2015 Ford Edge - All of What you Need, None of What you Don't

“Some say that abundance is the secret to happiness, but when it comes to features in a car, overabundance can mean quite the opposite. Can the 2015 Ford Edge achieve a balance in the midst of today’s feature-crazy cars?”

All of What you Need, None of What you Don’t

Recalling the days when you simply got in your car, used a real key to start the ignition, pushed a real button to turn on the radio, and got on your marry way, is as distant as the memories of using our cell phones for phone calls, instead of sending text messaging, Instagramming or controlling our home’s thermostat.

Moving on with the times is important, not only for safety, but also for convenience, but the downside of technology is that it can sometimes be overwhelming for some of us. And if you’ve ever asked a seven-year old for technical advice, you know exactly what I mean.

After spending a week with the 2015 Ford Edge Titanium AWD, I learned that it’s possible to build a technologically relevant vehicle that isn’t confusing or overwhelming, but instead—useful and practical.

Just the Right Amount

Step into any modern vehicle and you’ll find the controls in one of two places—a button on the center console, or a submenu in the touchscreen. Both styles have their pros and cons, but the Ford Edge offers the best of both worlds.

Our test vehicle featured the Sony premium stereo and SYNC with MyFord Touch, which made the dashboard’s focal point look sleek. The large and backlit Sony volume knob made it easy to understand that I was in fact—adjusting the volume, and not the ac or heater temperature like in other vehicles with three or four knobs. Just one.

The climate control and heated/ventilated seat buttons lay to the side of the radio controls, and are easily reached while resting your hand on the shifter. I had an issue locating the heated steering wheel button, but after looking for 15 minutes, I found it in the climate settings on the touchscreen.

The Edge Titanium uses an electronic parking brake, which allowed Ford to better utilize the area around the shifter and cupholders, therefore maximizing useful spaces and minimizing grime-loving and coin-hoarding crevices. In the middle of it all is a storage compartment where you can throw the useless stuff we all carry in our cars, or use it as your designated cell phone spot.

Driving Experience

The Edge feels well-composed on the road, and the steering is lighter and much more agile than I could’ve imagined. The 2.0 liter EcoBoost 4 cylinder engine isn’t necessarily powerful but it responds quickly, it’s quiet, and more importantly, it delivered an exceptional 23.9 mpg average, which is nine tenths of a mile more than advertised. (Stunning, considering the all-wheel drive system)

While the steering, acceleration, and braking were all better than expected, the suspension was definitely on the firm side, and although it made us feel a few more road imperfections than we desired, it certainly paid off during cornering at medium and high speeds.

Family Friendliness

I once performed an interview with a Ford product manager, and he mentioned something quite interesting—“If the comfort, tech and attention to detail doesn’t transfer from the front to the backseats, then our job is only half done.”

Well, it looks like the job was completed in the 2015 Ford Edge Titanium AWD. Josephine was thrilled to see a button for rear seat warmers, even though she can’t feel them because of her car seat—but shhh don’t tell her that! The rear center stack also houses ac/heater vents to keep the kiddos cool or toasty despite the elements, along with a 12 and 110 volt outlets for their power-hungry gadgets.

Other family-friendly features include, the panoramic vista roof which covers nearly the entire length of the ceiling, and is a major hit with passengers regardless of age. The spacious trunk (39.2 cu. ft.) provided us with more cargo space than we could ever need, as we loaded up a stroller, bike, and a few other items and still had room left!

Safety

Speaking of useful and friendly, everyone noticed the hefty looking rear seatbelts in the Edge. These high-tech inflatable seatbelts function as airbags, which can inflate in milliseconds in the case of an accident, and according to Ford, they drastically reduce neck and chest injuries.

When it comes to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Ford Edge achieved a 5 star overall score. Not too shabby, eh?

Overall

It was refreshing to spend time with a family SUV that is exactly that—and nothing else.

The 2015 Ford Edge doesn’t try to be a luxury vehicle, sports car, off-roader, or anything else, it simply wants to make life easy, comfortable, and as pleasant as it can be while hauling kids around.

That’s a tall order, but it seems to have pulled it off.

2015 Ford Edge Titanium AWD