Goes like STink
By most accounts there’s not much inherently groundbreaking about the Ford Edge. But with the death of all of the company’s North American market vehicles sans the Mustang, we lost one of our favourite Ford badges – ST. For a little while, anyway. Ford found a compromise by giving the ST treatment to this conventional crossover. Does it add some much needed sharpness to a vehicle with such a name? Let's find out.
At a glance, there’s not too much about this that hints at a sporty nature. But put it next to a standard Edge and play spot the difference. A blacked out grille with a subtle ST badge, gloss-black wheels and sportier seats give the car a slightly more aggressive sleeper look. We would have liked to see some less subtle visual cues that the Focus ST featured, like optional stripes and graphics and painted calipers. We’d also suggest other touches like blacked out or contrasting mirrors, rear spoiler and roof finishes.
It's a similar story inside. Subtle isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but we felt the Edge ST’s interior was a missed opportunity to inject some notably sportier elements. The Focus ST for instance, could be had with some aggressively bolstered Recaro seats, with a coloured ST monogram and coloured inserts. In the Edge ST, you still get some decently bolstered seats but they’re black on black, with a seat-coloured ST embossed into the finish. It’s not a bad effort at all, but we can’t help but get the impression it was a bit of a rushed effort. But at the very least, the seats are comfortable and supportive in all the right places.
Ford’s infotainment system is easy to use and navigate but it is starting to show its age. From a visual standpoint, the design is starting to look quite dated. From a UX approach, it’s mostly good, but some annoyance can come from climate controls. You shouldn’t have to dig through submenus to turn heating or air off – or to toggle the heated steering wheel.
Criticisms aside, what makes an ST is how it drives. The ST gets its power from a 2.7L twin-turbo V6, mated to Ford’s 8-speed automatic transmission. Uprated brakes and suspension help stiffen up the normally softer ride. Activate the ‘S’ mode on the gear selector dial and you’ll get a more aggressive transmission, increased throttle response and engine noise piped through your speakers. This car does pick up speed quite well, and there is a noticeable difference in feel between S and normal driving modes. But is it enough to warrant an ST designation? We’re not so sure.
The Edge ST is a good start but has so much more potential. With some further refinement Ford could have winning model on their hands – but as it stands, it feels like a rushed effort to us. It’s not a bad vehicle, but coming in at nearly $12,000 above the entry level SE, we’re not so sure such a steep price difference is justifiable here. The Edge ST is sharp, but is just shy of being cutting edge.
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