Ford started 2016 by declaring that we should ‘unlearn’ what we believe the Blue Oval stands for and embrace the new direction it is taking.
Three cars are heading this brave new venture: the Focus RS mega-hatch, the GT supercar and what we have here, the new Ford Edge. The arrival of Ford’s large, rangetopping SUV has most likely come as unwelcome news to the existing players in the segment, with Ford’s dealer network and market share giving it a strong position.
This isn’t the first time Ford has imported a large SUV from the US. Previously, in the 1990s, it was the Explorer, which was put up against premium European rivals – although it’s safe to say that particular venture didn’t end in success. This time could be different,though, with the smaller Ford Kuga already well established and topping our compact SUV segment ahead of the younger Volkswagen Tiguan and BMW X1.
The new Edge hasn’t simply been built on American principles, with a thirsty petrol engine and little thought given to what Europe wants from a 4x4. Instead, Ford has made a big effort to give the Edge appeal to European buyers, using the same blueprint as the Ford Mondeo and Ford S-Max and giving it a familiar Euro-centric interior and installing a 2.0-litre diesel engine under the bonnet.
Ford has created a handsome SUV here, with sharp, angular looks, smart LED headlights and running lights and a dominating presence. Measuring a tad longer than a Volkswagen Touareg, the Edge is going to be a useful new member of our fleet, with a super-spacious cabin and a vast load bay that will make it a popular workhorse, if nothing else.
Ford has ambitiously aimed the Edge at the more affluent end of the market, placing it squarely in BMW X3 and Audi Q5 territory. Both German rivals remain popular but are long in the tooth, so now is the perfect opportunity for the Edge to gain a march on them before they are given a new lease of life.
A good test of the Edge’s aspiring premium credentials is the cabin, and while there’s more space in here than either the Q5 or X3 can offer, the interior and dashboard are rather dull. Ford’s biggest crime, however, is the extensive use of cheap, scratchy plastics, which isn’t something you would expect of a car costing, at least in our example’s case, the best part of £40,000.
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Reviewing colleagues, please take note ...
I'm amazed that people will
I have driven one in this spec and it was a very impressive car. The interior really is not bad at all and is well screws together, I would rather have durable long lasting plastics lower down that will endure use better than soft touch that will scuff and look messy after a short while.
This car will be far more exclusive than your run of the mill of VAG cars, BMW etc..
This country is overrun with bog standard entry model cars from so called 'premium' manufacturers, purchased solely on the basis of the badge on the front of the car. With little kit, poor engines (Merc a class with a Renault Kangoo van engine? Yes please it don't matter as the neighbours curtains will twitch at the three pointed star...)
I couldn't care about the badge and value comfort and driving over a badge, something which Ford does very well.
Jimbbobw1977 wrote:
The only thing Ford do well is treat their customers with appalling levels of service on the back of selling them appalling products, it's just a numbers game to them.
They survive because some poor mug of a sale person has their products forced upon them as they're stuck in a desperate job they hate, sitting in a dire car provided by that job, in a traffic jam they helped create whilst trying to sell their shite products to people that hate them.
But hey, the wheel men wannabe's of the magazines love them because their cars have "steering feel" and "handle". Meanwhile, no other poor fvcker actually gives a shite about that crap and puts their cash down at Hyundai and Kia dealerships where they know they'll get a car that'll actually work, and if it did ever go wrong they will be able to get it repaired.
Go and look at an Eco Sport, within 2 minutes it'll show just how much respect Ford has for its customers.
Wow that's a hatred rant
Here's my scenario - my Ford dealer is family owned and run. Want to test drive s car, no problem hand me the keys I go out on my own no one sat next to me with a set route and as long as I want.
Secondly I own a MK3 Focus titanium x 2.0 tdci 163 - Guess what has failed/broken/warranty work has been done on this car in the 60000 miles I have covered? None at all. The interior? Like new, no wear nothing has fallen off and no rattles.
Our other car in the house, an Audi A3 2.0 tsi - this has numerous rattles, the air con has stopped working, the rear brake calliper failed, the radiator needed replacing, the engine had to be stripped and de coked and it's not as nice as the diesel estate Focus to drive. This has done 65000 miles. Oh and the instrument cluster is packing up..
But this is my personal experience, clearly you have had issues.
decoked?
Wow, there's a phrase I haven't heard for years :- decoking. You're were unlucky with this and all the other faults. Together with a new instrument cluster it must have come to over £3000. Bloody Germans
Well known problem on the 2
The great Ford comedy act