EDGE

ST gives Ford the performance

With Ford announcing its withdrawal from car production it was only a matter of time before they introduced an SUV/CUV with their high performance Sport Technology package.

The 2019 Edge arrived as a mid-cycle refresh but with the Sport Trim level noticeably missing. In its place was the upgraded and specially tuned Edge ST.

The Edge ST is the first SUV in Ford’s stable to receive the ST moniker. And after driving it for a week, it certainly proved itself worthy of such an accolade.

Up front the ST benefits from a new, wider black mesh grille that helps to increase cooling and is flanked by the reworked Bi-LED Headlamps.

New deeper side skirts and privacy glass add to the sleek design lines and are accentuated by the addition of the optional 21-inch black painted aluminum wheels. At the rear, new dual exhaust tips have been added as well as upgraded taillights that now include an amber turn signal.

The interior is fresh and minimalistic. The front sports seats are liveried in ebony leather with vented suede inserts with the ST logo predominant on the seat back.

The dash is smooth and uncluttered with the infotainment screen mounted centrally on the dash.

Gone is the steering column mounted gear stick with gearing now being selected by means of a rotary dial mounted on the centre console.

The speedometer is bright and easily read and is flanked by two, four-inch digital screens that can be specifically set up to the drivers needs. The leather wrapped ‘ST’ steering wheel takes pride of place with the mounted shifter paddles within easy reach of the fingers.

The panoramic sunroof adds to the spacious feel of the interior with the rear seating having ample leg and headroom. The trunk is spacious especially with the rear seats folded giving 2,078 litres of cargo space.

The Edge ST now comes with Ford’s new Co-Pilot360 that includes Pre-Collision assist with Emergency Braking; Evasive Steering Assist; Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane Centring; Lane Keep Assist; Post Impact Braking and cross Traffic Alert.

Under the hood is the same 2.7-litre, twin-turbo EcoBoost engine that was found in the Sport Trim but has been finely tuned and now pushes out 335 hp (up 20 hp) and a whopping 380 lb/ft of torque (up 30 lb/ft).

The power is put down to the road through an eight-speed automatic transmission linked to a permanent AWD system. The ST has an upgraded suspension that benefits from firmer anti-sway bars and is now 10 per cent stiffer up front and, thanks to the new rear monotube shocks, is now 20 per cent stiffer in the rear.

There are now only two drive modes in the ST: Eco (regular) or Sport – Sport is engaged by a button on the gear dial. I was rather surprised when first taking off (in Eco Mode); it was so quiet and smooth with hardly any engine or road noise.

Going through the gears was seamless and it was remarkably reserved even at highway speeds. There was little wind noise and, although rather stiff, the ST seemed to handle the potholes and bumps with ease. Even when kicking it down, the engine and transmission reacted without fuss and felt more like luxury SUV than a sports tuned monster.

All of this changed dramatically when the Sport Mode was engaged.

The whole vehicle changed moods; the engine noise was more predominant and was hitting all the right notes.

The gearshifts became more aggressive as the transmission held the revs close to the red line before changing. The steering is firm and precise with the stiffer suspension taking care of eliminating any excessive body roll.

I was surprised at how stiff the ST was, it handled more like a performance car than an SUV.

Acceleration is more than I had anticipated and the ST gets up to highway speeds with ease and faster than most cars around.

With Ford stopping production of cars in the near future the Edge ST is certainly the first of many high performance SUV’s and CUV’s that Ford will be producing.

It looks like Ford is taking direct aim at the performance SUV market and, if the Edge ST is anything to go by, they certainly have a head start over their direct competitors.

What’s Best: Sporty exterior with performance to match.

What’s Worst: The cost can rise sharply when adding extras.

What’s Interesting: The ST replaces the Edge Sport and is the first Ford SUV to bear the ST badge.