Kentish Express Ashford & District
A solid choice
Test drives the Ford Edge SUV – the American car giant’s new flagship 4x4
From the concept to the end product, the Edge is a new thing. It’s Ford of Europe’s first large SUV, based on Mondeo undergarments but with four-wheel-drive, two powerful diesel engines (with more under consideration) and a new, premium shtick with which the American company wants to poke the German luxury brands. It’s part of the OneFord programme, so it’s built in North America and exported all over the globe with minor changes to suit different markets. If you’re thinking it looks a bit ‘Murican’ in the pictures, you’re not alone. But the blocky styling and slightly in-your-face dark wheels and detailing of the range-topping Sport model sing a pretty good tune in the metal. The Titanium model is a bit more reserved, a bit more middle-ofthe-road. It’s improbably wide, though, with a high and highlyshaped bonnet, so it looks even bigger than it actually is. While the build and materials quality is for the most part a big step up for Ford, it’s competing with S line Audi Q5s and mid-grade BMW X3s. Where the Edge scores points is for its clever design, which squeezes loads of usefulness into its 4.8-metre length. There are bag hooks in the boot, a spare wheel, a cabin wide enough for three kids to sit side by side on bean bags and enough clever storage spaces to make it a nightmare for customs officials at border crossings. The amount of empty air around the front seats is amazing. Even the current Mr Universe wouldn’t have shoulders broad enough to fill the width. Driven back to back, the more powerful diesel offers noticeably more low-down punch. The twin-clutch automatic gearbox helps make the most of that, too, only kicking down when your throttle pedal inputs clearly ask for it. The 2.0-litre diesel might not be the most refined on the market, but Ford’s soundproofing and standard-fit Active Noise Control suppress wind and road noise superbly. The model to go for is the Titanium with the Lux pack, the more powerful engine and the automatic gearbox, although to create it you also need to add the full-fat and rather bass-heavy Sony stereo system. All of a sudden it’s a £37,000 car. You can add LED headlights for another £1,000 on top of that, while the panoramic roof is £800. The Edge is a family car. It’s America-big, so feels a bit wide for a lot of minor European roads, but the amount of space and practicality is incredible. If the German options just don’t light your candle, the Edge offers a new choice.