Used Ford Edge Hatchback 2016-2019 review

In America, everything’s bigger – or so the saying goes, anyway. Which is why, when Ford needed a large SUV to compete in the growing European market for such things, it turned to one already on sale in the US: the Edge.

That said, relatively few versions were made available here in the UK. You can choose between two versions of the same 2.0-litre diesel engine – one with 178bhp, the other with 207bhp. There's also a choice of four trim levels: entry-level Zetec, luxurious Titanium, aggressive-looking Sport, which was later renamed ST-Line, and opulent Vignale.

Size is a factor that dominates the Edge, in fact; out on the road, it continually reminds you of its girth and its weight. You first notice this in the turning circle, which is appalling, and often leaves you having to have a second go at parking; turns in the road can become a laborious affair.

As you might expect, it feels rather ponderous if you try to hustle it along a twisty road, too; responsive steering and a game attempt at body control help matters, but the Edge isn’t keen to change direction quickly and leans over if you push it too hard.

What’s more, powerful though those diesel engines are, neither version hauls the car along all that well. The ride, too, can be rather lumpy in models fitted with the larger, 20in wheels. Smaller-wheeled cars are far better, though, smoothing out most town bumps and providing cosseting comfort on the motorway.

Comfort is something the Edge does well, in fact; it’s quiet when you’re on the move, and the seats are broad and well padded, while both front and rear seat passengers get a huge amount of space to stretch out in.

The boot is huge, too, and it’s a practical, square shape. However, there’s no third row of seats in there; the Edge is strictly a five-seater – unlike the Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe and Skoda Kodiaq.

If you only need to seat five, mind you, the Edge’s interior is very pleasant. It feels solid and well built, with only a couple of slightly cheap-looking plastics marring things. Early versions featured a rather fiddly and sluggish touchscreen system, but later cars are far better, while the rest of the switchgear feels solid and slick.

For 2019, the Edge was given a facelift in an attempt to push it upmarket and compete with premium rivals such as the Audi Q5. This slimmed the range down to leave only the higher-end trims and brought subtly refreshed styling, as well as a new, more powerful diesel engine.

There’s also a lower-powered option, but those looking to swerve diesel altogether in favour of petrol or hybrid power will need to look elsewhere, because these options aren’t available on the Edge at present.

Regardless of which power output you select, you get an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard. In the entry-level 148bhp Titanium model this drives the front wheels, while the 235bhp ST-Line and Vignale get four-wheel drive. Despite the difference in power, every version can tow a braked trailer weighing up to 2000kg.

Despite the radical facelift, the Edge went off sale soon after in 2019.

If you're interested in finding a used Edge, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Prices for the Ford Edge start at around £15,000 for an early car. Expect to spend between £16,000 and £20,000 on a 2017 model and between £20,000 and £23,000 on a 2018 car. Post-facelift and the final run of 2019 cars will still be upwards of £23,000. That makes it cheaper than a Volkswagen Touareg, but more expensive than most of its more useful seven-seat rivals.

If you want to find out whether an Edge you’re thinking of buying is priced right, why not use the free What Car? Valuations tool?

Running costs are relatively steep. Fuel economy is another area in which the Edge’s heft makes itself felt. The official average economy figure for the lower-powered version is a lowly 48.7mpg; out on the road, according to the older NEDC tests, you can expect that figure to drop below 40mpg. The higher-powered variant is even worse.

Consequently, road tax on Edges registered before 1 April 2017 is rather high. Don’t expect to pay less than £155 a year for one of these, or more if you go for the 207bhp version. The change in tax rates on that date was good news for Edge owners, because it meant tax costs changed to £150 a year on both engines – but keep in mind that any Edge that cost more than £40,000 when new, including options, will incur the higher rate of £475 a year.

At least maintenance costs on the Edge will be relatively palatable. Ford’s servicing and repair costs are reasonable, if not quite the cheapest in the business, and once your Edge hits three years old, it’ll benefit from a menu pricing scheme called Motorcraft, which offers service and repair costs at a fixed, discounted price at Ford dealers.

The top models come with larger wheels that take their toll on the Ford Edge’s ride quality, while the entry-level Zetec is quite hard to find. That leaves Titanium as our favourite version; we’d team that with the 178bhp engine, because the more powerful option isn’t noticeably quicker and suffers from poorer fuel economy.

Our favourite Ford Edge: 2.0 TDCi 180 Titanium

The most similar rival to the Edge is the Volkswagen Touareg, which is higher in quality, better to drive and more comfortable but shares the Edge’s big disadvantage, which is that it offers only five seats.

You’re far better off, then, spending less on a seven-seat rival like the Kia Sorento, which throws a long manufacturer warranty into the bargain and feels less cumbersome than the Edge.

There’s also the Skoda Kodiaq, which is smaller than both of those rivals and therefore more manoeuvrable but, thanks to clever packaging, offers just as much space. It’s safe, comfortable and easy to drive, too.

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If you're interested in finding a used Edge, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.