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2013 Nissan Altima: First Drive
It's been twenty years since Nissan decided the old Stanza nameplate had had enough, and brought... Read More
2013 Nissan Altima: First Drive
It's been twenty years since Nissan decided the old Stanza nameplate had had enough, and brought... Read More
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It's a radical concept in today's world of exotic looks and segment-busting ideas that go bust: the 2012 Ford Edge is simply a good-looking crossover with space for up to five adults, the latest infotainment technology, and a new four-cylinder option rated at 30 mpg on the highway.
For those reasons, we're giving the 2012 Edge a score of 8 here at FamilyCarGuide, while noting its bigger seven-seat Explorer and Flex siblings get even higher scores from our car experts.
The Edge is the crossover that saved Ford from being ushered out of the crossover game, back when the Explorer hit the skids in the early 2000s. Today it's popular on its own, and with the Explorer back in the game as of 2011, the Edge's niche in the Ford family-SUV is secure. It doesn't have to be the off-roader, nor does it have to be the family limousine--which leaves the Edge to excel at carrying five adults. We're a little befuddled by Ford's front seats--the base Edge SE has a passenger seat with a power base and a manual rake adjustment--but 10-way power seats are offered as an option. Headroom abounds in front and in the back seat, where leg room excels since it's not crammed forward to fit a third-row seat, and that back seat can be folded down to open the cargo area up to more than 68 cubic feet, accessible via an optional power tailgate.
The Edge hasn't been a stellar performer in crash tests, but it's well above average. The IIHS calls it a Top Safety Pick, but the NHTSA gives it four stars overall, with a three-star rating for frontal impacts balancing out a five-star rating for side impact protection. Curtain airbags and stability control are standard equipment, and the Edge has options for rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, and blind-spot monitors with cross-path detection--though the nifty rear-seat inflatable belts from the 2011 Explorer aren't yet fitted here.
