Can it stand the pressure? It can.
Ford has seen better times, and everyone knows it. Sagging sales, an aging vehicle lineup, stronger competitors, nothing seems to be easy for Ford right now.
However, I can honestly say that their cars and trucks aren't bad. They have their shortcomings, obviously, but in general, the Fords and Lincolns that I have driven in the last year were quite pleasing: Focus, Fusion, F-150, Explorer Sport Trac and Zephyr. Now, the Edge's keys landed on the corner of my desk.
A competitive 3.5-liter
Ford's new V6 is welcome, since it satisfies the power shortcoming in a few models that were in need. And in the case of the Edge and all of its 1,853 kilograms (4,085 lbs), its 265 horsepower certainly have their work cut out for them. Acceleration is pretty good, although it's accompanied by a noise level that's higher than what I was expecting.
According to Ford, one of the two Edges available to the press is mysteriously noisier than the other, and guess which one I have? Nevertheless, at the end of the first day, I didn't notice it anymore.
Some of my colleagues lamented the absence of a manual mode in the 6-speed automatic bolted in the Fusion, which is the same one that drives the Edge. Personally, I don't think it's that much of a sin, since few people use it in rare situations. The transmission answers quickly to solicitations of the gas pedal, and passing times are good.
The all-wheel drive system does its job commendably. Its operation is rather imperceptible, but the truck doesn't slide, and it bites into snowy surfaces. The system works so well that it took me 4 days to realize that the Edge was shod with all-season tires, despite the glacial temperature levels during the test.
With such a heavy vehicle, you have to expect that its fuel consumption will suffer a bit. My average is 14.5 L/100 km, and my right foot had to be quite conservative to obtain that result.
Ford has seen better times, and everyone knows it. Sagging sales, an aging vehicle lineup, stronger competitors, nothing seems to be easy for Ford right now.
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| I find that the exterior design does the trick. |
However, I can honestly say that their cars and trucks aren't bad. They have their shortcomings, obviously, but in general, the Fords and Lincolns that I have driven in the last year were quite pleasing: Focus, Fusion, F-150, Explorer Sport Trac and Zephyr. Now, the Edge's keys landed on the corner of my desk.
A competitive 3.5-liter
Ford's new V6 is welcome, since it satisfies the power shortcoming in a few models that were in need. And in the case of the Edge and all of its 1,853 kilograms (4,085 lbs), its 265 horsepower certainly have their work cut out for them. Acceleration is pretty good, although it's accompanied by a noise level that's higher than what I was expecting.
According to Ford, one of the two Edges available to the press is mysteriously noisier than the other, and guess which one I have? Nevertheless, at the end of the first day, I didn't notice it anymore.
Some of my colleagues lamented the absence of a manual mode in the 6-speed automatic bolted in the Fusion, which is the same one that drives the Edge. Personally, I don't think it's that much of a sin, since few people use it in rare situations. The transmission answers quickly to solicitations of the gas pedal, and passing times are good.
The all-wheel drive system does its job commendably. Its operation is rather imperceptible, but the truck doesn't slide, and it bites into snowy surfaces. The system works so well that it took me 4 days to realize that the Edge was shod with all-season tires, despite the glacial temperature levels during the test.
With such a heavy vehicle, you have to expect that its fuel consumption will suffer a bit. My average is 14.5 L/100 km, and my right foot had to be quite conservative to obtain that result.
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| The 3.5L V6 is quite thirsty. |