It’s the brand’s first SUV tuned by Ford Performance
The second-generation Ford Edge may look like a hot hatch on stilts, but it has always lacked the necessary muscle to go like one. Not anymore, though, as now there's a 2019 Edge ST in town.
Yes, it's the first Ford SUV ever to sport the ST badge and thus the brand's first SUV to be tuned by the Ford Performance team. It features a souped-up version of the 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 from the Edge Sport that pumps out 335 hp and 380 lb-ft (515 Nm) of torque — 20 hp and 30 lb-ft more than the Sport.
The engine is linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted SelectShift paddle shifters and drives all four wheels via a standard AWD system with selectable traction control. There's also an ST-tuned suspension and an available performance brake package.
Ford has given the 2019 Edge ST a new Sport Mode as well, which provides a more aggressive throttle response, sharper engine braking, shifting patterns that hold gears near the redline through cornering maneuvers, as well as a more resonant exhaust tone.
Styling-wise, you'll recognize the Edge ST thanks to the new front end with a wide mesh grille and aggressive bumper, deep side skirts, unique 21-inch wheels, and muscular rear bumper with dual-exhaust outlets.
Inside, the Edge ST offers unique seats with additional bolstering, while design cues on the steering wheel, seat backs, and scuff plates remind that this SUV has been given the Ford Performance touch.
The Edge ST spearheads the facelifted 2019 Edge lineup, which gets both styling and equipment tweaks. The exterior looks slightly toned down compared to the ST version, but bolder than the pre-facelift Edge. It gets a new front end with a wider grille and refreshed fascia, new LED headlights (standard), LED fog lamps and DRLs, as well as a redesigned hood. The rear end looks sportier as well thanks to the new LED taillights and more aggressive bumper.
Inside, the facelifted 2019 Edge features a redesigned center console featuring a new rotary gearshift dial.
As before, the Edge comes standard with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine that boasts five extra horsepower (250 hp in total) and improved fuel economy thanks to the new 8-speed transmission with Auto Start-Stop.
On the tech front, the 2019 Edge features an array of driver-assist systems as standard, including Forward Collision Warning and Dynamic Brake Support, Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection; BLIS with Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane-Keeping Alert, Lane-Keeping Assist, Auto High Beams, and Hill-Start Assist.
Read and watch our review of the Euro-spec Ford Edge 2.0 TDCi Bi-Turbo right here.