![]() ![]() ![]() Neither option will make the Ford Edge feel particularly spritely – customers after an SUV with sportscar handling will be better off with a Mazda CX-5. ![]() Both are quiet and refined around town and when cruising on motorways but do drone rather loudly when you accelerate hard. The 178hp engine feels underpowered at times thanks to the Edge’s near two-tonne mass and the 207hp model fares only slightly better. You can choose from a pair of 2.0-litre diesel engines, a 178hp unit in Zetec and Titanium models, or a more powerful 207hp version in the Sport model. The Ford Edge is a practical family car but it's pricing puts it next to better alternatives Standard equipment levels are good – entry-level Zetec models come with traffic sign recognition, lane-keeping assistance and automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, although sat nav is reserved for more expensive Titanium and Sport models. It should also make a good tow-car thanks to a maximum braked towing capacity of 2,000kg and a kerb weight of more than 1,900kg. All models come with all-wheel drive as standard and the option of a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. You get the choice of two diesel engines – a 2.0-litre 178hp unit or, in Sport trim, a more powerful 207hp version. The infotainment system isn’t as intuitive as that fitted to some rivals but the simple button layout on the centre console ensures other on-board features, such as climate control and heated seats, can be adjusted without taking your eyes off the road. The Ford Edge interior shares many design features with the latest Galaxy, although a wealth of soft-touch plastics and gloss trim pieces help it feel like a more premium product. The flat load bay with no discernible lip makes loading and unloading bulky items easy. There is room for five six-foot-tall occupants and the 602-litre boot volume is larger than both the Volvo XC60’s 495-litre capacity and the 540 litres available in an Audi Q5. The Ford Edge is the company’s largest SUV in Europe and boasts an impressive amount of interior space. With the Edge expecting a facelift in 2019, it may be wiser to wait and see what Ford does, or possibly jump ship to a rival that does it better.Find out more about the Ford Edge (2016-2018) And since they were designed to have those features, they often incorporate them better. But, by the time you finish adding the features you really want to be included, you may find yourself paying the same as you would for rivals that offer the same as standard. Still, for the affordable starting price of $29,315, the Edge is relatively well-equipped. Unfortunately, safety features are sorely lacking - unless you spring for packages than include many of the features that certain rivals offer as standard, such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The infotainment suite might be basic, but the upgraded Sync 3 system comes standard with smartphone integration, and you can opt for a better sound system, too. The front seats are far more impressive, thankfully. Unfortunately, all that space doesn't really make up for the fact that their comfort is subpar. This area increases to 73.4 cubic feet if you fold down the rear seats, which are quite spacious themselves. Cargo space is one of its greatest strengths, with few rivals matching the impressive 39.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats. While not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, the SUV has several areas where it excels. The Ford Edge is certainly worthy of consideration. Noise is quite well-managed thanks to good cabin insulation. The rear seats are naturally less pleasant than the front, but not so much so that they become unbearable. The comfortable seats and generally good ride quality make for an overall pleasant drive, even over long distances. On the plus side, it does provide better overall handling characteristics. Bumps and potholes can cause some serious discomfort in the cabin thanks to the sport-tuned suspension. This changes with the top-tier Sport trim, however, especially with its large 20-inch wheels. The suspension is a bit on the firmer side, but it is independent of the chassis, making for a pretty comfortable ride even over larger road imperfections without completely disregarding road feel. As for the brakes - they don't disappoint, offering a stopping distance of 119 ft from 60 mph. As is quite common in mainstream SUVs, the steering isn't very talkative, but it is surprisingly responsive, especially with the adaptive steering equipped to higher trims, offering a fair degree of resistance as you lean into each turn. Questionable acceleration aside, the Edge handles well enough for a larger vehicle. ![]()
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