>> This car has been getting a lot of attention. A whole new model for Ford in the crossover space. It's the Ford Edge. But is it very edgy? ^m00:00:08 [ music ] ^m00:00:15 The navigation system you see here is optional. I like it even though it's getting a bit stale. Big buttons, touch screen, real simple interface. This is one of the easiest to learn on the market in my opinion. The other thing we like on this car though that is definitely top of the class, is the Microsoft Sync System; this big ole badge down here on the console tells you that. And in case you aren't familiar with it, that's the system that allows you to connect portables to the head unit by either bluetooth, stereo streaming bluetooth, or you can use the USB jack there in the console as well as the old garden variety AUX In. By the way that USB jack also will translate to a true Apple iPod. So you are getting an iPod connector here even though it doesn't look like it's iPod specific, it's really the most advanced multiple connector interface; one of the reasons we like Sync. Inside, our Edge is pretty much garden variety Ford stuff; it's nice and spacious, it's a Ford, it doesn't feel tight, they intend to make cars that are built for big ole Americans. One thing I like on this vehicle is the optional Vista roof, that is 2 panels overhead including the main one here that is enormous and if that's not enough, I'm going back there for the folks in the rear seat that's also very generous. That option though means you can't have another tech treat which would be a rear seat entertainment system back here. The way Ford does it is a single drop down 8 inch LCD and the dual infrared headsets. I'm not crazy about that because it gets right here in the way of your rear view mirror. Luckily you will find this vehicle has standard back up sensors, the ones that just beep when you're getting near something. That's the only help you're gonna get with rearward visibility. There is no rear view camera on this car, standard or optional. Now the Edge isn't exactly a driver's car, so don't expect any sophisticated power train options. You've got a single choice of engine and transmission, a 3 and a half liter Duratech gasoline V6 that generates 265 horsepower, 2 fifty foot pounds, a good torque, going through a one choice only 6 feet automatic right here without any particular tricks or paddle shifters or nonsense like that. The mileage on the car is a little bit hard to take; 15 city 22 highway. Considering it's pushing a brick through the air, the engine's not doing bad but you're gonna feel that in this 4 dollar a gallon era that you're either in or approaching depending where you live. On the other hand, this is a relatively clean vehicle. They brag about its ULEV 2 status, that's ultra low emissions vehicle level 2 which is pretty good. The Edge accomplishes what the Ford Escape doesn't, which is it feels like a car based crossover. But I'll tell you what; my favorite feature in this vehicle is what you would call tractability. Just it's ease of driving. There's enough horsepower and torque on the engine, the transmission shifts cleanly and has the right ratios, and perhaps most importantly the engine management computer isn't a big wimp. When you step on the accelerator it doesn't go, ugh what do I do? Like so many other cars I could name. It's just sends power out to the gears and to the wheels and you're off and running. It's what a car's supposed to do and a lot of them don't do it well. This one does. Okay, let's price our Ford Edge. Now again, this is the limited all wheel drive. We're starting at pretty much the top of the line trim level right off the bat. That's about 33,200. To that we added 2,000 dollars for the Nav rig, 13 hundred would have brought us rear seat DVD entertainment. Another 1600 bucks that I would spend for that Vista roof with the 2 big glass panels, that's cool. Small fry stuff includes 195 for Serius, including 6 months. And 300 bucks is going to add in a remote start. [ music ]
