Edge has graced Ford dealerships since late 2006, generating a very healthy 500,000 plus in unit sales since inception. The versatile, five-seat, car-based 2012 crossover is the beneficiary of an intense mid-cycle refresh first revealed at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. Edge shares underpinnings with its high-brow Lincoln MKX crossover. Last year's mid-cycle modification incorporates enough nuances to qualify as a complete redo in most years.
In 2012 the big news is what's available under the hood; an all-aluminum, 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine. Ford promotes this gem of a four-cylinder, 240 horsepower workhorse as delivering the goods of a V-6 wrapped snuggly in a fuel friendly, four-cylinder package. EcoBoost marries together turbocharging and gasoline direct injection technologies to maximize fuel efficiency efforts. By the 2013 model year, Ford expects 90 percent of its domestic lineup to offer highly efficient four or six-cylinder EcoBoost engines. Edge and the slightly larger, 2012 Chicago-built Explorer crossover were the first Ford vehicles to offer four-cylinder EcoBoost technology. A six-cylinder twin-turbo EcoBoost variant (mimicking V-8 muscle) arrived four years earlier and has become a fast friend to the F-150 full-size pickup truck community.
Three Edge engines are available in 2012. Besides the inline 2.0 EcoBoost engine, shoppers can ponder two additional V-6 powertrains.
Four trims (SE, SEL, Limited, Sport) return from the 2011 mid-cycle refresh. All three engines are married to a fuel-saving six-speed automatic transmission; manual transmission is not available. The four-cylinder EcoBoost is optional in all trims sans Sport. Ford turns conventional marketing wisdom upside down by offering the larger 3.5-litrer, 285-horspeower V-6 engines standard with the more fuel-friendly four-banger optional. Edge's car-like unibody construction is designed for on-pavement travel rather than off-road excursions. Sport trims come with the most-potent powertrain, a 3.7-liter V-6 promoting 305 horsepower similar to one offered under the hood of Ford's iconic Mustang.
Our front-wheel drive SEL included a starting price of $31,060. Ford offers several equipment groups and individual features to pick from. Our tester's 'equipment group 205' featured MyFord Touch interface, leather seats and useful rear-view camera ($2,510) while a-la carte options including the EcoBoost engine ($995), blind spot monitoring ($485) and voice activated navigation system ($795) brought the bottom line to $36,670 with $825 destination change and equipment savings. The lowest-price SE starts at $28,465.
Front-wheel drive is solely available in SE while the three remaining trims offer front-drive standard and all-wheel-drive as an option. All-wheel drive is optional only with V-6 engines, not the 2.0-liter EcoBoost. In the upcoming 2013 model year, all-wheel drive gets added to the base SE.
As with most recently redesigned Ford vehicles, Edge includes an it's-so-high-tech-it's-simple "Easy Fuel' system eliminating the need for a plastic twist cap. Just maneuver the fuel nozzle past a self-sealing barrier plate. When the fuel tank is satisfied and the nozzle removed, the plate automatically cinches close. Regular, 87 octane fills the 18 gallon fuel tank, a noble accomplishment since a number of turbo engines require higher-priced premium or diesel fuel. Front-wheel-drive EcoBoost highway fuel numbers top the 30 mile-per-gallon barrier registering 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, three-to five miles per gallon better than V-6 offerings. Edge currently does not offer a gas-electric hybrid powertrain, but the compact Ford Escape crossover does.
Waltzing into Edge requires a step-in, not a jump-up motion. Mid-size dimensions help accommodate three adults in row two with much more comfort than most available 'cute utes.' The large central "MyFord Touch" media center flows directly into the inline beverage region between the front buckets. The deep storage bin with sliding/flip-up arm-rest cover contains two USB plug-in ports, a Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot and RCA jacks capable of syncing in step with "MyFord Touch."
Ford's second-generation of "MyFord Touch" combines an eight-inch mid-dash screen and small tough-sensitive pads for ventilation, audio and navigation functions while working in tandem with portable personal electronics and cell phones. Wisely, Ford incorporates two large vertically-arranged dials monitoring volume and fan speed (twist knobs are not evil and this intricate system could utilize a few more). Edge was one of the first Blue Oval vehicles offering "MyFord Touch" two years ago and is an outgrowth of Sync voice command on board since 2007 (developed in tandem with software mega giant Microsoft). Ford's investing mightily in MyFord Touch with very mixed results.
As with electronic gizmos in general, when all is synced together and working as advertised, life is good. While tech-friendly consumers tend to forgive glitches from $200 hand-held electronics thanks in part to quick-fix downloadable upgrades, those investing $30,000 in family transportation are far less patient of potential crashes; electronic or otherwise.
Chicago area Ford franchises have orchestrated in-dealer, in-depth, "MyFord Touch" familiarization sessions in response to stinging customer feedback. Recently, Ford experienced a sobering free fall in consumer satisfaction in the highly influential J.D. Power and Associates surveys. Ride quality and overall mechanical build were not at issue; frustration with this latest rendition of "MyFord Touch" interfacing turned up as the major culprit.
Ford, to its credit, responded quickly with a downloadable-type upgrade (mailed to current owners via USB drive late in 2011) resulting in larger point-size and less-cluttered graphics within the eight-inch quad-partitioned touch-sensitive screen. "My Ford Touch" also operates though voice activation commands (part of a touch-talk dynamic syncopation), but carve out enough 'trial and error' time to minimize connectivity miscues. MyFord Touch also works in concert with steering-wheel-mounted push controls rotating through tutorials displayed within two separate rectangular instrument panel displays. In between is a large, circular analog speedometer with blue needle indicator. Cruise control functions are also onboard the three-spoke, mechanically tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. The foot-operated parking brake opens up more room between front buckets.
More than once the very tiny, touch-sensitive red hazard triangular icon along the bottom frame of the eight-inch screen got poked inadvertently, setting off the warning flashers. A new flasher location would be helpful down the road. MyFord Touch is standard in Limited and Sport models and optional in SEL.
On the road, Edge's excellent handling characteristics mimic those of European decent. The solid build-feel is enhanced by a surprisingly quiet interior. It's not the lowest-priced mid-size offering in this competitive segment, but one well worth the outlaid cash. The extra $1,000 for the four-cylinder EcoBoost engine is worth the investment especially if petro prices remain hovering at $4 a gallon.
Exterior wise, arched, half-circle wheel wells join strap-like handles to create, yes, an Edgy, handsome look. Edge manages a distinctive appearance in a very crowded cookie-cutter segment. Soft highlights merge occasionally with sharp angled nuances. Side view mirrors, tiny in comparison to the rest of the vehicle, need some future supersizing, but smartly sport secondary blinker bands. A power lift gate is optional only in SEL trims. All versions include a standard wiper. The back window angles sharply at approximately 45-degrees rather than a stiffer-looking up-and-down vertical design. Edge's short hood merges into a huge, imposing front grille featuring three bold horizontal bars and centered blue Ford logo with narrow, eagle-eye profile headlight housing flanking the sides. Five new 2012 exterior hues include our tester's galvanizing "Ginger Ale" green.
2012 Ford EdgePrice as tested: $36,670
Length: 184.2 inches
Width: 76 inches
Wheelbase: 111.2 inches
Engine: 2.0-liter, EcoBoost engine
Horsepower: 240
Curb weight: 3,998 pounds
City/Highway economy: 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway
Powertrain warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
Assembly: Oakville, Ontario Canada