Ford Edge ST: Quick, confident and comfortable crossover

Edging out the superb Ford Focus ST hot hatch as the iconic American manufacturer’s most compact performance vehicle in its home market and in the Middle East, the Edge ST’s 2019 arrival came soon after the brand rolled back much of its passenger car models, in lieu of a more SUV-oriented line-up in these regions.

Incrementally updated with new packages, tech revisions and improvements since, the Edge ST however occupies a similarly sporting but practical ground among crossovers as the Focus ST did among hatchbacks.

Athletic aesthetic

The Edge ST is not as sportingly agile in its handling or viscerally charged in driver appeal and engagement as the hot hatch it effectively replaces, in an outright comparison. However, it nevertheless channels and reinterprets much of the same rewardingly eager yet accessible traits that characterised much of the Ford Performance wing’s road-oriented performance products for crossover SUV service. In such a broad segment, the Edge ST is a standout model for combination of responsively nimble handling, punchy performance and user-friendly daily drive practicality. 

The sporting sister to Ford’s spacious and versatile mid-size family crossover, the Edge ST features the same scowling, slim headlights, high waistline, rakish roofline and high-set rear lights. It however adopts an athletic aesthetic with more aggressive bumpers, side skirts and dual integrated rectangular exhaust ports. Ditching the Edge’s heavy chrome detailing for black, body colour and dark brushed aluminium effect accents and body trim, the ST’s big tailgate spoiler and choice of standard 20-inch or optional 21-inch alloy wheels meanwhile lend a tauter look.

Punchy performance

A more focused take on the Edge crossover, the ST is powered by a 2.7-litre twin-turbocharged direct injection EcoBoost V6 engine positioned transversely behind its vast, hungry octagonal grille, and black honeycomb mesh. A familiar yet ever-impressive engine already deployed with luxury Lincoln brand sister models, the Edge ST’s versatile V6 develops 335BHP at 5,500rpm and 380lb/ft torque at 3,000rpm, and is mated to a smooth and quick shifting 8-speed automatic gearbox with plenty of ratios to exploit output for optimised performance, efficiency and flexibility.

Prodigious and efficient, the Edge ST’s twin-turbo 2.7 pulls confidently hard from low-end engine speeds, as it wells up to a rich, versatile and flexibly muscular mid-range sweet spot plateau. Urgent accumulating power from it abundant mid-range and through to redline, the Edge ST overtakes with effortless ease and a more resonant acoustic edge when in Sport mode. Responsive to throttle input, the Edge ST winds up to its top end with a punchy intensity that is underwritten by a deep, wide, flexible and layer of torque.

Clever composure

Consistent and quick, the Edge ST is eager and urgent reaching for its rev limit. It is however similarly responsive from standstill, and launches with muscular confidence, as short gasflow path plumbing minimises turbo lag, while all-wheel-drive provides tenacious traction to propel it through 0-100km/h in around 6.5-seconds. Driving front wheels under normal conditions, it however sends power to the rear wheels when more traction is needed over loose surfaces, or enhanced road holding is required to aggressively power out of corners with confidence and composure.

Utilising a clever independent suspension design of front MacPherson struts and a rear integral-link system, the Edge ST provides both a rigid lateral control and supple vertical compliancy for both good driving dynamics and ride comfort. A faster, firmer and more focused family crossover, it is agile vehicle next to most competitors, and drives with an eager and alert character. Tidy into corners with responsive and quick steering, it is surprisingly willing to be chucked through corners like a smaller, lighter vehicle than its 2,052kg suggests.

Comfortable cruiser

Alert and eager into corners with direct, weighty and more intuitive than expected steering, the Edge ST is committed and grippy throughout corners, and with better body lean control than expected of its weight and ride height. That said, the Edge ST excels in its settled, smooth and stable high-speed cruising capability. Dispatching textural imperfections with comfortable composure — even with optional low profile 265/40R21 tyres — the Edge ST, meanwhile, provides a refined, buttoned down and reassuring ride quality in town and on highway. 

Distinctly sporting inside with leather and Alcantara upholstery, the Edge ST’s combination of high waistline, high-set seating and low steering position initially seems unorthodox, but soon becomes second nature, with user-friendly controls close to hand and good front visibility. Spacious for front and rear passengers, and with generous luggage capacity, it is as comfortable as it is sporty. Well equipped with comfort, convenience, safety and sophisticated driver assistance features, the Edge also gained a bigger and much improved vertically-oriented tablet style infotainment screen as of its recent 2021 update.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Engine: 2.7-litre, in-line, twin-turbocharged V6-cylinders
• Bore x stroke: 83 x 83mm
• Compression ratio: 10:1
• Valve-train: 24-valve, DOHC, direct injection
• Redline: 6,500rpm
• Gearbox: 8-speed automatic, four-wheel-drive
• Ratios: 1st 4.48; 2nd 3.15; 3rd 2.87; 4th 1.84; 5th 1.41; 6th 1.0; 7th 0.74; 8th 0.62; R 2.88
• Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 335 (340) [250] @5,500rpm
• Specific power: 124.3BHP/litre
• Power-to-weight: 163BHP/tonne
• Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 380 (515) @3,250rpm
• Specific torque: 191.1Nm/litre
• Torque-to-weight: 251Nm/tonne
• 0-100km/h: approximately 6.5-seconds (est.)
• Fuel consumption, combined: 11.2-litres/100km*
• Wheelbase: 2,850mm
• Track, F/R: 1,646 / 1,643mm 
• Liftover height: 752mm
• Luggage volume, behind 2nd / 1st row, liquid, to roof: 1,111- / 2,078-litres
• Fuel capacity: 70-litres
• Kerb weight: 2,052kg
• Steering: Electric-assisted rack and pinion
• Turning circle: 12-metres (est.)
• Suspension, F/R: MacPherson strut / integral-link, anti-roll bars
• Brakes, F/R: Ventilated discs, 345 x 32mm / 345 x 19mm
• Tyres: 265/40R21 (optional)
• *(US EPA Estimate)