By Charles Donaldson
There are many crossovers on the market and the 2019 Ford Edge is about to find more competition with the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer and the Volkswagen Atlas arriving soon. As Ford nears the elimination of most of its “car” lines, their focus has expanded on their SUV/Crossover and Pickup models. The Edge is a large part of their strategy and fits below the Ford Explorer and the Escape, providing two-rows of seats. It debuted in 2006 and was Ford’s first car-based unibody crossover. To date, over 2 million Edge’s have been sold with many more expected as this market continues to expand.
Pricing and Trims
For 2019, Ford Edge is available in four trim levels SE FWD ($29,939) and AWD ($31,864), SEL FWD ($32,598) and AWD ($34,504), Titanium FWD ($38,550) and AWD ($39,716), and ST AWD ($41,446).
What’s new for 2019?
Last redesigned for the 2015 model year, the 2019 Edge receives a refresh that updates the interior and exterior styling adding more standard safety features as well as Ford’s new 8-speed automatic transmission. A new performance-tuned edition, the Edge ST performance model replaces the Sport trim. Also, Edge has a built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot that requires a dedicated data plan.
Interior Highpoints
Part of the refresh of the 2019 Ford Edge is the interior. Since it is just a refresh vs. a full design, don’t expect dramatic changes in the cabin. One change - the rotary shift knob, was taken from the Fusion sedan, which allows for a large wireless phone-charging pad. So many cars these days have wireless phone-charging pads that won’t fit the larger smart phones. I had no problem with my phone.
The ST performance trim is equipped with bolstered leather and cloth sport seats. The Titanium models have leather seats with heating and cooling in the front row and there is an option for rear heated seats. The upper level models come with an 8.0-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. Amazon Alexa and Waze integration are also available. The Edge has superior cargo space over its competitors with 39.2 cubic feet that expands to 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.
Exterior Highlights
The exterior changes are minimal and begin with a wider grille design, a new hood, and new standard LED headlights. For 2019, four new exterior and three new interior colors have been added. Four new wheel choices including 19-inch aluminum painted wheels on the Titanium. The ST comes in an exclusive “Ford Performance Blue” and has blacked out hexagonal upper and lower grilles compared with the slats on the rest of the Edge trims.
Performance Specs
The 2019 Edge is available in two engines, Ford’s second-generation twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 is exclusive to the Edge ST. The ST’s new engine generates a powerful 335 horsepower. All other Edges are powered by a turbocharged inline-four 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine with five extra horses bring it to 250. Both engines are mated to the new 8-speed automatic transmission. An auto stop/start system is also standard to help improve fuel economy.
Cool Features:
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Optional park-assist system
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Adaptive Cruise Control
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Multiple USB outlets
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New Sync Connect adds a Wi-Fi hotspot
Safety Integrity
The 2019 Ford Edge has a long checklist of safety features. Starting with an AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) and Curve Control, Airbags – Driver’s knee, glovebox-door, integrated knee, front-seat side, and Safety, Canopy® System with side-curtain airbags and rollover sensor. Other features include: Belt-Minder® front safety belt reminder, Brakes – 4-wheel disc with Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Child-safety rear door locks, Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring, System (TPMS; excludes spare), LATCH – Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children, MyKey®, Personal Safety System™ for driver and front passenger with dual-stage front airbags, and Rear view camera.
In Summary – The 2019 Ford Edge is a beautiful and fun-to-drive crossover. Inside it has plenty of room for passengers and cargo, filled with high-tech features, and comfortable. The performance was confident and powerful, and the handling was a delight. In my opinion it is one of the best-looking crossovers in its class. Go take it out for a test drive and see what YOU think.
Specifications
2019 Ford Edge Titanium FWD
Base price:
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$38,550 as
driven: $44,890 (including destination & optional features)
|
Engine:
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2.0-liter Turbo EcoBoost
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Horsepower:
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250 hp @ 5500 RPM
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Torque:
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275 lb.-ft. @ 3000 RPM
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Transmission:
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8-speed automatic
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Drive:
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Front-Wheel Drive
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Seating:
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5-passenger
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Cargo
space:
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39.2 cubic feet
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Curb
weight:
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3,959 pounds
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EPA
mileage:
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City 22/Hwy 29/Comb
25 MPG
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Fuel Capacity:
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18.4 gallons
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Wheelbase:
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112.2 inches
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Warranty:
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3 years/36,000-miles
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Also consider:
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Chevrolet Blazer,
Hyundai Santa Fe, Nissan Murano, and Volkswagen Atlas
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