Ford Edge

SPECIFICATIONS

1. With a base 285 hp, 3.5-liter V6, an optional 2.0L EcoBoost 4-cylinder makes 240 hp while a 3.7L V6 makes 305 hp. 2. Four-cylinder models are available only as front-wheel drive. 3. Fuel economy is a best of 21 MPG city and 30 MPG highway for 24 MPG combined while our AWD 3.5L V6 tester is rated 19/27 MPG or 22 MPG combined. 4. Price for a base SE model starts at $28,595 including destination with our Limited test car at over 37 grand.

PREVIEW

Right smack in the center of today’s crossover maelstrom are vehicles like the Nissan Murano and Toyota Venza; they’re the very definition of a “midsize” utility. But this segment is not exclusive to Japanese manufacturers; Ford offers a vehicle with features and utility to match.

The Edge should appeal to a broad swath of potential buyers, but is that enough! Since its introduction in late 2006 this Blue-Oval crossover has been something of an innovative product for the company. It was one of the first Fords to be powered by their then-new 3.5-liter Duratec V6 engine. Following a pretty substantial refresh in 2011 it was the first product to introduce customers to MyFord Touch, the company’s controversial infotainment technology. A year later the Edge received a big powertrain upgrade in the form of the brand-new 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder turbo, and guess what? It was one of the first vehicles to get this exciting engine.

INTERIOR

The 2013 Ford Edge features an attractively understated cabin. The materials used are nice looking and pretty much everything is screwed together properly; fit and finish was better than the Toyota Venza we evaluated a few weeks ago.

There are plenty of soft surfaces throughout the interior, including the dashboard and armrests, though curiously the tops of the door panels are constructed of hard plastic, seemingly to assault unsuspecting elbows.The overall interior design is pleasantly straightforward, with no unnecessary swoops, angles or odd-looking design flourishes. It’s likely this cockpit will still look attractive in 10 years, unlike the Venza for instance, which is reminiscent of something out of a Picasso painting.

Even cargo has plenty of space to stretch out. The Edge delivers a maximum volume of about 69 cubic feet behind the front seats, which is a whisker less than the Venza and a couple cubes more than what the Murano can muster.As one might expect, the front chairs are comfortable and fully adjustable, but rear-seat passengers are also treated to generous accommodations. There’s plenty of legroom and the backrests can adjust to a wide array of angles for maximum comfort. If there’s anything to complain about it’s the lower cushion, which is a tad too low.

Making things easy, the second-row seats can be folded with the push of a button. A rocker switch mounted in the cargo area allows the backrests to drop, maximizing cargo space without requiring you to fumble with levers on either side of the vehicle.

                                  

UNDER THE HOOD

Three different powerplants are available to Edge customers. The volume unit is a 3.5-liter V6. With twin independent variable cam timing, Ti-VCT in Ford-speak, it delivers a class-competitive 285 horsepower with 253 lb-ft of torque. This engine loves to rev and surges ahead as the tachometer pointer hits about 5,000 RPM, sprinting to redline before the transmission grabs the next gear; a six-speed automatic is standard across the board.

The top engine is a larger version of this V6, displacing 3.7 liters. It’s essentially the same unit that sees duty in the Mustang and F-150. Under the Edge Sport’s hood it cranks out 305 horsepower with 280 units of twist.

The limited model provided for evaluation was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 and featured two-wheel drive. Fuel economy for this version is 19 MPG city, 27 on the interstate. Combined it averages 22, a figure we managed to beat, albeit barely, topping it by a couple tenths of an MPG.The midrange powerplant is a 2.0-liter EcoBoost unit. It puts out 240 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. Not surprisingly it’s the most fuel-efficient offering. It stickers at 21 miles per gallon city and 30 highway resulting in a combined score of 24 MPG, which is quite respectable for this class. Additionally, EcoBoosted Edges are only available with front-wheel drive; V6 buyers can opt for all-weather grip.