… Ford Edge Sport 2.0 TDCi AWD …
When I first clapped eyes on the new Ford Edge I immediately thought “barge”. Unkind I know, but like the old Ford Granada, it’s a big motor. Only it’s not. At 4808 mm in length, 1928 mm in width and 1707 mm tall, it’s actually shorter, narrower and less tall than many other full-size SUVs, so don’t be put off by first impressions.
It’s the proportions that make it look bigger than it is with a low roofline suspended above tall flanks. And although it looks nothing like the original Ford Granada, I couldn’t help thinking what a terrific service barge and everyday transport the new Edge would make.
It actually brought back memories of Ford at Boreham Competitions Dept. turning their Granada estate cars into service barges in the early 1970s. Suitably prepped they then followed the Ford Motorsport Rally team round the week long international Scottish Rally and RAC Rally with roofracks filled with tyres and jerry cans and the inside stuffed with trolley jacks, toolboxes and suspension units and steering racks.
There was no such thing as central service parks in those days either. Service crews and chase cars had to follow their crew from stage to stage round the rally route, setting up camp in lay-bys and driveways wherever they could. Not only that, these ‘service barges’ were hustled around the roads pretty damn quickly at times trying to keep pace with their charges. Laden down to the bump stops and rolling like a CalMac ferry in a storm, their athletic antics horrified other road users and onlookers.
Aye, them were’t’days, when Polis turned a blind eye to life’s little indiscretions, ignored the occasional rally car passing by on three wheels and a shower of sparks, and Health & Safety was a barrier to success.
For sure the sport has moved on, and although I wasn’t attracted the to the Edge the first time I saw it – too much American design influence for my liking – over two weeks I really got to like the big thing.
It’s a big, soft, comfy driver of a car and although this one was called the ‘Sport’ edition, that applied more to a trim level than a performance statement. Fast it is not, but with its 178 bhp, 2 litre diesel motor it provided effortless cruising in sublime comfort.
Adding to its utilitarian appeal was the four wheel drive system and a very handy towing capacity of 2200 kgs. It all added up to the perfect weekday school runner and shopper, and ertswhile weekend motorsports support vehicle.
Mind you, it’s a tad expensive at £35,500 but for that you get SatNav and rear view camera, heated front sports seats and electrically heated ‘Quickclear’ windscreen (an absolute boon in the Scottish climate!), lane keeping aid and traffic sign recognition plus active city stop with pedestrian detection. So it’s got a stack of goodies built in. It also comes with 20 inch alloys, sports suspension, adaptive steering and handsfree power tailgate – great when you are approaching the tail end with a hefty trolley jack in your hands.
The test car also had a few extras with a front wide-view camera and active park assist with parallel and perpendicular parking, and it also had a 2 grand Lux pack which added power seats, power door mirrors and panorama roof. As for that deep bronze paint job, that alone was an extra £545, but I think it looked pretty good.
Ford reckons that the fuel consumption on the Combined cycle will return 47.9 mpg, but I just managed to exceed 40 mpg during its two weeks with me.
The only thing I didn’t like was the new grille, and that goes for its big brother Transit. I liked the scaled down versions on the Fiesta and Custom, but it doesn’t work for me on the bigger machines. I was once told in earnest fashion by a Ford engineer “It will grow on you!” It hasn’t.
So would I have one? You know what? Despite its American influence I would be quite happy to tootle around in one and have it parked on my drive – and I can easily get my bike in the back!