Sadly, the base model doesn't add the SelectShift feature that allows manual shift capability.
Friendly drive
The success of the Ford Edge is largely built on its predictable road manners. The steering feels sharp and not overly assisted. A big, fat wheel sits atop a tilt/telescopic steering column that helps drivers of all sizes find a comfortable position. It's a shame the front buckets don't provide much lateral support, though.
While the fully-independent suspension does a nice job of masking road imperfections, it induces quite a bit of body roll in corners. As for the 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, I found them easy to modulate.
The rear seat effortlessly accommodates two adults, sometimes even a third. The 60/40 split-folding seatbacks drop down in a flash to increase total cargo capacity from 912 to 1,951 litres. That's a substantial amount of room and only a few dozen litres short of the class-leading Venza.
The relatively-high beltline and smallish rear window hamper the driver's field of vision. Plus, no rear-view camera is available in SE trim, so parking manoeuvres demand extra time and attention.
Other amenities that remain exclusive to the more upscale Edges include heated seats, MyFord Touch and SYNC. However, music lovers can still appreciate the standard 6-speaker stereo with MP3 playback capability. Air conditioning, cruise control and power windows are part of the mix, too.
All in all, the 2011 Ford Edge SE mainly gets selected for its affordable price of $27,999 (plus freight, delivery and taxes). Compare that to a base Toyota Venza which starts at $29,310 – with an anaemic 4-cylinder engine, not a V6 – and the most humble Edge looks like a pretty good deal.
Friendly drive
The success of the Ford Edge is largely built on its predictable road manners. The steering feels sharp and not overly assisted. A big, fat wheel sits atop a tilt/telescopic steering column that helps drivers of all sizes find a comfortable position. It's a shame the front buckets don't provide much lateral support, though.
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| A big, fat wheel sits atop a tilt/telescopic steering column that helps drivers of all sizes find a comfortable position. (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |
While the fully-independent suspension does a nice job of masking road imperfections, it induces quite a bit of body roll in corners. As for the 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, I found them easy to modulate.
The rear seat effortlessly accommodates two adults, sometimes even a third. The 60/40 split-folding seatbacks drop down in a flash to increase total cargo capacity from 912 to 1,951 litres. That's a substantial amount of room and only a few dozen litres short of the class-leading Venza.
The relatively-high beltline and smallish rear window hamper the driver's field of vision. Plus, no rear-view camera is available in SE trim, so parking manoeuvres demand extra time and attention.
Other amenities that remain exclusive to the more upscale Edges include heated seats, MyFord Touch and SYNC. However, music lovers can still appreciate the standard 6-speaker stereo with MP3 playback capability. Air conditioning, cruise control and power windows are part of the mix, too.
All in all, the 2011 Ford Edge SE mainly gets selected for its affordable price of $27,999 (plus freight, delivery and taxes). Compare that to a base Toyota Venza which starts at $29,310 – with an anaemic 4-cylinder engine, not a V6 – and the most humble Edge looks like a pretty good deal.
 |
| The rear seat effortlessly accommodates two adults, sometimes even a third. (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |
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