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HEELS ON WHEELS: 2015 FORD EDGE REVIEW


PHOTO (select to view enlarged photo)
2015 Ford Edge

HEELS ON WHEELS
By Katrina Ramser
San Francisco Bureau
The Auto Channel

INTRO TO THE EDGE VEHICLE

The Edge, a mid-size crossover that first entered the market in 2007, takes on a redesign for 2015 that covers body structure to better interior materials. The revised 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder outperforms many competitor’s V6 engines and reaches pleasing fuel economy numbers for the segment at 24 mile-per-gallon combined.

I drove a 2015 Ford Edge with the Titanium trim and the turbocharged 285-horsepower 2-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine and the six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission with paddle activation. The Edge is offered in four trims – the base SE, SEL, Titanium and Sport. My top-of-the-line Titanium trim came with the following standard features: leather-trimmed sport seats; ten-way driver’s seat; heated front seats; audio and five-way steering wheel controls; Sony audio system with HD Radio; a rearview camera; SYNC with MyFord Touch; media hub for portable players; push-button start; power tailgate; reverse sensing system; nineteen-inch wheels; rear spoiler; and dual bright exhaust tips. Total vehicle price as described came to $35,600.

Some of the more notables on the 2015 Ford Edge include softer touch surfaces, software upgrades for SYNC, and safety technology. Competition is stiff in the mid-size SUV department, and the choice rests on what you favor: comfortable three-row space, lots of features for less, or foul-weather performance. Some top choices to study in your quest for the best include the Toyota Highlander, the Nissan Pathfinder, Dodge Durango, the Mazda CX-9

HEELS ON WHEELS REVIEW CRITERIA

Stylish But Comfortable Results: A stylish enough mid-crossover, you might feel a little swallowed up upon first seating (something the Mazda CX-9 and Dodge Durango have avoided). MyFord Touch remains a very vivid and accessible system for streamlining all your daily technology, and the tweaks consumer’s once sited – slow to respond to commands – have appeared resolved. Ford can go overboard by offering the consumer too many trim choices, but the Edge sticks to four clear versions. To really deck this crossover out, however, you do need to invest in a $5,645 equipment group that adds navigation, remote start, heated rear seats, a panoramic vista roof, and advanced safety technology like Blind Spot Monitoring, Land Departure Warning and Enhanced Park Assist.

Reliability & Safety Factor: The 2015 Ford Edge earned “Good” crash test results in all areas omitting an “Acceptable” in small overlap front with The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) – it is still a Top Safety Pick. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives it a Five-Star rating. Safety features include Advance Trac with Roll Stability Control (RSC); Anti-Lock Brakes; dual-stage front airbags; seat-mounted side airbags; SOS Post-Crash Alert System; Belt-Minder System; LATCH; Tire-Pressure Monitoring System; and Ford’s MyKey that allows parents to control the audio and speed through key fobs when their teenager takes the wheel. Highly recommended for a vehicle of this size is the optional safety technology such as Blind Spot Monitoring, Land Departure Warning and Enhanced Park Assist.

Cost Issues: The base SE Edge starts at $28,100, but its features are basic (rear-view camera, SYNC for basic audio control, and push-button start are the main highlights). With the extras on my Titanium trim, total price came to $41,840. A top-of-the-line Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring with options is $37,570.

Activity & Performance Ability: Ford’s brakes remain commanding and firm, and the acceleration on the turbocharged 2-liter is downright fun – it whipped the pants off my current Mitsubishi Outlander’s V6. Overall the Edge offers an engaging, secure ride that continues to respond to commands, but does feel a bit bulky (do not skip on the upgraded safety technology).

The Green Concern: The 2.7-liter V6 EcoBoost gets 18-city/27-highway driving for an average of 21-mpg with all-wheel drive – quite comparable with others in its class. My test drive’s 2-liter four-cylinder has fuel economy estimates of 20-city/30-hgiway for a combined 24 miles-per-gallon.

FINAL PARTING WORDS
Always a concern for the mid-size SUV class, fuel economy for the 2015 Ford Edge offers 24 mile-per-gallon combined with the impressive turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder engine. You’ll love the upgraded feel of the redesign, too, but the desirable features can grow the price tag and a bulky feeling does exist behind the wheel – best to compare with some less expensive, more maneuverable crossovers.

©2015 Katrina Ramser

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