KEY FEATURES:

• On-fob remote start
• SmartKey keyless entry/pushbutton ignition
• power front seats
• heated seats
• tan leather interior
• power rear liftgate
• blindspot/cross-traffic detection
• Bluetooth handsfree phone/stereo controls
• AM/FM/CD/SXM/USB/Aux/BT stereo
• paddle-shifters
• GPS navigation
• rear camera w/swivel guides
• rear parking sensors
• garage-door openers
• 110v AC household power outlet

Everything from the wheels to the roof is brand new on the Ford Edge for 2015. The refreshed Edge also makes use of the Ford Fusion’s platform as a foundation for a quieter and more rigid vehicle. That means the car’s length has increased by 100 mm, adding extra rear legroom and cargo capacity to the mix.

The Edge also gets sharper and edgier looks with a Taurus-inspired front grill to make it look like a swelled-up cop car. The Edge appears nimbler and sportier than it’s predecessor, and that sleek silhouette makes for a more grown-up appeal. Inside is where I saw the most change. The materials used are just staggering, even by Ford’s standards. Soft touch panels are everywhere, the amount of cabin space is more than adequate, and the ride is extremely quiet. Heated seats are there to take the edge off, Ford’s infotainment system is intuitive and responsive, and the suspension did very well absorbing most of the bumps on the road. Overall, the fit and finish is excellent and in testers’ opinions, it competes with upscale interiors costing thousands of dollars more.

Let’s talk engines. This one comes with a 2.0-litre twin-scroll Ecoboost turbocharged 4-cylinder. For those unfamiliar with Blue Oval terminology, Ecoboost engines are anything with a turbo in it. This is also the first Ford vehicle that comes standard with an Ecoboost engine, the 2.0-litre. It also comes with start-stop technology and direct injection and is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters with all-wheel drive (AWD).

Canadianautoreview.ca had the opportunity to spend some time with the 2.0-litre on a closed-course: 245 horsepower and 275 lb-ft in a standard engine is nothing to scoff at – it’s a significant improvement over the previous 2.0-litre Ecoboost engine. The Edge was light on its nose and feet, the twin-scroll tech helped reduce some of the turbo lag; where this engine really shines is in fuel economy. Ford rates the 2.0-litre AWD with a city rating of 11.8 L/100km and 8.4 L/100km on the highway – that’s bonkers for a car that weighs 1,840 kg and drives all four wheels.

KEY FEATURES:

• On-fob remote start
• SmartKey keyless entry/pushbutton ignition
• power front seats
• heated seats
• tan leather interior
• power rear liftgate
• blindspot/cross-traffic detection
• Bluetooth handsfree phone/stereo controls
• AM/FM/CD/SXM/USB/Aux/BT stereo