Ford's big SUV scores well

By Ken Fletcher

IT'S BEEN a long time coming, but it's been well worth the wait to get a hold of Ford's new premium SUV, the Edge.

While it might not be the most glamorous puss on parade, there's no doubt that this one really does give Ford 'the edge' on practicality, roominess and affordability.

It's competing in a tough old market, though, where the likes of the Land Rover products reign supreme at the 'large' end of the spectrum. But I think there's more than enough room for this down-to-earth SUC sporting the blue oval.

What's surprising is how long it has taken to arrive in the UK. Ford is well-known for its brash good ole pick-ups and various SUVs in the US. But the Edge comes fully 'Europeanised' and comes with a host of what's known as 'driver assistance' technologies and an intelligent all-wheel-drive system.

The Edge has a choice of two 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engines – one of 178 bhp capable of the 0-62 mph run in 9.9 seconds or one of 207 bhp thanks to the use of a bi-turbo set-up that shaves half a second off that sprint time. Interestingly, both versions deliver identical mpg figures of an average of 48.7 mpg.

Getting close to 50mpg is quite an astonishing feat, given that this is one heavy dude, weighing in at one small girl short of two tonnes for the more single-turbo version and a big dug short of it for the more powerful model.

I've driven both, but I'd come down on the side of the more powerful version, which only comes with six-speed Powershift auto gearbox, while the other has a six-speed manual. Both will tow two tonnes of braked trailer.

It's quite an imposing vehicle, being 4.8m long and almost 2.2m wide with the big wing mirrors fully extended.

That's a factor in its ability to hold a hoose full of Xmas goodies and with all the seats in place, there's 800 litres of room, but with the rear seats folded down flat, there's a positively gargantuan 1850 litres of room. Even loaded to the luggage cover, there's more than 600 litres to fill.

Sensible pricing is also part of the deal. An entry-level Zetec model costs a fiver less than £30k, but it's not much of a poor relation as you get 19-inch alloys, DAB digital radio with nine speakers, a reversing camera, that wonderful heated front windscreen, active stop (with pedestrian detection), automatic headlights and wipers, traffic sign recognition and a lane keeping aid.

Most people will up the ante by going for the Titanium or Sport trims. With the Titanium you get a powered tailgate, front and rear parking sensors, sat-nav, heated front seats, illuminated scuff plates, noise-quelling side glass and chrome detailing on the outside, while the Sport gets bigger wheels, a beefed up audio system, adaptive steering and firmer suspension.

Price wise, the Titanium costs about £34,500, with the Sport at £36,745. Adding the £2000 Lux pack to either options, gets comprehensive leather upholstery, powered door mirrors, a powered panoramic sunroof and the ability to have seat cooling in the front seats as well as heating, plus rear heated seats too.

A clever wee device on the front wide-view camera means that you can see around corners, even when you cannot from the driving seat. It even secretly washed the camera lens automatically when you use the washers.

Adding the Edge to its established markets for the smaller Kuga and EcoSport SUVs, Ford plans to sell heaps more SUVs in Europe this year and it says that consumer demand for this type of vehicle is growing. Last year, the SUV segment became the best-selling segment in Europe for the first time with a 24% increase year-on-year and in the Edge’s mid-sized SUV segment grew 42% in 2015

Clean and functional is the best way to describe the console and layout for driver and passenger and a nice touch is the fact that you can adjust between seven ambient LED lighting colours for the front and rear foot wells and storage areas.

So, while the Edge is not the most exciting on the market, it is well priced and does offer a sensible alternative to the likes of the BMW x5, Hyundai Santa Fe and the VW Touareg, plus outdoes the Land Rover stable in terms of specification.

Plus it has tonnes of space – enough for Santa to stash a whole load of presents!

New Vignale version adds some spice

Ford has lately opted to offer the Edge with its new range-topping Vignale specification, including bespoke chrome-finish fog lamps, signature Vignale hexagonal upper grille design and 19-inch polished aluminium wheels. It also gets some unique exterior colours and a more refined interior features quilted Windsor leather.