2007 Edge
The 2007 Ford Edge, will mark the second in a new generation of cars from the famed automaker that can compete in quality with European and Japanese imports. The Edge takes build quality up a notch and uses generally nicer cabin materials than previous Fords that we have seen. The Edge also includes cabin technology, which younger car consumers are coming to expect.
The Ford Edge is marketed as a crossover car, combining the cargo space and visibility of an SUV with the smooth ride and fuel economy of a sedan. It shares a platform with the 2007 Mazda CX-7 evident from the cars’ similar body style and is also the source of Ford’s newfound quality touches.
This quality can be felt in the Edge’s comfortable leather seats, in its hushed cabin, and with its smoothly shifting, six-speed automatic transmission, which seems to always hit the right gear for the driving conditions.
The LCD is a little small and can get quickly cluttered with the settings screens and their many options. But you will still find it easy to select audio sources and navigation functions. The main interface is supplemented by steering wheel buttons that not only control the stereo and cruise control, but also set temperature and fan speed a nice addition.
The six-speed automatic is the best thing about the power train in the Ford Edge. It gives the car a good array of options to get the best revolutions per minute for the car speed. Similar to the Mazda CX-7, the Ford Edge is programmed for efficiency, with upshifts happening at a fairly low engine speed.
Unlike the CX-7, however, the Edge doesn’t have a manual gear selection mode, instead going with a Drive and a Low mode. There is also a button on the side of the shifter which engages a Hill mode.
With a curb weight of 4,282 pounds for the all-wheel-drive Edge, Ford’s 3.5-liter V-6 engine has its work cut out. And it doesn’t always measure up. Even with 265 horsepower, the engine can’t move the car very fast from a stop, and the whine it makes when the pedal is held down is almost scary.
Given the car’s height and weight, it’s not built to carve corners, but handling is nice and tight, and steering responsive. All-wheel drive contributes to the car’s grip on the road, whether for driving in bad weather or negotiating mountain roads. MacPherson struts in front and an independent suspension in back give the Edge a carlike ride, while helping with the handling.
The EPA rates the Edge for 17mpg in the city and 24mpg on the highway, which is reasonable for this size of vehicle. Although our test period wasn’t long enough to publish an observed fuel economy, we don’t expect it to show as much variation as the Mazda CX-7, as the Edge’s V-6 engine should be more consistent than the CX-7’s turbo engine.
Ford brags that safety is not optional on the Edge, and the list of standard safety equipment is lengthy. It starts with full airbag coverage: the driver and front passenger are protected with front and side airbags, while side curtain airbags cover the whole cabin.
Antilock brakes are also standard, as is Ford’s AdvanceTrac stability control, which uses sensors to determine if the car is about to roll over or spin out, applying brakes and reducing engine power to compensate.