2008 Ford Edge has the edge over other crossovers
Tom Keane
Friday, May 9, 2008
The 2008 Ford Edge lives up to its name. Its eye-catching design gives it a distinct edge over other five-passenger vehicles in many ways.
The sharp styling starts with the three-bar chrome grille and the quad-beam halogen headlamps causing a lot of heads to turn to look at the entire design and package. This attention-getter in itself gives the Edge an edge.
Other areas where the Ford has the edge in the crossover utility vehicle market is with the dual-chrome exhaust tips, the rear spoiler and the keyless entry keypad, but the interior is where the Edge really shines.
My tester had dual-electric automatic temperature controls; six-way power heated seats (with memory); and front bucket seats trimmed with leather. The leather-trimmed rear bench seat had an easy 60/40-fold release. Another feature giving the Edge a competitive advantage was the leather steering wheel with redundant audio and climate controls.
The Edge is a high-class looking vehicle containing numerous state-of-the-art features that don't come cheap. My tester had a base price of $30,320, and with a few desirable options, the bottom line was $35,100.
My Edge had Sirius Satellite Radio, a power liftgate and a Panoramic Vista Roof, plus a voice-activated navigation system that operated with a DVD. I found this system to be extremely accurate.
What I really enjoyed was the power produced by the 3.5-liter, V6 engine that generated 265 horsepower. It runs on regular gas and has an EPA mileage rating of 16 city and 24 highway. The warranty for both the power train and roadside assistance is five years or 60,000 miles.
Safety is an area of buyer concern and the Edge does well here. The 2008 Ford has received five-star ratings from the government in driver-side frontal crash - four-star for the front passenger - and five-star side crash ratings for both front- and rear-seat passengers. The Edge also features Ford's exclusive Safety Canopy side curtain air bags that utilize roll-fold technology to efficiently deploy the air bag when the occupant's head is against the side glass. In the event of a crash, the roll-fold bag will deploy between the occupant's head and the side of the vehicle. By the way, the Edge has four-wheel disc antilock brakes.
The Edge has a modern car-based foundation that provides great driving characteristics. I'm told the front suspension features MacPherson struts and an isolated sub frame. To make the ride even smoother, hydro-bushings are used. The four-link independent rear-suspension uses stamped steel control blades for precise suspension tuning. All this led to a very quiet interior - regardless of the type of road surface I was driving over. Ford boasts that the interior noise level of the 2008 Edge is quieter than Lexus RX 350, which is a mighty big claim to make, since Lexus is probably the quietest vehicle on the road today.
While driving the Edge, I learned of other features that are available optionally, such as voice-activated, hands-free digital media playing. It is also available with Bluetooth and DVD entertainment systems with the 7-inch screen that uses two separate DVD players. This provides enjoyment for those riding in the rear. The back seat also features a fold-down center armrest with two cupholders. Most importantly, the Edge has an easy release folding rear seat, allowing a flat load floor to be assembled in just a few quick seconds.
The Ford Edge is practical and I give it a buyer's edge for its user-friendly interior.
2008 Ford Edge
Vehicle type: five-passenger FWD crossover vehicle
Base price: $30,320 (as tested: $35,100)
Engine type: V6 24-valve DOHC w/SMPFI
Displacement: 3.5-liter
Horsepower (net): 265 at 6250 rpm
Torque (pound-feet): 250 at 4500 rpm
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 111 inches
Track (front/rear): 65/65 inches
Overall length: 185 inches
Overall width: 78 inches
Height: 67 inches
Turning circle (curb-to-curb): 39 feet
Curb weight: 4,078 pounds
Fuel capacity: 19 gallons
EPA mileage rating: 16 mpg city, 24 mpg highway
Article Link:
2008 Ford Edge has the edge over other crossovers
Linear Mode
