Ford is no stranger to the SUV market. Around the world, including its native U.S., it has a whole host of SUV offerings. One such example is the Ford Edge. It’s a 4×4 that the Blue Oval priced to sell in large numbers. But, what does that mean, exactly, I hear you ask? Is the Ford Edge a worthy contender for the SUV market or is it just another pile of shit from the masters of making shit? Let’s take a look at the evidence. No thirsty petrol engines in here Perhaps one of the most striking things you’ll notice about the Ford Edge is the engine choice. There are just two power plants on offer, and both of them are diesel. Why? Ford believe that today’s SUV buyer wants a car that is affordable to buy AND run. If you think about it, what they are saying makes sense. Take a look at buyers of other SUVs like the Range Rover models, for example. JLR will tell you that most of their buyers opt for diesel engines. No-one really wants a thirsty V8 petrol anymore! Both of the diesel offerings in the Ford Edge are 2.0-litre TDCi units. The first is the 180 PS (177 bhp) model. It’ll propel you from 0-60 mph in a reasonable 9.6 seconds. That’s not bad for an SUV that weighs around a couple of tonnes! CO2 emissions are a healthy 149 g/km. And VW motorists: they are real-world figures. The second option is the 210 PS (207 bhp) model. That has a 0-60 time of 9.1 seconds. The CO2 emissions are the same as the 180 PS model, as is the combined MPG of 48.7. Manual or automatic gearboxes: the choice is yours Having a six-speed manual or PowerShift automatic gearbox is possible. If you spend most of your time stuck in traffic. For most people there isn’t that much point owning a manual on today’s crowded roads. The only downside to the auto is that it’s expensive to fix if you break it. I read on http://www.trannyman.net that you should have the gearbox oil changed every 30k. And that makes perfect sense for such a complex beast like the PowerShift. Still, the cost to do so isn’t steep, and it means your gearbox could last longer than you own the car! A plethora of modern technology The one thing that the Ford Edge has a lot of is tech gadgetry! For example, adaptive steering means you don’t have to wrestle with the wheel at low speeds. Ford SYNC 2 lets you listen to music and make calls (but it won’t make you a hot beverage). And adaptive lighting illuminates the way ahead. Other cool features include the AWD system – useful if you do some off-roading. Plus, the lane keeping system helps you avoid veering into other people’s lanes on the road! Check out http://www.youtube.com to see an example of how the technology works. Summary The Ford Edge has a whole host of features for the modern SUV buyer. It’s affordable and not as shit as you might think a typical Ford to be! If you want to get a new SUV soon, add this to your shortlist.