Forbes: 2015 Ford Edge Rivals Luxury Vehicles

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The 2015 Ford Edge Pushes Into Premium-Car Territory With Major Upgrades

Written by Matthew De Paula for Forbes, 6.30.14

Cars like the 2015 Ford Edge will make it harder for some to justify shelling out big bucks on luxury vehicles. A comprehensive makeover to this midsize crossover promises to bring refinement, comfort and technology normally only seen on cars costing thousands more.

Ford chose a good foundation on which to re-engineer the Edge: It is now based on the same platform as the current Ford Fusion sedan, which debuted in 2012 and has excellent handling dynamics. 

The new chassis uses more high-strength steel to make it stiffer, which, in turn, helps the redesigned suspension better absorb bumps and potholes. The end result should be a smoother ride and more agile handling.

The interior should be noticeably quieter, too. Ford better isolated the cabin from road, wind and engine noise by adding more insulation and a thicker, laminated windshield, among other improvements. Some upper trim levels also get thicker laminated front side windows and noise-cancellation technology to neutralize certain sounds associated with road or engine noise. Both features are found on many luxury cars.

Inside, the 2015 Ford Edge has better fitting panels with fewer seams and tighter gaps. That might not sound like a big deal, but in terms of perceived quality, it is. Leg-room is more generous than before, not only because the 2015 Edge is slightly longer than the previous model.

Optional features that you’d find on luxury vehicles include a heated steering wheel and cooled seats. There are even some things most luxury vehicles don’t have, such as inflatable safety belts for second-row occupants. These seat belts help reduce injuries from frontal crashes by distributing crash force energy over five times more surface area of the torso than a traditional seat belt.

Another feature normally found only on luxury vehicles is adaptive steering. It makes it easier to The new Edge is also the first Ford to come standard with a turbocharged EcoBoost engine, which was optional on the outgoing 2014 model.
steer at low speeds and keeps the car more stable at high speeds. The 2015 Edge is the first Ford to get adaptive steering, but the automaker plans to introduce the technology on other models.

A “significantly improved” 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine produces 245 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Though torque remains the same and horsepower only goes up by five, compared to the previous 2.0-liter EcoBoost, a redesigned turbocharger should make the engine feel more responsive.

The new 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine is also lighter and more efficient, aided by a stop/start function that shuts the engine off during temporary stops. Ford has not released fuel economy estimates, but this new engine should do slightly better than the outgoing 2.0-liter EcoBoost, which got an estimated 24 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving.

A second new EcoBoost engine will be the most powerful engine offered on the 2015 Edge. This new 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 replaces last year’s 3.7-liter V6 on the Edge Sport. It produces 300 horsepower—5 horsepower less than the outgoing 3.7-liter V6—but Ford says it is designed to offer the power of a V8 engine in a smaller, lighter and more efficient package. The Edge Sport also gets a tighter suspension that offers 15 percent to 20 percent better road-holding capability.

A raft of advanced safety features mimic those found on luxury cars, including cameras and radar that give a 360-degree view and help the 2015 Edge warn drivers of impending collisions and even help avoid them by applying the brakes, if necessary.

As before, the Edge has seating for five and will not offer the option of a third row. Ford is aiming the Edge at young parents seeking something sportier and hipper than the larger Explorer and Flex, which offer third-row seating.

The 2015 Ford Edge goes on sale early next year. Ford has not announced pricing, but it should be close to that of the current model.