By Michael Andre Adams
To describe it just one line, I’d have to call it a Harlem crossover with an edge—that is the Ford Edge Sport for 2011.
Four years since it hit the streets, Edge has never looked better, particularly at the Sport trim level. At the cash price of $37,750, it bares a look that’s easily deemed “hot” by every urban standard. As for you suburbanites trying to get crunk, well, this one’s for you too!
A big ole sexy, tuxedo black front grill (versus a chrome grill on all other trim levels) and a set of slits positioned in the lower corners of the bumper emanating LED lighting really sets off the front fascia design. The overall angular body design is further enhanced by chrome dual exhaust pipes, a standard set of 22” inch rims done in tuxedo black and silver and coolest rear spoiler from which the flow of air can exit the roofline in a fury. Major kudos to the designers of Edge’s panoramic vista roof that brings forth a feeling of the great outdoors to the interior cabin space while appearing in invisible black from the outside.
Under the hood, Edge Sport comes standard with a 3.7 liter V6 engine and a six speed automatic transmission. With 305 horses under the hood we’re talking fuel efficiency of 18 miles per gallon in the city and 25 on the highway. One thing I can say is that Edge is a solid vehicle. You’ll feel the weight of it from every starting point and pay for it at the pump. But if not only looking good, but feeling safe is your desire, Edge ranks “Good” in its performance in front, side, rollover and rear crash tests and standard electronic stability control, with “Good” being the highest rating.
From the driver’s seat, practically everything can be controlled from your fingertips and your hands never have to leave the steering wheel, thanks to ability to see each function being performed from one of the three panes in the dashboard, including temperature controls, the Sony entertainment center, etc.
Speaking of entertainment centers, the glossy, center stack between the driver and passenger is super sexy, as is the ambient lighting that enhances certain areas throughout the stack, cupholders, floors and dash. That was cool. What took me through a loop is Edge’s MyFord Touch. This technologically savvy system has but one knob and a great touch screen from which many of the same functions that can be controlled via the steering wheel, are also controlled manually, or through voice activation, which is all pretty cool. But for some reason, the navigation system I managed to make appear by way of a map in the big, crisp and colorful monitor, seemed to disappear a day or so later, never to reappear. Or was I tripping?
Finally, despite numerous attempts to learn what Sync is all about, I still can’t seem to figure the features, advantages and benefits of that one out. Just as when my phone is paired with Bluetooth, I’ve been Sync can also accept my text messages, posting them on the monitor. But for whatever reason, I can never seem to make that happen.
Overall, in its class, alongside Chevy’s Equinox, Toyota’s Venza, Honda’s Pilot and definitely Nissan’s Murano, Ford’s Edge Sport is killing them all!
The base model Edge SE begins at $28,465, followed by the Edge SEL at $31,475, then Edge Limited at $35,475, prior to the top of the line Edge Sport, again at $37,750. For more information, log on at www.ford.com.
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