I have been test driving Fords for a few years now and I see an evolution happening. Not only are the autos becoming more stylish, the technology driving them is evolving. I remember first testing out the Ford Sync (when it was known more as Microsoft Sync) in the 2010 Ford Flex. Now, Ford has kept the innovation engine running full steam ahead and it is exemplified in the 2012 Ford Edge Limited Edition.
I won’t spend too much going through all of the details, but here are some of the highlights that I find to be important. The Ford Edge is a 5-seater with plenty of cargo space, so it is perfect for families. The seats in the back can be folded down (via electronic push-button) in a 60/40 split, giving you ample space to lug a huge amount of “family stuff.” The Edge is considered a crossover, so not quite big enough to be an SUV but not small like a sedan or hatchback. Personally, I find this size to be pretty optimal since you maintain pretty good gas efficiency by keeping the auto size lower but still sit high enough on the road to peer down at people. The estimated MPG, by the way, is 21 city and 30 highway. In my testing, we hit right around 22-23 as a mixture of city/highway.
The Edge is stylish but in a subdued way. While the front grill is pretty aggressive, the side profile isn’t. It’s funny, you can almost dress up or dress down the Edge to your pleasing – great to go on camping or road trips, or going out for a night on the town. Safety is a key concern for Ford and their technology is growing to meet the needs of increasingly distracting driving conditions. Two features that I have always stated should be standard on any vehicle are present in the Edge, namely, blind spot indicators (called BLIS) and a rear-facing camera for when you back up. These two items should be, in my opinion, required by law. I do believe that the rear-camera will be a standard feature in the coming years. Another feature becoming more common in vehicles these days is the push button starter and the keyless entry system. I find it so difficult now to physically pull the keys out of my pocket to start my old car…yeah, I’m whining but it’s so nice to be lazy. And, the Edge that I tested had the remote start option which allows you to start up your Ford remotely in order to heat up or cool down the interior prior to you getting in.
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