First review of the 2019 Ford Edge: a new milestone

When the refreshed Ford Edge 2019 debuted at the Detroit auto show earlier this year, adding a warmer ST model has naturally attracted the most attention, thanks to its 335 horsepower twin-turbo V6, tighter suspension and cleaner appearance. The new SE, SEL and Titanium models, which will make up the bulk of Edge sales, are equally important. And to experience the changes made to the new version of the Edge, I jumped on a plane and headed to Utah.

Little pinch

Visually, the Ford Edge 2019 undergoes only slight visual alterations. The exterior receives a new hood, fairings, a wider grille, as well as new models of tailgate and wheel, while the wings, doors and rear fairing panels are maintained. The My Stone Gray Metallic Painted Test Car also offers a more premium look with a Elite Titanium Package it features 20-inch wheels with dark-colored painted-spoke inserts, body-color bumpers and side covers, and a beautifully sprinkled chrome trim section. Overall, it's a clean and attractive crossover, although it does not look so different from where Second generation edge debuted for 2015

Slip into the cabin and again, things do not look so different, the only design update being a reconfigured center console that now houses a rotary gear selector. It's more compact than the old lever-shifter, freeing up room for a larger storage compartment at the bottom of the center stack.

High quality materials are used everywhere, with the majority of dash and door panels built with smooth-touch surfaces, while some sewn panels and glossy black and chrome trim offer a nice contrast. With the electric front seats at the lowest position, the position is always high and I could do it with more lateral reinforcement, but the space for front and rear passengers is respectable. The cargo space is plentiful, measuring 39.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 73.4 feet folded, offering enough room for serious Ikea shopping sprees.

More technology

On the technological front, the Edge Titanium features Ford's intuitive and responsive Sync 3 multimedia information system, featuring a 10-inch touch screen, B & O audio system with 12 speakers Wi-Fi hotspot, optional navigation system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Amazon Alexa integration, which can be used to lock and unlock doors and to open and close garage doors via controls, is also available.

The charging points of the devices are not lacking with two USB ports and 12-volt sockets in the passenger footwell and the center console. Titanium also features a wireless charging mat at the front. Rear people have access to their own 12-volt outlet and a three-prong outlet at the back of the center console. Although the number of charging options is certainly worthwhile, trading in one of the 12-volt outlets versus two or three additional USB ports at the rear seats would surely serve the families better.

For safety reasons, the 2019 Edge is the first vehicle to Ford Co-Pilot360 Package this includes a forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, a lane keeping system, automatic high beams and a standard rear view camera. Unfortunately, the picture quality of the rear view camera on the center screen is not as sharp. To further strengthen the arsenal of Edge security technologies, a Co-Pilot360 + package is available, which adds an excellent adaptive cruise control system with assistance to stop-and-go and evasive guidance.

Under the hood

To load mountain roads just outside Park City, Utah, it takes a heavy right foot to pull the 250 horsepower and 275 pounds of torque from the turbocharged I4 2.0-liter. Ford engineers have released 5 additional ponies from the engine for 2019, which is not a radical change, but it is something. The slight increase in production is also good as the previously available 280 horsepower V6 was discontinued for 2019, which meansST Edge that you buy in the future will have a four-cylinder turbo.

It should be noted that the above performance values ​​correspond to the recommended higher fuel usage. using an octane number of 87 will reduce production. The exact amount of unknown because Ford engineers would not provide performance data, but it is highly likely that the power loss is minimal.

The update of the transmission is more substantial, with an eight-speed automatic recording for the old six-speed camera. The new transmission allows smooth and fast speed changes. This is certainly not equal to the gearboxes built by ZF, but it is not great either. Together, the powertrain returns about 22 miles per gallon in the city and 29 mpg on the highway on the edges of the front-wheel drive, and drops 1 mpg in both cycles with available all-wheel drive. Both configurations offer a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.

When not to beat the Edge on steep slopes, the grunt of the turbo four is enough to get away from stops and easily reach the highway. The ride quality is well cushioned, dampening the blow of some road imperfections that I encounter on the roads of Utah. The steering adjustment is also configured for comfort, is lightly weighted and has a neutral position in the center before tightening as the angle is adjusted.

In bends and sharp turns, the 2019 Edge slices through with acceptable skinny body and grip of the P245 / 50R20 Pirelli Scorpion Verde all season tires. The only problem that arises when Edge Titanium handling chops are performed is that the thick A pillars obstruct the side view by rounding the corners.

Just in time

The updated Ford Edge 2019 is available at dealerships with a base price of $ 30,990, including a destination fee of $ 995. Added all-wheel drive to all models with $ 1,995 more. My front-wheel drive titanium tester is $ 44,890, which is very optional with all technologies and options available. Titanium Elite Hair Pack.

Even though standard Edge model updates are not substantial, they are improving what was already a solid mid-size crossover, ensuring that it will remain competitive with similar models. Nissan Murano. Dynamically, the Murano overrides classic Edge models, but the Ford surpasses the Nissan in technology. The two should, however, look over their shoulders, because the field of competition is about to deepen with the arrival of a new Chevrolet Blazer and back rumor of the Honda Passport.

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Editor's Note: Roadshow accepts multi-day vehicle loans from builders to provide editorial revisions. All rated vehicle evaluations are completed on our property and on our terms. However, for this feature, the manufacturer has taken care of the travel expenses. This is common in the automotive industry because it is much cheaper to send journalists to cars than to send them to reporters.

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