Editor:

Jim McCraw

Price As Tested:

$39,995

“Major revisions improve midsize crossover utility vehicle.”

Ford has done a very good job up updating what was already a winner. The 2011 Ford Edge accelerates quicker, it brakes harder and more progressively, it's measurably quieter on the highway than the previous version, and its onboard electronics and entertainment systems are clearly the best in the industry in terms of capability and ease of use. It's very cool to look at, and the Sport version is the quickest CUV for the money in the segment, with the biggest, showiest tires and wheels. The SEL, the highest volume model, is equipped and priced in a segment sweet spot. Highly recommended for your shopping list.

Jim McCraw filed this report to NewCarTestDrive.com from Nashville, Tennessee.

Editor:

Jim McCraw

Price As Tested:

$39,995

“Major revisions improve midsize crossover utility vehicle.”

There is nothing much left of the previous Edge's interior decor. The instrument panel, seat trims, door panels and door pockets have all been redesigned for more comfort and utility.

It's a crossover utility vehicle, so the front passenger seat folds flat, and each half of the second seat folds flat independently. The rear seat also reclines for additional passenger comfort. With this scheme, the driver can haul objects up to eight feet long on the right side of the cabin.

The instrument panel, center stack, switches and controls have all been redone for the 2011 models, and there are essentially two different approaches. For the SE and SEL versions, the instrument panel has a single 4.5-inch LED screen and a package of analog instruments along with a set of mechanical switches and controls in the center console and center stack.

Standard on the Limited and Sport and optional on the SEL is a completely new instrument panel, center console, flat-panel center stack and display screen for a new system called MyFordTouch.

MFT is an advance on Ford's existing Sync voice-activated communications technology that uses two five-way thumb switches mounted on the steering wheel spokes, two 4.5-inch LED display screens on either side of the big speedometer in the instrument cluster, an 8-inch LED display screen at the top center of the instrument panel with a four-zone color-coding system, and a panel of flat touch buttons below it. MFT, the thumb switches, and the screen combine to control climate, sound system, telephone, navigation and an enormous variety of information functions including turn-by-turn directions, sports scores, fuel prices, movie listings, dining, and even horoscopes, using a new list of up to 10,000 voice commands.

As for storage, the capacity of the Edge remains the same, 32.2 cubic feet behind the second seat, 68.9 cubic feet with the second seat folded flat.

Editor:

Jim McCraw

Price As Tested:

$39,995

“Major revisions improve midsize crossover utility vehicle.”

There will be two engines for the Edge at the start of production. The base V6 a 3.5-liter double-overhead cam, 4-valve engine with variable cam timing, rated at 285 horsepower and 253 foot-pounds of torque. The Sport version will come only with a larger and much more powerful 3.7-liter version of the same architecture with 305 horsepower and 285 foot-pounds of torque.

The 6-speed transmission comes with a ordinary shifter on the SE model, with a SelectShift manual-control shifter on the SEL and Limited models, and with SelectShift and wheel-mounted paddle shifters on the Sport version. Electronically controlled part-time all-wheel-drive, which adds torque to the rear tires as needed, is optional on all models.

Although we drove several different models of the 2011 Edge, including the hot Sport, we settled on a well-equipped, well-optioned Limited version for our long drive experience. The first thing you notice is the additional horsepower and torque of the revised 3.5-liter V6 engine, and the speedy crispness of the 6-speed automatic's shifting. The engine sounds strong in the lower gears, throaty and authoritative, but in sixth gear cruising, the cabin is very, very quiet, and speech intelligibility around the cabin is excellent.

Ford has also fixed what we thought was a deficient braking system on the earlier models. Almost everything in the braking system has been upgraded, and the feel at the pedal, where it counts, is vastly improved. You feel the start of deceleration much earlier in the pedal travel, and the braking force is stronger and more linear than it was before. All the mushiness and indecision has been taken out of the brake pedal.

A trailer sway control system is tied into the traction and yaw control systems, to make towing up to 3500 pounds a lot easier because the trailer isn't constantly moving from side to side back there.

Editor:

Jim McCraw

Price As Tested:

$39,995

“Major revisions improve midsize crossover utility vehicle.”

The 2011 Ford Edge comes in SE ($27,220), SEL ($30,220), Limited ($34,220), and Sport ($36,220) versions. Front-wheel drive is standard, all-wheel drive is available on all models: Edge SE AWD ($29,070), Edge SEL AWD ($32,070), Edge Limited AWD ($36,070), Edge Sport AWD ($38,070). (All New Car Test Drive prices are Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices, which do not include destination charges and may change at any time without notice.)

Options include navigation ($795); Panoramic Vista Roof ($1,595); 20-inch chrome wheels ($895); trailer tow package ($395).

Safety equipment standard on the Edge includes front, side and roof curtain air bags, ABS, AdvanceTrac traction and yaw control with rollover stability control, SOS post-crash alert system, and tire pressure monitoring. Options include Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert; all-wheel drive.

Editor:

Jim McCraw

Price As Tested:

$39,995

“Major revisions improve midsize crossover utility vehicle.”

For 2011, Edge has been given a substantial cosmetic and content makeover, a major makeover, with 60 percent of its parts and components replaced. That means a new grille, hood, fenders, lamps, bumper and air intakes up front, with new handles all around, new taillamps, liftgate, wheels, and exhaust system outlets at the rear.

The Sport model has a tuxedo black grille and lower intakes, a front spoiler, body-colored handles, rocker extensions, different exhaust tips, aluminum alloy pedal covers, 22-inch chrome wheels and big tires, MyFordTouch, and a 305-horsepower V6 engine that is exclusive to this model. This is essentially the same engine that comes in the base Mustang, and gives the Sport version to most power in the class.