Ford Edge (2016 – 2019) Review

Ford Edge (2016 – 2019) Verdict

Very quiet and refined. Huge boot and plenty of rear passenger room. Handles well and is a great motorway cruiser.

Powershift only available on the more powerful engine. Not a seven seater. Vague steering. Dropped from range in 2019 due to slow sales.

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Ford Edge (2016 – 2019) handling and engines

• Engines range from 2.0 Ecoblue 150 Automatic to 2.0 TDCi 210 Powershift
• Readers report Real MPG to be between 29–44 mpg

Ford has made significant changes to the Edge that's sold in the US. So in Europe we get a firmer suspension set-up and tweaked steering that's more responsive. And the results are impressive. The Edge rides superbly well with very little road noise on the move. Even big lumps and potholes in the road don't upset it. We'd go as far as to say it's one of the the best SUVs of its size for all-round ride comfort.

Not only is it very refined but it's also incredibly quiet. That's down to another change that's been made to the Edge for Europe – acoustic glass. This includes an acoustic windscreen and front windows that make a big difference in cutting out wind noise and really add to the premium feel when on the move.

Get the Edge out on the motorway and you'll be able to appreciate it's real strength. It's superb at motorway speeds with hardly any noise, a relaxed engine and a reassuringly stable feel. Even at Autobahn speeds, the Edge remains unruffled.

There are two versions available from launch – both powered by Ford's trusty 2.0 TDCI engine. The diesel unit is one of the best around when it comes to smooth running and a linear power delivery – and it's the same in the Edge.

The 2.0 TDCI 180PS comes with a six-speed manual gearbox. If you go for an entry-level Zetec trim model this is the only choice. In truth, the 180PS model has more than enough power with 400Nm of torque that's available from just 2000rpm. It never feels as sprightly as those figures suggest – this is a car that weighs close to two tonnes - but it has plenty of pulling power in the mid range.

We'd suggest going for the more powerful 2.0 TDCI Bi-Turbo with 210PS. It's not the increase in power or extra 50Nm of torque that makes it, but rather the fact that it comes with a six-speed PowerShift automatic as standard.

It's no rocket ship from 0-62mph, taking 9.4 seconds, but it's very easy to drive and always manages to be in the right gear. It doesn't suffer from the indecisiveness of Volkswagen's DSG and tends to be one step ahead of you, for example when slowing down for a roundabout and then accelerating again if it's clear.

The quick-shifting auto suits the Edge perfectly and is much more in keeping with a car of this size. What may not seem apparent from the pictures is the scale of the Edge – it's a lot bigger than it looks and is in fact ever so slightly longer than a Volkswagen Touareg.

That has benefits for interior space but isn't great in narrow multi-storey car park spaces, or for negotiating narrow country lanes. You don't want to kerb those big 19-inch alloy wheels either. And if you want even larger, 20-inch alloys with 255/45 R20 tyres are an optional extra.

Both Edge models are AWD with an on-demand four-wheel drive system identical to that used in the Mondeo and S-MAX. The benefit being that in normal driving it defaults to front-wheel drive, saving fuel.

And when it comes to fuel, the Edge is pretty good on paper. The official figures say (somewhat confusingly) that both models will average 48.7mpg, which dips down a still very reasonable 47.9mpg if you go for the 20-inch wheels. Of course whether you see that in real life is another matter – check out Real MPG to see how it actually performs.

The Edge is also available with a new Adaptive Steering – standard on the Sport and an option on the Titanium. It's designed to make the steering easier at low speeds plus more agile at high speeds. It works well but we think the standard steering on the Titanium is more than good enough, so wouldn't suggest shelling out extra money on it.

Ford Edge (2016 – 2019) interior

• Euro NCAP rating of five stars

The interior of the Edge follows on from the latest Mondeo and S-MAX with a similar design, so while it doesn't break any new ground, you get a very well finished interior with a clear layout and a solid feel.

Ford is aiming for premium quality with this interior and it's certainly getting close. The design is down to personal taste. Some might suggest it's a little plain while others may appreciate the lack of frippery. We're not big fans of the Sony radio panel, it doesn't look or feel especially upmarket, but the rest is top notch with leather on the doors and dash top, incredibly comfortable yet supportive seats and a black piano gloss finish on the centre stack.

Along with the acoustic glass, the cabin gets active noise control, which combined with an already quiet diesel engine and good sound insulation, makes the Edge one of the quietest SUVs on the move.

The infotainment touchscreen is another highlight. The latest Ford system is far better than its previous effort with easy to use functions and a good navigation system that's quick to route with three journey options.

We're not too convinced by the display between the dials. It's a little haphazard and not especially neatly laid out, plus there's no digital speedo which seems odd. But you soon get used to it and like the infotainment system, it's far easier to use than before.

Thanks to the sheer size of the Edge, there's plenty of room. You won't have to worry about knocking elbows when sharing the centre armrest with your passenger and even with a six-footer in the front, there's more than enough leg and head room in the back for another lanky adult.

Storage is impressive with big door pockets, another large box under the aforementioned arm rest and some of the deepest cup holders we've ever seen. As for boot room, the Edge has a hefty 621 litres of carrying capacity under the retractable luggage cover, with vertical sides allowing to maximise the space.

There's no boot lip thanks to a raised floor but the space underneath hasn't been wasted. Usefully there's a proper spare wheel (a space saver but at least better than a can of sealant) and a polystyrene tray moulded round it that you can use for odds and ends.

You can also drop the rear seats in one go using a button in the boot, although the bulky luggage cover is awkward to remove and then needs to be stored somewhere. But the Edge does come with an electric tailgate as standard on Titanium and Sport models.

Standard equipment from launch (summer 2016):

Zetec gets 19-inch alloy wheels with 235/55 R19 tyres, DAB radio with nine speakers, touchscreen and SYNC 2, rear view camera, keyless start, active city stop with pedestrian detection, privacy glass, rear spoiler, automatic windscreen wipers, automatic headlights, Quickclear heated windscreen, Lane Keeping Aid, Traffic Sign Recognition and Active Noise Control.

Titanium adds different 19-inch alloys, front and rear parking sensors, handsfree power tailgate and keyfree system, chrome roof rails and exterior detailing, Ford DAB Navigation, illuminated scuff plates, acoustic side glass and heated front sports seats.

Sport comes with 20-inch black alloy wheels with 255/45 R20 tyres, unique front, rear and side sports bodystyling with dark exterior detailing, sports suspension, Sony DAB navigation with 12 speakers, Adaptive Steering, alloy pedals and black roof rails.

Ford Edge (2016 – 2019) models and specs

Currently on sale

On sale until April 2019

On sale until January 2018

On sale until October 2017

On sale until April 2017