiced-up engine on this sporty model adds unsuspected flair to an already well-balanced recipe. Acceleration is impressive under all circumstances, especially since the two gears added to the transmission in 2019 have made it possible to reduce rev gaps between gears.

The current gear box is an improvement, although it can be jerky when cold. It also doesn’t fully compensate for the basic engine’s slight lack of power. Although perfectly adapted to the Escape, the 2.0‑litre EcoBoost doesn’t perform as well in a vehicle as heavy as the Edge, especially in mountainous terrain.

Other highlights

Braking: greatly improved in 2015: strong emergency stops, firm pedal, easy to adapt to normal driving.

Drive assist: the lane departure alert lacks precision (sometimes late, sometimes overly responsive), which can lead to a bit of weaving within the lane. Adaptive cruise control rather well calibrated.

Soundproofing: perceptible, but not disturbing level of road noise; Ford has significantly improved this aspect over the years. Engine remarkably quiet for a turbo four-cylinder. Occasional wind noises around the sunroof and windshield pillars.