Valeri G

Reviewed a 2009 Ford SEL on May 30, 2009

2K miles and already in shop! Ford ended up finding the problem, after two tries - a bad transmission mount causing creaking when turning or over bumps. Other than that, we like the car very much. Mileage is good and we expect it to improve as engine breaks in. The 6 speed transmission is ok but not as smart as our Honda Pilot. The Pilot has a perfect mate of engine/transmission and it shifts smoother than the Edge. The Edge does shift smoother than our previous 2001 Escape and is easier to control up/downshifts. The engine runs very smoothly and since the Edge is so quiet and the ride solid it's very easy to find yourself at 80mph + and you don't even realize how fast you are traveling. So watch out for the cops! Engine power is impressive esp. given such reasonable gas mileage. The steering is very precise and gives just the right amount of feedback. It has a very VW/Audi feel, which is a good thing in my opinion. The leather wheel is a very nice feature with the SEL model. the ride is firm but not harsh, with very little body lean. More of a Euro ride than Japanese. Fit and finish is improved for Ford but still falls short of Honda. Interior layout is good but the removable console tray is very flimsy and doesn't fit smartly into the bin. How much would it have cost Ford to make it of sturdier plastic and design positive slots for it to snap in? The tray seems like an afterthought. The overhead glasses storage bin is convenient, but again, it doesn't really fit well and the locking action feels flimsy. These are the little details that the Euro and Japanese makers pay attention to and, for some reason, domestic makers ignore - making the car seems inferior. Exterior is nicely done. I would have liked the option of an all black grill, as I am not a fan of chrome. The back-up sensor is a very nice feature and is really required, since rear visibility isn't the best. The door actions are solid and emit a firm sound when closed. The fish-eye mirrors added to corners of the side mirrors are an excellent safety feature even though they take some getting used- to, but they are essential. All in all, we're happy with the performance and over-all finish of the car. We hope that the Edge will be at least as reliable as our former Escape.