Select a year
- Highs Quiet cabin, comfortable seats, plentiful standard equipment.
- Lows Subpar interior materials, drives like it's wearing two left shoes, starting to show its age.
- Verdict Ranging from adequately equipped base models to the sporting ST, the Edge offers something for everybody.
Overview
In the burgeoning mid-size, two-row crossover segment, the aging Ford Edge remains a sharp contender, with a quiet cabin and lots of standard features. It's the best five-seat offering in Ford's SUV lineup, occupying the real estate between the all-new Escape and fresh Explorer. The interior looks a bit long in the tooth, but the seats are cushy and the cabin is hushed, with enough space to comfortably contain four adults. The two flavors of powertrain satisfy distinctive tastes: a fuel-efficient 250 horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder or the Edge ST's peppy twin-turbo V-6 and its class-leading 335 ponies. Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assistant features includes blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and automated emergency braking is standard on all trim levels. The Edge's exterior design makes it hard to distinguish if it's coming or going, but the progression through the trim levels accentuate its curb appeal.
What's New for 2020?
After last year's mild refresh, the 2020 Edge remains largely unchanged. A new Elite package dresses up the Titanium's interior with Brunello door inserts and brick-red stitching. All trim levels are treated to dual-zone climate control, an 8.0-inch Sync 3 touchscreen, a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, and a reverse-sensing system. New to the color palette are Atlas Blue, Dark Persian Green, Desert Gold, Iconic Silver, Rapid Red, and Star White.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The Ford Edge ST's 335-hp twin-turbo V-6 is tempting; however, it's an extreme approach to affordable family transport. And though the visual cues of the SEL and the Titanium trims are appealing, we'd settle for the base SE with the now-standard 8.0-inch display, power-adjustable driver's seat and dual-zone climate control. With all that extra cash we save, we'd opt for the all-wheel-drive option, which is a $1995 upcharge.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The base turbocharged four-cylinder makes 250 horsepower and, despite its casual acceleration, should provide adequate power for most customers. If you're looking for an SUV that can keep pace with a Volkswagen Golf GTI from zero to 60 mph—and quite a few other zippy cars as well—check the box for the Edge ST, which gets a 335-hp twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V-6 and standard all-wheel drive. It's not as light on its feet as the athletic Mazda CX-9—our benchmark for crossover handling—but the Edge is reasonably enjoyable to drive and provides reassuring stability in corners; its steering is nicely weighted, if not particularly communicative, and its ride is comfortable over imperfect road surfaces.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Four-cylinder models are rated by the EPA for up to 29 mpg highway and even the sporty ST model managed to earn a 26-mpg highway rating. We haven't tested the four-cylinder with its new eight-speed automatic yet, but on our 200-mile highway fuel-economy loop the ST managed 25 mpg, just 1 mpg short of its promise.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Plenty spacious for four adults, the Edge's cabin is a comfortable place for a commute or a road trip. Materials throughout the cabin are nicely chosen, but panel fit and finish could be better; we noticed a few misaligned dashboard pieces in our test vehicle. Otherwise, the interior design is simple and understated, with plenty of room for people and cargo. If putting junk in the trunk is important to you, the two-row-crossover segment is a great enabler. With the rear seats folded, the Edge accommodated 29 of our carry-on suitcases. Its competitors are all closely matched in cargo room, but the Edge's thoughtful storage cubbies and slightly roomier cabin might seal the deal.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Technophiles should plan to upgrade their Edge to include the Sync 3 infotainment system, as the base system's small screen and single USB port won't satisfy. Stepping up to the SEL adds a lot more connectivity, as it includes an 8.0-inch touchscreen, the Sync 3 software, and AppLink, which connects apps on your smartphone with similar apps in the Sync software to provide access to entertainment on the go. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also make their way into the mix with this package and add another layer of connectivity. A Wi-Fi hotspot is standard across the range.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)
The Edge received a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Driver-assistance features are now more accessible; some features—including automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring—are now standard. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-keeping assist
- Standard blind-spot monitoring
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
There's nothing edgy about the Edge's warranty coverage—it's strictly average for the segment, with nothing to help it stand out to consumers.
- Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
