2016 Ford Edge Titanium Review - Manufacturer of Doubt, Round Two
2016 Ford Edge Titanium AWD
The Ford Edge has always grabbed my attention due to its styling.
From a distance, the look — especially that of the second-generation Edge — is certainly pleasing to the eye. The front grille, fog light assembly, stylish wheels and a nice silhouette give the midsize crossover an Edge — pardon the pun. And the 2016 model can be configured in a number of ways to suit consumers’ needs, with a choice of powertrains and a nice choice of optional equipment.
But, as they say, the devil is in the details, and that’s where the Edge starts to lose its sharpness. The main issue is one we’ve seen here before: quality of the fit of the exterior panels of the Edge. However, I have another major gripe about the Blue Oval’s lifestyle-mobile, and it sits under its misaligned hood.
The Edge has three engine options. The top-spec Sport has its own engine — a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6. Other trims can be had with a 2.0-liter twin-scroll EcoBoost I4 or an optional 3.5-liter V6. Our tester arrived with the turbo four.
The 2.0-liter engine in this Ruby Red model delivers 245 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 275 pounds-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm. The V6, however, delivers 280 hp at 6,500 rpm and 250 lbs-ft at 4,000 rpm.
The turbocharged 2.0-liter engine leaves me feeling torn. I know exactly why Ford is building EcoBoost engines, but I still crave more punch during my drive. Despite the power numbers, the Edge feels sluggish. That’s especially true when it comes to off-the-line acceleration thanks to lag from the turbo.
The EcoBoost mill doesn’t deliver on its promised fuel economy, either. It’s estimated fuel consumption is 20 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, for a combined 24 mpg, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s five-cycle test. After a week of evenly mixed city and highway driving, my average came out to 21 mpg — somewhat disappointing.
On the bright side, there’s no discernible lag between shifts, something I’ve noticed is all too common in Ford vehicles. The six-speed SelectShift automatic with paddle shifters acquits itself quite well, although I didn’t touch the paddles once during my time with the Edge.
Despite the issues with the sometimes-sluggish engine performance, the overall driving feel of the Edge is fairly smooth and comfortable.
Now, about the quality issues I alluded to earlier about the Edge.
Last year, TTAC’s own managing editor reviewed the 2015 Edge and reported similar issues with body panel fitment. He alluded to perhaps some of the issues having to do with the extensive redesign the model had undergone, and the Edge was in its first year with a new look. Some issues were to be expected, he wrote.
Unfortunately, the issues appear to remain unsolved on the 2016 model we drove. From afar, everything on the Edge looks great. A closer look, however, tells a different story.
For starters, weather stripping on the rear passenger door of our tester almost came completely separated from the door. Even though it was easy to snap it back into place, that shouldn’t be happening. The chrome trim on the doors is badly aligned with paired trim on the body, and the panels around the taillights also don’t line up.
Sadly, the issues seem to go back even further. A neighbor’s 2010 Edge also has some panel fitment and alignment issues.
It’s a little disconcerting that these issues continue to arise on a vehicle that costs nearly $50,000.
The week after the Edge, I drove a less pricey Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. Inspecting its panel fitment and alignment revealed a better finish. (And the Trailhawk was a pretty fun drive.)
Thankfully, the Edge has some other redeeming qualities, especially on the inside where the finish is vastly improved in comparison to its exterior.
The passenger compartment is a quiet environment, aside from screaming offspring in the back seat. At highway speeds, road and wind noise is kept to a minimum, making the Edge a pleasant place to be.
Speaking of that back seat, there’s loads of leg and shoulder room for your passengers. And even when you install a car seat, there’s no need for the front passenger to pull their seat so far forward that their knees are crushed against the dashboard.
The cabin is especially bright thanks to the Edge’s panoramic sunroof, a feature that definitely pleases the little ones who get to stare at the sun during drives or count stars as you try to lull them to sleep. Watching the sunshade roll back and forth also provides entertainment for and giggles from the youngins, so that’s a plus.
The two-toned leather interior (ceramic/black) gives the cabin a more upscale feel, as does the satin-finish plastic trim throughout the cabin. The light color keeps the cabin bright, and is a welcomed change from the sea of black fabrics and materials one so often encounters in vehicles these days.
From behind the wheel, the Edge has clear sight lines and a comfortable seating position.
The 2016 Edge features SYNC3, an upgraded Ford system, which turns out to be a pleasant surprise. Previous experiences with SYNC have left me wanting, but SYNC3 is easy to use and, I can report, glitch free. Color me impressed.
The Edge offers a very spacious cargo area, great for packing along the accoutrement that comes with parenthood. But given what my neighbor does with his Edge, it’s also fully capable of acting as a utility vehicle for a DJ, providing lots of room for large speakers and other gear.
Pricing for the Edge starts at $28,700 (U.S.), but this Titanium tester comes in at $46,665. Added options include Equipment Group 302A ($5,495), Driver’s Package ($1,800), 20-inch wheels ($995), Class II Trailer Tow Package ($435) and an extra $395 for the Red Ruby tri-coat metallic paint.
While there are some reservations about the Edge’s quality, the fact that the panel gaps on my neighbour’s six-year-old Edge have not worsened over time leads me to believe it may not be such an issue in the long run. So if you can live with the imperfections, by all means, the Edge is a good choice.
I would probably opt for the larger V6 engine, but I suppose the more you get used to the 2.0-liter EcoBoost, the more comfortable you’ll be with the smaller mill.
Ford Canada provided the vehicle and insurance for the purpose of this review.
[Images: © 2016 Kevin Mio/The Truth About Cars]
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lazerwizard would like this Edge. He could trade his aging Escort for this. I can see what lazerwizard is saying that there is no comparison between Ford quality and crappy Honda. Add some rust and dents and this would be a really quality vehicle. Maybe we have been a little hard on Chrysler. I haven't see this level of quality in regards to fit and finish since the 70's. Time for disco to make a come back. I think I will stick with Honda.
Seriously, when I see poor fitting exterior parts and loose door seals on an almost 50k vehicle it makes me wonder what else is wrong. I have not seen this poor of fit and finish on current Chrysler products which have been know in the past for poor fit and finish. The fact that they would allow this to be shipped from the factory without noticing this says a lot about Ford. I have had 2 Ford products in the past and they did not have as poor a finish as this Edge. If Ford keeps this up they will be asking for a bailout. You cannot have this in a global market. This is a repeat of the Big 3 of the past which caused the US manufacturers to lose their market share to the Japanese.