2009 Ford Edge Review

PROS  Good passenger and cargo room, Comfortable ride, Powerful engine

CONS Fuel economy, Engine noise when cold, Ho-hum interior materials

The Edge was introduced in 2007. It's Ford's entry into the hot crossover SUV market. Crossover SUVs have been growing in popularity as buyers are looking for the utility of an SUV and the ride and comfort of a traditional sedan. Though they look like traditional SUVs, crossovers are generally not off-road capable and usually have more fuel-efficient powertrains. The most popular crossovers include the Chevrolet Equinox, Dodge Journey, GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-7, Nissan Murano, and Toyota Highlander.

Edge comes only as a four-door wagon with a single-piece, swing-up liftgate. It seats five on front buckets and a three-place folding rear bench seat. Four models are offered. Returning from 2008 are the SE, SEL, and Limited. New for 2009 is the Sport. All trim levels get a 265-hosrepower 3.5-liter V6 and six-speed automatic transmission. Front- and all-wheel drive models are offered. Maximum towing capacity is 3500 pounds.

Standard safety features include antilock four-wheel disc brakes, stability control, tire-pressure monitor, traction control, and dual-front, front-side, and curtain-side airbags. Optional on SE and standard on SEL, Limited and Sport is a rear-obstacle-detection system. A rear-view camera is not offered.

The SE has a starting price of $26,635 and includes air conditioning, tilt-telescope steering wheel, cruise control, driver-seat lumbar adjustment, center console, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with digital-media player connection, variable-intermittent wipers, rear defogger, floormats, theft-deterrent system, rear privacy glass, rear spoiler, 235/65R17 tires, and alloy wheels.

SEL models have a starting MSRP of $29,545 and add to the SE wiper-activated headlights, leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, six-way power driver seat, second-row reclining power-folding split seat, keypad entry, AM/FM radio with in-dash 6-disc CD/MP3 changer, satellite radio, trip computer, automatic day/night rearview mirror, compass, illuminated visor mirrors, automatic headlights, fog lights, and 245/60R18 tires.

The Limited starts at $32,300 and adds to the SEL leather upholstery, heated front seats, fold-flat six-way power passenger seat, memory system (driver seat, mirrors), dual-zone automatic climate controls, interior air filter, heated power mirrors, upgraded audio system with iPod adapter, SYNC, Bluetooth cell-phone connection, universal garage door opener, and chrome alloy wheels.

The new-for-'09 Sport starts at $34,755 and adds to the SEL leather and alcantara upholstery, Bluetooth cell-phone connection, iPod adapter, SNYC, and 265/40R22 tires.

Key options include power liftgate, navigation system with real-time traffic information and digital hard drive, DVD-based rear-seat entertainment system, Vista roof, and remote engine start. All models have a $775 destination charge. The Edge shares engine and chassis with the Lincoln MKX and is assembled in Canada.

Get up and Go  The 3.5-liter V6 and six-speed manual transmission are a good fit in Edge. Together, Ford claims they will push Edge from 0-60 mph in 8.4 seconds and that's quite believable. Edge feels lively off the line and has good passing response. The transmission also upshifts smoothly and downshifts promptly for more passing power.

Throttle response is quite linear, which makes Edge easy to modulate in stop-and-go driving. Sadly, the engine is somewhat coarse in hard acceleration--especially when cold.

Edge with AWD is EPA rated at 15 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. That's a tick behind most crossover competitors and somewhat disappointing. In routine commuting expect Edge to average 18 mph. If your commute includes a fair amount of highway driving, you might average slightly more than 20 mpg. Ford says that Edge's 3.5-liter V6 will run fine on less-expensive regular-grade fuel.

Edge's all-wheel-drive system does not have a low range and is not intended for severe off-road duty. That said it does a good job of sending power to the wheels with the most traction when the road grows slick.

On the Road  Edge doesn't drive like a traditional SUV. The suspension does an excellent job of filtering out harsh potholes and freeway expansion joints. It also minimizes, but doesn't eliminate, undue body motions on rough roads. The ride can become busy on coarse concrete surfaces, but Edge rides more smoothly than most competitors. The Sport comes with 22-inch wheels, which impart a much firmer ride than the typical SUV, so shop wisely.

Though the Edge isn't as nimble as a typical sedan, it is much more athletic than you'd expect. Responsive and firm steering, good suspension composure, and grippy tires conspire to reward aggressive drivers with above-SUV-average handling limits. Still, a fair amount of body motion in turns and hard stops quickly reminds you that Edge is an SUV and needs to be driven with care.

Interior noise levels are impressively low--once the engine quiets down. There's just a hint of wind noise at highway speeds and little tire or road noise, with the exception of the 22-inch wheels on the Sport. Available panoramic sunroof is larger than most and gets noisy when open on the highway.

Behind the Wheel  Edge's interior shares a lot of components with other Ford products. For example, the gauges are from Fusion and seem slightly small for the instrument panel design. Ford is not alone in parts sharing, but for some reason it's a little more obvious in Edge than in some of its competitors. Materials are appropriate for the class, but no more.
 
Just because the interior doesn't look expensive doesn't mean it isn't functional. All of Edge's controls are well placed and clearly marked. The available navigation system is easy to program but the screen is a trifle small, another case of sharing components within the Ford family. Climate and audio controls are high enough to be easily reached by both driver and passenger.

Ford's available SYNC system is a huge plus. It integrates audio, navigation, and phone controls into one system that is activated with simple voice commands. While it might take a little time to learn, it is much less distracting that jog-dial or touch-screen controlled systems.

Front seats are comfortable and surprisingly supportive in aggressive driving. Leg room is good and head room ample, though it's only adequate on models equipped with the panorama sunroof. Visibility to the rear is hindered by thick pillars and a smallish rear window. On the upside outside mirrors are large and feature a wide-angle inset to help minimize blind spots.

Rear seats are both roomy and comfortable. The rear seatback reclines for added comfort. Rear door openings are large, making entry/exit easy as long as you don't mind the modest step up.

Cargo space is expansive, even if the rear seats are up. Tailgate is large and load floor is low, making it easy to stow large objects. Rear seatbacks fold semi-flat to increase cargo space. Electronic releases for the rear seats are available, but the seats must be pushed back up manually, regardless. Interior storage is comparable to others in the class.

One minor note, the optional panorama sunroof opens over the roof of the vehicle. So, if you intend to load a cargo carrier or stack cargo on the roof, you may want to skip it. Smartly, Ford made the panorama roof unavailable on models with roof racks.

Bottom Line  Ford's Edge has been a strong seller since it's introduction in 2007 and for good reason. The Edge offers American size room and comfort in a compact and maneuverable package. The positives include a responsive drivetrain, plenty of passenger and cargo space, and a very functional interior. On the downside, fuel economy could be better and the interior materials are just average.

Prices are attractive and dealers should be willing to offer discounts since the crossover market is so competitive. If you are looking for something to replace your aging SUV or need more utility than a traditional sedan, the Edge makes a lot of sense.