By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(November 2, 2020) While Ford has given its redesigned Escape crossover an advertising push recently, the Ford Edge remains a nice option for car shoppers looking for something just a tad bigger but don’t care about three-row seating. Around since its debut as a 2007 model, the 2020 Edge slots in between the Escape and familiar Ford Explorer in the company’s SUV fleet and though it would seem a third-row could be squeezed in, thankfully the company has avoided that temptation and provided pretty good cargo space behind the second row.

The 2020 Edge is part of the second generation introduced in 2015. The top-of-the-line ST trim that this review is based on replaced the Sport trim in 2019 and gets some new appearance options for this year.

Ford boasts that the turbocharged Ecoboost V6 engine is the most powerful in its segment with figures of 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque when the tank is filled with  93-octane fuel (91 is recommended with 87 as a minimum).

An aide here: filling a tank with premium fuel when regular octane (87) is all that is needed is a waste of money, but I’ve never figured out why if 91 or 93 octane is either recommended or required for the best performance from your vehicle that you would skimp to save a few bucks.

But I digress.

The V6 not only delivers more power, it isn’t all that thirsty either with ratings of 19 miles-per-gallon city, 26 highway.  A 2.0-liter 4-banger is standard on other Edge trims (SE, SEL, Titanium) with fuel milage at 21 mpg city, 29 highway.

Both engines come with an 8-speed automatic transmission with manual gear selection via steering wheel paddle shifters, and the ST gets all-wheel drive as standard.

With the top position in the Edge’s pecking order, the Edge ST packs lots of standard feature in its starting $43,265 MSRP. Those include dual zone climate control, auto stop-start tech, a 12-speaker sound system, blind spot detection, a performance-tuned suspension (which some might find a bit too stiff), lane-keeping assist, push-button start, hotspot telematics modem, Ford Sync3 telematics, a rotary dial for gear selection, bolstered leather sport seats with suede inserts, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a Class II trailer towing package.

My test Edge ST came with extras that added to the whole image.

They came in two packages.

One that included a wireless charging pad, evasive steering assist, panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, heated back seats and cool front seats, voice-activated navigation, hands-free voice activated liftgate, and remote start. That package added $4,840 to the bottom line. The ST Performance Brake Package added another $2,695.



All in all, the total for this 2020 Ford Edge ST came to $51,195 with the $1,245 destination and delivery charge included.

What I liked about the 2020 Ford Edge ST: There is tons of space for both passengers and cargo. There is probably room to squeeze in a third row, but I’m glad Ford didn’t put one in. I prefer the 39.3 cubic feet of room for cargo. The infotainment system offers much in the way of the latest technology with an 8-inch touchscreen, and it is user-friendly. The V6 Ecoboost engine in the ST trim provides good punch and fuel economy.

What I didn’t like about the 2020 Ford Edge ST: There is a very sharp edge along the bottom of the front doors that actually can break skin if you happen to strike it with some force.

Would I buy the 2020 Ford Edge ST? Yes. Even with the interior room, the Edge is not all that difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. The interior is nicely trimmed out, and five-passenger seating fits all I need.