Bringing the spirit home
Forget Clark Griswold; we cut down our own tree and got it home in the spacious and quiet cabin
When Clark Griswold kicked off his fun, old-fashioned family Christmas in National Lampoon’s Christ
mas Vacation, he piled his wife and kids into his first-generation Ford Taurus wagon — complete with aftermarket wood panelling — and headed into the country to select that most important of Christmas symbols, the family tree.
This year, my own little family decided to give the time-honoured tradition a try.
Ford doesn’t make the Taurus wagon anymore, so we took what could be considered the modern-day equivalent: the 2015 Ford Edge Titanium.
We set out for Merry Farms, a Christmas tree ranch just outside Hamilton. Driving out, I noted the smooth feel of the 2.0-L I4 EcoBoost engine mated with the six-speed automatic transmission. It’s not a powerhouse by any means, but it is certainly enough for most city-dwelling SUV drivers.
For those concerned that 245 horsepower and 275 lb-ft. of torque may not be enough, a 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 is available (280 hp, 250 lb-ft.) along with the more powerful 2.7-litre V6 EcoBoost that can be had in the more expensive Sport trim (315 hp, 350 lb-ft.).
The tight steering feel, exceptionally quiet interior, and four-wheel indepen- dent suspension all added to the comfortable, controlled and planted ride.
Only the large turning circle takes away from the suburban driving experience, making the Edge feel larger than it really is.
It handled the job of hauling our tree home very ably for us. With no roof racks, we’d rather not risk scuffing up the panoramic sunroof or the door-edge paint. So, we shoved our six-foot-tall air freshener into the back seat.
My husband had the tree in both hands but didn’t even have to put it down on the ground to get it into the Edge.
The rear door opened with a kick under the bumper. Next, the press of a single button dropped half of the 60/40 split rear seat, and he shoved the whole thing into the tarp-protected interior with a single heave. We even had room to spare.
It isn’t the Edge’s capabilities that are likely to hold its sales back. The bigger question mark hangs over its price.
Our all-wheel-drive sleigh was decked out to the hilt, giving us a suite of premium features such as enhanced parking assist, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, voice-activated navigation and more, bringing the total price up to $48,799.
However, as an example, $7,000 less can buy a similarly-equipped, top-of-the-line Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.
Yes, you’d lose the independent suspension and enhanced parking assist, but would gain things like sliding second-row seats with a 40/20/40 split, arguably features that familyoriented consumers might be more apt to appreciate.
I’m forced to note that we only have one child, whereas if we’d had a second in the Edge, this job would have become a little more challenging.
However, not only is Ford a domestic automaker, but we drove right past the Oakville assembly complex on our way to the tree farm — the very facility where the Edge is built.
Plus the build quality on the Edge is excellent, so fuelling the local economy doesn’t come with compromises. A good patriot like Clark Griswold would undoubtedly have factored such considerations into his vehicle purchase.
He’d still have to go aftermarket to get wood panelling, though. Perhaps he could pick it up with this year’s Christmas bonus. From our family to yours, Merry Christmas from all of us at Toronto Star Wheels.