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The SUV market is still growing exponentially and Ford clearly intends to grab itself a piece of this lucrative cake. Nearly a year after it was introduced in the American market, the new SUV from Ford finally arrived in Europe in mid-2016. This model is currently available in the Edge Vignale luxury version.
The SUV undeniably stands out in terms of its size and the level of comfort it offers, without compromising on driving pleasure. Whilst the Edge may be classed as a compact car in North America (where it originates), at 4.8m in length and 1.93m wide it would more likely be considered a large car here in Europe. Its modern, angular design certainly reflects its name, whilst its exclusive 20-inch wheel rims, chrome fog light covers and chrome trim on the side door thresholds, and body-coloured door handles and bumper add to the premium character of the Edge Vignale. The Edge creates a sense of robustness thanks to its very spacious and substantial passenger compartment and generally scores highly in this respect. The rear tailgate features an elegant design whilst the volume of the boot can vary from 602 to 1,850 litres with a maximum load length of 1.92m, meaning that it can accommodate greater transport needs.
Features
With regards to support systems, too, the Edge is in keeping with the times and equipped for dealing with most situations straight out of the factory. Driving aids range from the reversing camera to the automatic emergency braking system, with the predictive technology to detect pedestrians using the active lane keeping assist system and the road sign recognition technology. For a supplement, and on request, it can also be fitted with a three-part 180° wide-angle front camera for transversal roads with poor visibility, a parking assist feature, including parking in bays, and rear seatbelts with built-in airbags designed to better cushion the torso on impact.
The Edge is also fitted with a built-in innovative Active Noise Control system in order to improve acoustic comfort in the Titanium and higher models. Noise from the wind and the throbbing of the engine is filtered out of the vehicle’s passenger compartment not using acoustic glass that absorbs the noise but primarily by means of imperceptible reverse sound waves emitted by the speakers.
The on-road performance of the biturbo 2-litre diesel engine we tested with 210hp (154kW) combined with a Getrag dual-clutch gearbox was perfectly satisfactory, despite the 1.9-tonne weight of the vehicle. Don’t expect record acceleration speeds, but then the maximum speed the vehicle can achieve is often only a small part of the pleasure it offers anyway. The chassis gently sways the bodywork, meaning that little force is required to steer the SUV around bends with precision and without pitching.
Prices for the Premium 210hp model, including the dual-clutch gearbox, start at €54,500.