The Ford Edge has made a strong first impression, as it looks like it could have the interior quality and refinement of its premium rivals, but without the price tag to match. Crucially, it’s likely to be more practical, too, with a big boot, plenty of legroom and impressive tech inside.
This year will be an important one for Ford, with the brand planning a wider range of upmarket Vignale models as well as finally launching the Ford Edge SUV in the UK. As the largest SUV in Ford's line-up, it's placed as a rival to the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, but without the premium price tag.
It's part of a plan to expand the brand's SUV range; Ford says it expects to sell 200 per cent more models in this part of the line-up by 2016 than it did two years ago. Sales of all-wheel-drive cars are rising as well, and Ford now offers half of its cars and commercial vehicles with a 4x4 system.
We got the chance to climb aboard an EU-spec Edge at Ford's Lommel proving ground in Belgium. The passenger ride was our first experience with the car; we're told this has had quite a few changes over the US version, which has been on sale for two years. Keen to show off the Edge's intelligent all-wheel-drive system, Ford took us for a ride on a muddy track, dubbed the 'soft-road' course.
Rather than dazzling us with off-road prowess, the car impressed with the quality of the ride - even over rougher terrain it felt smooth and composed, with the suspension absorbing large bumps and dips. Later, after a rain shower, the track became far more slippery, but the AWD system tackled the muddy tracks without any problems.
One section of the route featured a short but steep incline and a slick surface, which highlighted that these AWD SUVs aren't all show when you leave the tarmac.
There will be two engine options on offer for the Edge when it launches in the UK next summer - a 188bhp 2.0-litre diesel paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, and a higher-powered 207bhp version with a six-speed automatic. We rode in the more powerful model, and with 450Nm of torque, it took on steep inclines with ease.
It was quiet too, with only a hint of diesel rumble making its way into the cabin. The active noise cancellation tech is carried over from the Ford Mondeo Vignale, which adds ambient sound through the speakers to 'cancel out' engine and wind noise. We'll have to wait until we drive it to find out if it remains quiet inside when at speed, as our first ride was a rather gentle affair.
The upmarket interior did impress, with lots of soft-touch materials around the dash and gloss trim around the gear selector and centre console.
It does an impressive job of bringing the Edge into the realm of the BMW X3, and the large, comfortable leather seats are a particular highlight for all occupants.
There's plenty of room inside, too, including the back seats, where leg and headroom are a strong point, even for passengers over six feet tall. The boot's big, and although there are no official figures as yet, it certainly looks competitive compared to rivals like the Volvo XC60.
Safety kit will be key for the Edge when it's launched later this year, and the current list is impressive - it includes inflatable rear seatbelts, blind spot monitoring, cross traffic alert and a 180-degree front camera to help when pulling out of junctions. The Edge will also benefit from city braking assist, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control.
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar