When Ford Group Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service Cisco Codina visited with the Midwest Automotive Media Association this past fall to promote the merits of Ford’s new crossover vehicle, he commented, “We have called the Edge launch the single most important launch for the company this year.” So needless to say, Ford Motor Company has high hopes for the all-new mid-size, car-based five-passenger crossover.
Edge is not as tall or as long as the better known Explorer, a mid-size, heavier-duty sport utility vehicle that has served Ford well, but has experienced a sales slowdown as gasoline prices at the corner filling station surpassed $3 a gallon this past summer. That’s where this new Ford crossover has well…an Edge. Crossovers, combining the benefits of a long wagon with sport utility good looks, are expected to be one of the largest growth segments in the industry during the next several years. It’s estimated 2.4 million crossover-type vehicles will be sold in the 2006 calendar year and an estimated 17 million total vehicles will be sold nationwide. Plus ‘Edge’ is probably the best name to come out of Ford’s marketing arm in a while.
Edge is a car-based, not a truck-based platform so it’s lighter and more fuel efficient from the get go; and designed for on-road, not off-road travel. The uni-body car platform it’s based on is the same one used in numerous other Ford products and vehicles from its Mazda partner. Mazda is one-third owned by Ford Motor Company.
The Edge platform is utilized on the mid-size Ford Fusion, one of the few bright spots in a tough year at the number two automaker here in the U.S. Fusion sales have been strong and steady since its debut in 2005, besting the Chicago-built and slightly larger mid-size Ford Five Hundred sedan. The same sedan platform is used in Fusion’s sister vehicles, the Mercury Milan and 2007 Lincoln MKZ ( formerly the Lincoln Zepher sedan in 2006). The same underpinnings are also found on the Mazda6 mid-size car platform and the new Mazda CX-7, also a car-based five-passenger crossover but with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine under the hood.
Edge opts for an all-new 3.5-liter Duratec V-6 engine cranking out an impressive 265 horsepower and mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. It’s the sole powertrain for all three trim levels: SE, SEL and SEL Plus providing more than enough get-up-and-go for this vehicle. This engine provides more horsepower than most rivals in its class. Regular, 87-octane fuel is recommended for the 20-gallon fuel tank. Both front-wheel and all-wheel drive are available in all three trims. The seamless all-wheel-drive, which is the same system found in Fusion, requires no switches to activate or buttons to push. Fuel estimates are 18 m.p.g. city and 25 m.p.g. highway for front wheel drive and 17 m.p.g. city and 24 m.p.g. highway for all-wheel drive.
The lowest-priced edition starts at $25,320 for SE front-wheel drive. Ford supplied the Daily Herald with one of the most opulent models available, a SEL Plus edition with all-wheel drive. Starting price was $30,720 and ended at $36,775 with most of the options available figured in.
Standard equipment in all trims is fairly complete including air conditioning, power windows, power door locks/keyless entry, compact disc player, cruise control, rear window defroster and power mirrors. Antilock disc brakes and stability control also come standard as do dual front air bags, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags covering both rows. Sirius satellite radio is optional in all trims. An in-dash DVD navigation system with 6-disc CD changer ($2,380), rear sensing system ($245), long, dual panoramic roof ($1,395) and 18-inch aluminum wheels ($750) are optional in SEL models.
The Ford Edge was scheduled to hit dealers in mid-November, but was delayed a couple of weeks to ensure quality issues were addressed at the Oakville, Ontario Canada plant where it’s assembled. It’s not unusual for an automaker to delay a launch, especially an all-new model, to keep standards high from the start. Edges are now being delivered to Chicago-area Ford dealers. Those looking for more seating capacity in an Edge type crossover vehicle from Ford have to wait for a production version of the Ford Fairlane concept which has toured recent auto shows. Fairlane, a great name from Ford’s past, will be based on a stretched Edge platform with three rows of seats. Expect a Fairlane production announcement in the not-too-distant future.
Driver’s sit higher up in the Edge than a Fusion sedan, but it’s not a big step to get in, rather a sit down motion for those in the six-foot-inch height network.
The flat instrument panel housed two large, circular analog gauges with two smaller fuel and temperature gauges in between. The driver’s door was home to power window and power mirror controls up front of the arm rest. Power lock controls are on the door ahead of the chrome door handle. Each map pocket area of the two front doors also has a molded area to conveniently stow cans of soda. Headlights monitor from a dial on the far left of the dashboard. Both front and rear wipers activate from a twist of the turn signal stalk.
In between the front bucket seats are the automatic transmission gear shifter, dual inline beverage holders and a deep storage area with arm rest cover hinged at the back. This area is capable of holding a purse or lap top computer. Cruise control functions are vertically arranged on the left side of the steering wheel face while secondary stereo audio controls are on the right. The parking brake is foot-operated.
The ventilation system in the center of the dashboard in the SEL Plus trim features a series of buttons. Along the bottom are a row of buttons controlling fan speed and direction along with heated seat buttons and the air conditioning button. Above are touch pads for raising or lowering inside temperature. The stereo system with optional built-in navigation screen were above. Large rectangular and vertically situated ventilation vents flank the temperature settings and stereo.
No ceiling handles are found in front but rear travelers have grab handles on the center ‘B” pillar to hold onto when entering. Seats did sport white stitching along the edges, adding a touch of class to the black interior. Sunglasses may be stowed in a ceiling caddy near the front map lights. One item that could add to the ambiance is a retractable beveled mirror. Ford was one of the first automakers to introduce this in its minivans several years ago and allows the driver to keep better visual tabs on what the kids/pets/teens are up to in back.
The second row is wide enough to handle three full-sized adults with three headrests. In fact, Edge is wider (75.8 inches) than the Explorer (73.7 inches) contributing to a nice-size second row. When more cargo room is needed, second-row backrests easily fold down with a 60/40 split on top of the seat cushion once a mechanical handle adjacent to the seat cushion is pulled up.
Exterior wise, our SEL Plus trim included dual exhausts in back. In front three bold vertical bars and center Ford blue oval logo make up the front grille (a similar design utilized in the Fusion). The steeply sloped front “A” pillar creates a sleek look. In back, a rear spoiler is standard. All four strap-like door handles and side-view mirrors are body colored. The circular fuel gauge is on the driver’s side rear fender. The rear hatch door, hinged at the top, opens up from the bottom, but is a little heavy, so be prepared to help hike it up. No power option is available for the hatchback at this time. One nice feature in the hatch area were buttons that when pushed, folded down one portion of the second-row backrests; a convenient feature when loading cargo. A temporary spare rests below the flat floor cargo area.
Edge got put to the test on December 1, the first big snow fall of the season. The all-wheel-drive test vehicle motored out of the garage before the snow plows had a chance to sweep the driveway or complete the removal of snow from side streets and Edge performed admirably. Edge sure-footedly maneuvered its way to the main drag as if it had lived through several Chicago snow falls.
Edge’s wide stance enhances stability on the road and handles corners more sure-footed than larger sport utilities. Even though our test model was an early-production model, the Edge had a sold feel, thanks in part to its added weight.
Edge is a bit wider, although heavier than the five-passenger mid-size Chevrolet Equinox hatchback/crossover which is also available in front wheel or all-wheel drive. Equinox starts at $22,180 for a front-wheel drive edition with a standard 3.4-liter V-6 engine with 185 horses. The mid-size Toyota Highlander offers an optional third row of seating and the choice of four or six-cylinder power. All-wheel drive is also available. Pricing starts at $24,880 for a four-cylinder, five-passenger Highlander. The Nissan Murano, also available with front wheel or all-wheel drive starts at $27,600 for a front-drive model with the standard 3.5-liter V-6 cranking out 245 horsepower.
Edge’s powertrain warranty coverage is for five years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first). The bumper-to-bumper warranty covering many other parts is for three years or 36,000 miles.
Edge received more kudos last week when it was chosen as one of three finalists for ‘North American Truck of the Year’ voted on by 49 international automotive journalists. Edge is in the finals with the Mazda CX-7 (built on the same Edge platform) and Chevrolet’s Silverado pickup. The winner will be announced at the North American International Auto show in Detroit next month. |