With the advent of consumerism, the social and economic order of the Western world gave people more choices than ever before. This also applies to the automotive industry, a sector that has niches within niches, tailored to suit anyone’s fancy.
The Ford Motor Company was reluctant to understand this when the automobile was in its infancy. Henry Ford famously said that “any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black,” referring to various model years of the Model T. Fast-forward to the present day and the cheap and cheerful Fiesta is available in 10 exterior colors.
Ford’s lineup has also grown since the early days of the 20th century. In the form of SUVs, Ford has got you covered with just about anything from the EcoSport to the Expedition. In Europe, however, Ford has been reluctant to go with the flow, as in the Old Continent’s increasing love for high-riding cars.
After introducing the subcompact EcoSport, which is slated to switch production to Europe next year, Ford extended its presence in this segment with the Edge, a mid-size crossover that first went into production in 2006. Now that it’s available in the Old Continent as well, a question must be posed: does the 2016 Ford Edge have the right stuff to take on the establishment?
In a nutshell, it surely does. As noted in the first chapter of our test drive of the 2016 Ford Edge 2.0 TDCi Bi-Turbo 4x4 PowerShift, the strongest point of the EU-spec Edge is its design. Put anything from the compact and mid-size segments next to it, and you’ll notice that the Edge doesn’t run with the pack. Developed from the get-go as a global vehicle, the exterior design is what sets the 2016 Ford Edge apart from its European competition.
Photo: Florin Profir
Especially in Sport overalls, the Edge oozes with visual appeal. Be it a young professional or a 50-year-old caravaning enthusiast, the EU-spec Edge can be configured just as the prospective customer wants it to be, but only as long as it is a turbo diesel. For those who don’t need the full bonanza, the single-turbo mill with front-wheel-drive and a 6-speed manual will have to suffice.
Higher up, there’s the 2.0 TDCi Bi-Turbo, packing more ponies and torque, a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission, and Ford Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive. Unusually for what’s virtually the same engine but with two turbos instead of one, the peak torque band is narrower than that of the lesser engine. And that, as I’ve told you before, is obvious when driving in the city and in stop-and-go traffic. To the twin-turbocharged diesel’s defense, it’s not a drinker. What’s more, it’s willing to pull through every gear on the long haul.
Once you hop inside, you’ll immediately understand why Ford isn’t marketing the Edge as a premium crossover SUV. Even though the quality of the plastics and the fit & finish are adequate for a car in this segment from a volume manufacturer, the cabin’s ho-hum design doesn’t live up to the exterior.
In truth, the S-Max-inspired interior with Mondeo switchgear is not a bad place to be seated in. Even the SYNC 2 infotainment system, which definitely shows its age, doesn’t miss a beat if you’re the type to use satellite navigation or voice control on a daily basis. What I like most, though, is the space everyone has in the Edge. Beyond that, the driver’s seat is excellent.
Photo: Florin Profir
It’s not a leader in the segment in any area, nor does the Ford badge have the appeal of a crossover adorned with Audi or BMW badges. What the Edge has, though, is character. It also has the power to attract the curiosity and envy of drivers and passersby. Driving an Edge on European roads is like having your very own piece of Americana on four wheels. And as I’m sure you know by now, European folks pay close attention to what’s trending Stateside.
The big picture with the 2016 Ford Edge for the European market is that Ford gave the Edge something the German competition can only wish for: selfhood. Look at Audi’s Q and BMW’s X lineups, then tell me if those are not the four-wheeled equivalents to a set of Matryoshka dolls. While I’m not a fan of the EcoSport and the Kuga (a.k.a. the Escape) is starting to show its age, Ford imbued individuality in its European range of crossover SUVs.
Looking back at the UK-spec Explorer from the 1990s (the first-ever mid-sized SUV that Ford tried to sell in Europe), the Edge is more suited to this part of the world and it has infinitely more selling points. If I may borrow a concept from the music biz, the 2016 Ford Edge is no “sophomore slump.” It’s no one-hit wonder either, but an appetizer to the upcoming “difficult third album.”
Ford is already working toward this ideal with the introduction of the Vignale trim level on select models in Europe. This upmarket push will undoubtedly make Ford a better brand than it is today, especially in car segments as crowded and competitive as the crossover SUV. For what it is, though, the Edge in Sport configuration is your ticket to stand out from the crowd.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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