By: Michael Sanders
The new 2016 Ford Edge is not your typical mom-mobile. It fits into that new category of a truly sporty SUV. It’s big and comfortable enough for mom and the kids, and has enough cool factors to satisfy dad. My wife and I were both thoroughly pleased with this car, but both for our own different reasons.
Ford Edge Headlight
Well – I’m the one writing the article, so let’s start with what I liked. That’s easy: Twin turbo, V6, all-wheel drive, with a 6-speed paddle shift transmission. Taking the kids to and from soccer practice is a little more fun in the Edge… than in your average soft SUV. Even though it’s big, it’s still no slouch. The car makes a roaring 315 horsepower at 4,700 RPM, and a very impressive 350lb-ft of torque at only 2,700 rpm. This is more than enough power to make for a spirited commute. Whether you’re fighting for a lane during rush hour or blowing by a Sunday driver on the highway, the new Edge has plenty in the tank to get the task done.
Front Ford Edge
The all-wheel drive setup gives you a ton of grip and complete control over the vehicle. This feature can’t be underestimated because it’s awesome for so many different reasons. Just the safety factor alone is huge. No need to worry about heavy rain, snow, or ice. This little guy is going the trudge right through it all. I love the fact that we are starting to see this in more and more cars, so we don’t have to depend on just Jeep and Subaru to carry the lonely torch. As I’m sure you know, all-wheel drive is also great for gripping and ripping through corners, as well as dominating an unsuspecting ricer from a dig.
My wife was more of a fan of the creature comforts that the Edge presents. It’s actually much more spacious than you think. And as the old slogan goes – If you haven’t driven a Ford lately, you need to get in one & check it out. Ford probably could have added a 3rd row of seating, but why? A lot of times, the SUVs in this size-segment try to cram in a 3rd row… just to check off that box. But it ends up being pretty useless, AND it takes rear cargo height out of the back even when folded down. I think Ford really nailed the spacing on this car, and I’m glad they didn’t play games with the 3rd row. There is plenty of room for all passengers to settle in both the front and the back, while also leaving a ton of room for the hatch area. My 70lb. dog also really enjoyed his new castle in the back. He had all the room that he needed to walk around, stand up, sit down, stand up again, sit back down (he’s really fidgety in cars), and occasionally check on the baby. It’s not exactly a truck, but there is more than enough room back there for a trip to the grocery store & Home Depot.
2015 Ford Edge
We also really enjoyed the Ford Sync and infotainment setup in the 2015 Edge. We had this feature in the 5.0 Mustang GT that we recently tested, but I was too busy destroying tires and hurting feelings to pay enough attention to it. The Sync system is innovative, super easy to use, and extremely convenient. The screen is large and has everything categorized neatly, so that all features are easy to find. It’s amazing that you can do so much on your phone without having to actually touch or even look at your phone while driving the Edge. Another cool thing about this car is that it caters to the old school people as well. If you’re not big on touch screens, have no fear. Ford has placed all of the typical buttons and knobs for the climate control and stereo right in their typical spots.
2015 Ford Edge
The most impressive part about the new Edge is probably its ability to drive itself. Not completely of course, but it felt pretty close. The lane assist on this thing is pretty precise, if you’re into that sort of thing. I normally want to have 100% control over the vehicle when I’m behind the wheel, but this feature did turn out to be pretty convenient in the Edge. Of course, the lane assist won’t handle serious turns, but it does a great job of keeping you in your lane for highway driving. That way you can focus on other things, like the infotainment. By the way, the park assist is kind of mind blowing! It’s really easy to setup… and it worked perfectly every time we tried to use it. This should make traveling to the city a little less of a stress for a lot of people.
2015 Ford Edge Sport
All in all the new Ford Edge is a pretty neat car. It has all of the things that you would want to see in a daily driver. Good gas mileage, strong motor, tons of room, some cool color choices, and enough gadgets to take on the new age world. It’s a great car for mom… but (this is important here) it won’t emasculate dad to get behind the wheel for family adventures and/or nights out. If you’re in the market for a new car with a good combination of go and comfort, I recommend giving this one a look.
