Hi everyone,

My wife and I are considering buying a mid-size SUV in preparation for our first (of hopefully a number of kids). We currently drive a 8 year old Ford Focus and a 10-11 year old similar sized other company hatchback. The plan is to get rid of the older car first and get a midsize SUV now and then in 3-4 years when the Focus gives out then buy something bigger than the midsize SUV. Just FYI, we are the type of people to drive a car until it dies/into the ground so we won't be trading in in 3-5 years (assuming nothing dramatic happens). FYI, my in-laws have an 2017-2018 Edge Titanium model and love it.

We drove an Edge (SEL - FWD - not our preferred trim but just to get a feel of the car) and the Santa Fe around this weekend for about 45 minutes each. The Edge felt really wide to drive but I would assume that would be the case with any bigger car when I am used to a small hatchback.

What we liked about the Edge:

• Way better looking interior than the Santa Fe - a lot sleeker. The Hyundai interior/center console is a mess with the infotainment screen stuck on top like an iPad and only controls the radio.
  
• Lots of cubby holes to put stuff.
  
• Bigger trunk space - important for us as baby comes with a lot of stuff.
  
• Salesperson is a family friend and might be able to work a great deal for us.
  
• More solidly built - when we drove the Hyundai around on bumpy roads, the rear seats shook.
  

What we didn't like about the Edge:

• Felt a little heavy to drive/turn - Santa Fe rode a little better and was more nimble (but it's 500 pounds lighter so it's to be expected).
  
• My wife likes the look of the Santa Fe exterior better (but she hated the interior as it seemed not as polished).
  
• To be honest, the Edge seems a little overpriced in general compared to the Santa Fe (although it's known that Ford likes to mark up their prices really high and then offer huge discounts).
  
• The warranty is not as good as Hyundai.
  

If we were to go with the Edge, we would be looking at the SEL trim with some options (no to the sunroof though). We have a number of questions for anyone:

1. What are some things you like about your Edge and what are some things you dislike about the Edge?
   
2. How fast does the A/C & heating kick in and how powerful is it? (aka when it's blisteringly hot or freezing cold). We live in Canada so we can expect both extremes.
   
3. For the seating material, how easy to clean/stain resistant are the regular cloth seats compared to the ActiveX fake-leather seats? Also, how comfortable are the ActiveX seats compared to the cloth ones?
   
4. Foot activated liftgate - how often do you use it compared to just clicking the button on the keyfob? To me, it would make sense to use it when I'm carrying something like groceries.
   
5. Wireless changing pad - how often do you use it and how annoying is taking the cover off of your cellphone in order to charge it? My wife said that she would only really use that feature when driving long distances but with a newborn baby, that might not happen as much as we think.
   
6. Has the fuel economy of your model gone up or down compared to the projected amount?
   
7. Reliability - has your Edge had any major reliability issues? My father-in-law has an 2017-2018 Edge Titanium and the only thing he's had is one recall for the weather stripping on the rear wheel wells. My wife has a 2012 Ford Focus with the major transmission issues and it's still not right (although it's never costed us anything). I'm a big believer in how you drive the car can determine the reliability too.
   

We are looking to spend a max of $35,000 USD/$48,000 CAD (taxes and fees included). We might also consider buying a new 2019 since it's basically the same car if we get a really good price on it.

Any thoughts you can give are greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

 

We are 1 year into our 2019 Ford Edge Titanium purchase. We have been very satisfied. It's my wife's car and she's coming from a RAV4. I appreciate what you mean by Edge having a more heavy feel. I feel that too. However, some say that this is because Ford took the approach to steering closer to the Germans and gave it more connection to the road as compared to weightless steering where you can jiggle the steering wheel back and forth and car doesn't move. My wife loves the feel of the Edge compared to the RAV4 because, to her, it feels more substantial and safer. Highly subjective, I know, but that's the feedback. I don't notice that the substantial feel detracts from the driving experience.

I agree that the Edge interior looks better. Even though some feel that the center stack is dated, the interior is close to a "wow" when people get into the vehicle for the first time. I agree that the Edge can get pricey but the discounts are huge. Honestly, it takes the Titanium package and specifically the 301A package to load the Edge up to the point that I think it's an unmatched value in my opinion. There should be close to a 12% discount in that vehicle right now.

If you can squeeze your budget up to $38,000 USD, I'd highly recommend it. The Titanium trim with the 301A package includes a ton of features and discounts should get you very close to that number.

What I like: the seats are massively comfortable. Did a 2000 miles round trip in 4 days and was never physically tired or uncomfortable driving the Edge. The adjustable headrest was a large factor in that. I love the richness of the interior (ebony color) and the materials. The engine is strong. Sync 3 infotainment is pretty good and the high-end audio system is really, really good. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto seems as stable as it gets. What I don't like: the lane-keeping assistant works but it isn't lane centering. It will tend to ping-pong you back and forth between the lane markings vs keeping you in the center.

I've never had a concern about the speed of the AC and heat in Iowa (-10 in the winter, +100 in the summer). The cooled seat fan is loud on high speed but more reasonable on medium and low speed.

I use the foot-activated tailgate every time. So does my wife. She keeps her key in her purse and never takes it out. It's too convenient not to use it. We don't use the wireless charging pad mainly because we typically use Android Auto and therefore the phone charges when it's connected by the cable.

The fuel economy has stayed at 22 MPH overall on mixed driving and hasn't moved. We use premium fuel. No mechanical issues at all in the year we've owned the vehicle. The computer has only recommended a single oil change so far based on our driving patterns.

Let me know if you have other questions.

 

Thank you for your detailed reply.

On the surface, we are looking to buy a SEL with options that come standard on the Titanium but to be honest, the Titanium is a little too far out of our reach (even with discount). Especially since we are at the top of our budget with the optioned SEL. Plus, we don't want to be seen as "spending irresponsibly" by our families (particularly my family who have issues with micromanagement). Right now, we are looking at what's available at the dealers rather than having one built for us.

What would you say about trunk lighting and how good/bad the headlights are driving at night?

 

I can't say that I've ever paid attention to the trunk lighting. I don't recall any issue with it however. Headlights are great but I think the headlights on the Titanium with the 301A are different than the base. The headlines we have are self leveling and turn when the wheels turn.

 

I am new here but have been selling Fords for 22 years.....
1. I just bought my Edge number 2..went from a 16 Titanium to a 2020 ST...All positive for us Nothing I dont like...That is subjective I know..
2. AC is fine be sure to change cabin filter on occasion 25k miles or so..I hav heated cooled seats now and Heated wheel.Yours will probaly have cold weather pack which i believe has heated wheel, which is great .
3. most all luxury brands have a synthetic leather...Active X is very durable compared to leather..
4. I use the foot thingy alot. thought it was silly at first ..Wrong
5. Many phone will charge thru case.. My parents say gharging pad doesnt charge very efficiently on their Explorer
6. Turbos like the premium fuel though Ford doesnt require it . It will run better..in any car this is true of Turbos..DONT USE CHEAP GAS!!
that is a whole other thread. The harder you drive the more it will like the gas..turbos are a little psycho at times..Drive easy they sip gas..
7. No big reliabilty issues..Change the oil often..I use Mobil 1...Do this to protect the Turbos..All ford since 2011 have had 10k mile or 1 year oil changes built in because of legislation from certain states that require taht from factory..Change oil at 5k miles ou must protect the Turbos..Buy an extended warranty on all cars..Its a cheap investment.. i would be remiss if i didnt put in a word about Ford SYNC..Have it hooked to your wifi at the house..It will quietly update system..i have had no issues with our previous car on that subject..
Back to number one for a second....I like the Heft of the Edge..It is a great car for road trips and over the years it has had a spectacular safety rating..

Hope this helps!!

 

The 2019-2021 Edge series only has 1-3 recalls depending on the year, compared to 5-6 recalls in previous years (source) So I think 2020 Edge is a good choice for you and your wife.