2015 Ford Edge

So much so that for the year 2015 MY, the Ford Edge has moved to a completely new level and is now available in its second-generation avatar. The 2015 Edge is available in four trim levels and three engine options- a fuel-efficient 2L turbo 4-pot, a grumpy 3.5L V6, and a sportier 2.7L turbo V6. The 2015 Ford Edge rivals the likes of Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V, and Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.

The 2015 Edge is available in majorly four trim levels which are SE, SEL, Titanium, and Sport. While all the three lower variants come with a 2L turbocharged inline-4, the top-of-the-line Sport trim comes with a 2.7L V6. Further prices for the Edge start with $28,100 for the base SE trim and can go up to $38,100 for the top-level Sport trim. 

With the SE trim, you get all the basic things like 18-inch wheels, automatic headlamps, a 4.2-inch screen in the middle with Ford Sync, remote keyless entry, and a six-speaker audio system. The SEL trim adds a few more features to the list like a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat, auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone climate control, LED signature lamps, and SiriusXM radio. 

Titanium trim gets some additional goodies like 19-inch alloy wheels, a 10-way adjustable passenger seat as well as memory function, heated front sport-style seats, and leather upholstery. Lastly, the Sport trim being the most expensive one is dripping with features. 

It gets Leather-trimmed seats with suede perforated inserts, Audio System from Sony with 12 speakers and HD Radio Technology, Aluminum brake and accelerator pedal covers, Ambient lighting, Brush weave aluminum instrument panel appliqué, Deluxe front and rear carpeted floor mats, Illuminated front door-sill scuff plates, Metal-plated accents, and Universal garage door opener.

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The Titanium trim makes the most sense for us. It is a quite good value for money proposition and offers 19-inch alloy wheels, a 10-way adjustable driver and passenger seat as well with memory function, heated front sport-style seats and leather upholstery, Audio System from Sony with 12 speakers. There is an equally long options list consisting of a panoramic vista roof, a driver’s assistance package which includes adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, and an All-wheel-drive.

The 2015 Ford Edge is available with two engine options to be particular. There is a base 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 and a 2.7L V6. The inline-4 is good enough for producing 245hp at 5,500rpm and 275lb-ft at 3,000rpm. These are pretty much class-leading figures for an engine of this size and this gives the Edge a real advantage over others in terms of outright performance. 

The 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder has been reworked and given twin-scroll turbocharger technology, which effectively reduces turbo lag, improved smoothness, and drivability, and brings minor improvements to efficiency. It’s also now good for towing up to 3,500 pounds. This should be perfectly adequate for most shoppers who don’t care about high-performance driving. 

The gearbox in question is a 6-speed torque converter automatic unit which is also a decent one. You can’t expect immediate throws from a torque converter but it still manages to keep the drive enthusiastic and spirited. There is also an optional engine which is a 3.5L V6 which produces nearly 280hp. It is a naturally aspirated motor so it’s not very punchy or sporty. 

It just has some more additional power than the inline-4 but is a lot more thirsty. There is an all-new 2.7L twin-turbocharged V6, replacing the older 3.7L V6 and this is quite a power-packed engine. It makes 315 hp and 350 lb-ft, and on hard acceleration, it burbles in an off-cadence purr that reminds us of a five-cylinder. 

Undoubtedly Ford is leading the performance charts with the highest power and torque figures. If it’s about performance then hands down 2.7L turbo V6 is going to be our pick but the sad part is, it is only available with the top-spec Sports trim. We really feel that Ford should have made this available with the lower trims, at least as an option. It is also the fastest in the 0-60mph run even in its base avatar covering it in 7 seconds. Rivals offer standard NA inline-4 engines while the Ford is the only one of the lot with standard turbo 4-pot.

Ford is not the one with the best fuel economy figures. Instead, it is on the lower spectrum of this world. The Edge’s official EPA highway number, in front-wheel-drive form, is down 1 mpg versus last year—to 20 mpg city, 30 highway, or 20/28 mpg with all-wheel drive. 

The 3.5L V6 is even hopeless with city numbers of 17 or 18 mpg and highway ratings of 25 or 26 mpg. Lastly, the engine we all are excited for, the 2.7L V6 is rated for 18/27 mpg respectively for city and highway for the front-wheel-drive option and 17/24 mpg for the all-wheel-drive ones.

The charts here are led by Honda as it is the most fuel-efficient car here, thanks to its CVT transmission which lets the engine sip on less fuel. But the CR-V also has the smallest fuel tank in the bunch. The most balanced car here for that matter is the Chevrolet Equinox as it has decently good fuel efficiency figures and a really big fuel tank that gives the Equinox a real good driving range. The Ford being the most powerful one here loses out on ratings and so not a very good mile muncher.

So essentially, the interior of the 2015 Ford Edge has also been completely redesigned and it certainly looks quite better now. The dashboard now looks quite similar to  Ford’s other models like the Focus and Escape. The quality of materials used has been improved and even the knobs and controllers feel better now. There are silver accents surrounding the AC vents which further accentuates the premium feel of the dashboard. 

The vertically stacked vents beside the infotainment touchscreen are also quite a good inclusion. A new steering wheel is also there as the last block piece to complete the new cabin design. The seats are wrapped in cloth in two lower trims while the Titanium and Sport get leather upholstery for seats. There are even 10-way power-adjustable for both the driver and front passenger which also includes lumbar support and also come with heated functionality and memory settings. 

The front seats are also kind of sport seats and offer good side bolstering while the under-thigh support could have been better for people above six feet height. The rear seats can accommodate three medium-size adults and because of the relatively flat floor at the back, it is not much of an issue to find space to keep your feet.

The Edge has an edge over all the others in terms of interior space as it is pretty much the most spacious cabin in the bunch. It even has the biggest boot at 39.2 cubic feet which is considerably bigger than all other cars. The Hyundai Santa Fe Sport follows the Ford Edge which is just as spacious in the cabin. Standout interior features:

• Supportive bucket seats
• Keyless Entry
• Cloth Seats
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• 8-way power-adjustable driver seat with power lumbar support
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Pass-Through Rear Seat
• 2nd Row Bench Seat

How intuitive is the 2015 Ford Edge’s infotainment unit?

The base trim of the 2015 Edge comes with a 4.2-inch screen which is pretty much basic and doesn’t get a lot of features. The real deal is an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes with Ford’s Sync system. It comes with features like SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Bluetooth connectivity, Voice commands, in-built navigation, Sync AppLink, Pandora, iHeartAuto, and a lot more. The interface is quite good with big icons and HD graphics.

The system now has started to show its age, that is what we feel. It was very good when it came out and was one of our favorites in the segment but since then things have changed quite a bit. Now it feels like the display is a bit or two small and also though the main menu is good with big icons, the submenus feel a bit cluttered. There is also a noticeable lag in startups. For your music needs, you get a Sony 12-speaker audio system with an HD radio. Standout infotainment features:

• SYNC connectivity system
• Bluetooth
• Voice command functionality
• Sony 12-speaker audio system with HD radio
• MyFord Touch infotainment system
• 8-inch touch screen
• Navigation

The exterior design of the 2015 Edge is more of an evolutionary one rather than a revolution. It seems like more of an update over the previous design. Ford calls this design to be more athletic and we certainly agree with them. The car now looks a lot better than it used to be and has a very distinctive road presence. 

Especially in the Sport trim where all the chrome bits are blacked out with smoked headlamps and taillamps and also dark-tinted alloy wheels, the car looks like a proper diva. And that light bar at the rear gives the Edge a rather unique stance and that has got to be our favorite design inclusion of all.

The Ford Edge is definitely the heaviest and biggest car here. It triumphs in all the dimensions and even makes the Honda CR-V look like a car from one segment lower. The Ford Edge has got the maximum height, length, and width and even the wheelbase is nearly the longest in the Edge. Standout exterior features:

• 19-inch wheels
• Hands-free tailgate
• Sport-tuned suspension
• Rear Spoiler

The 2015 Ford Edge has aced all the safety tests. It gets a “5-star” safety rating from and NHTSA and IIHS have also awarded the car with a “Good” overall rating. Though one area that the Edge lost on a few points is the small overlap front driver side test as the car is rated “acceptable” for that. The reason being during the crash test, the dummy’s head slid to the side and missed the airbag thus there are chances of the head hitting the A-pillar. 

The Ford Edge comes with a host of driver assistance features which include adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, auto high beams, tire pressure monitoring system, traction control with electronic stability control, and ABS with EBD. The other safety features include frontal and side airbags for front-row passengers, both row curtain airbags, and a knee airbag for the driver. Standout safety features:

• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Blind-spot monitor
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane departure warning and intervention system
• Forward collision warning system with brake support

The 2015 Edge is a very promising family crossover. It has done a lot for Ford in the past and it still is a very strong contender in the segment. In the latest generation, the Edge is even more powerful and enthusiastic to drive. They made the car look smarter both outside and inside. The powertrain options are now better and slightly more fuel-efficient as well. Though the Ford Edge misses out on the third row of seats, if that’s not an immediate concern for you, then we think the Edge makes up for a quite good crossover.