2011 Ford Edge

The Ford Edge has been one of the most distinctive crossovers on the market ever since its introduction, featuring a unique stance that truly sets it apart from the rest of the competition: While a Chevrolet Equinox, for example, is 72.5 inches wide, the Ford is more than a foot wider, measuring 87.5 inches across. But that difference hasn’t translated into additional customers for the Ford, as the Edge routinely trails the Equinox on the sales charts. The January totals showed the Edge earned 6,243 sales for the month, with the Equinox attracting 9,513 customers during the same time period. The Blue Oval hopes to change things around this year, and a significant overhaul for the 2011 Ford Edge just might do the trick.

The new model gets a serious facelift and now features the kind of “wide-mouth” grille made famous by Audi, along with some subtle adjustments to the rest of the exterior. Naturally, the interior was refreshed as well, with Ford engineers putting the emphasis on improving fit and finish and reducing noise levels. The ‘11 Edge will feature the latest MyFord Touch and Sync technologies, too, but the key advantage the new model brings when compared to the current Edge is found under the hood.

The only engine available on the ‘10 Edge is the same Duratec V6 the vehicle has been hauling around for years. The engine offers a competent 265 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque, but it’s a near disaster at the gas pump. The current EPA ratings for the Edge are 18/25/20 for city/highway/combined driving, and that’s for the front-wheel-drive model. If you want all four wheels moving, your mileage falls to 17/23/19. For comparison’s sake, the FWD Equinox turns in a line of 22/32/26, while the AWD Chevy goes 20/29/23. The difference? The Equinox is available with a four-cylinder engine.

Well, now the Edge will be, too, and it’s not just any old four-banger: The vehicle gets Ford’s first four-cylinder EcoBoost powerplant, which is expected to ecoboost fuel efficiency by 30 percent as compared to the Edge’s 2006 numbers (no, that’s no typo; Ford is using ‘06 as a baseline). This should deliver “class-leading fuel economy” according to the Blue Oval, along with “impressive power and torque.”

In addition, the Edge will offer two V6 options for 2011, including a more-efficient 3.5-liter engine and a higher-performance 3.7-liter unit borrowed from the Ford Mustang. The former delivers 285 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque; the latter, offered on the Edge Sport, ups the power levels to 305 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Both of these engines feature Ford’s Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing and get mated to six-speed automatic transmissions, with the Sport model offering paddle shifters, of course.

Also added to the Edge Sport will be 22-inch aluminum wheels with black spoke accents, a model-specific grille treatment, a specially tuned suspension, the requisite chrome exhaust tips and a variety of other cosmetic improvements.

The end result? Look for this wide-body crossover to appeal to an even wider range of customers when it goes on sale later this year.