An Update On The 2011 Ford Edge: Bestselling For A Reason

2011 Ford Edge SportIt’s been a decent two years with a 2011 Ford Edge. I snagged the crossover with a 29-month lease, so my time with the Edge will soon be history. After perusing dealers for a healthy-sized crossover with some goodies, I ended up fancying the Edge. I chose a SEL-trimmed Edge in the no-longer available Blue Ink (which is much nicer than the almost-neon Blue Impact available now), with cream leather and other options found on my dealer’s lot.

From the outside, the exterior is impressive. What a great looking crossover! The front grille is both tough yet elegant. Its sizing is moderate, yet appears petite. With its LED-front accent lights, the crossover has a pretty intimidating stance. The puddle lights on the rearview mirrors are a welcomed touch when approaching the vehicle at night. The interior is pretty lavish with decent materials used, with only a few hints of cheap plastic throughout. The button-less dashboard looks futuristic. Behind it you’ll find the Volvo-like hidden storage tray to hide some goodies. At night, the interior perks up with limo-like neon accent lighting in your choice of colors (all customizable, to boot!).

2011 Ford Edge SportThe driving capabilities were quite nice. The 3.5l puts out decent power (285hp) and never struggled to get up to highway speeds. The interior noise remained at a pleasant low, even with the roof completely opened. Fuel economy has been pretty wallet-friendly, especially considering these erratic gas prices. I’ve averaged around 23mpg between my around-town driving and trips along the highway. Not too bad considering the size.

In terms of some other mechanics, I have recently noticed a nasty jerk from stop to acceleration, an almost knee-jerk reaction from the car. It’s as if the car is angry about the stop-and-go traffic. The dealer said they’d need to look at the car to find a cause, but its sporadic appearance deems it unnecessary since its turn-in date is creeping closer.

For nature/sky/moon-lovers, the Vista glass roof is a welcoming sight (in more ways than one). Its vast opening gives the front passengers nearly convertible-like views from above. The wind net also keeps the wind noise to a minimum, as well as flying critters. Even with the roof fully opened, it wasn’t a struggle for rear passengers to be heard up-front.

The 21” rims have proved to be a tad more delicate that I would’ve liked. Within the first two weeks of my lease, I encountered some road hazard leaving me with a flat. Much to my surprise (not), Ford’s stock Edge tires are a pretty penny. Luckily, my tire protection plan helped ease the knock on my wallet (a worthy investment, in my book). Unfortunately, within the next year, I was back again at my dealer with another flat. After reading some other driver reviews on the Edge, I noticed others with similar issues with their Edge’s 21” rims. Well, they look pretty snazzy but you’re all forewarned.

2011 Ford Edge SportMy biggest gripe must be the Sync. Yikes! This system sounded so good on paper, but in reality, it’s tiring. When syncing with phones, there’ve been times where the system has completely forgotten every phone connected. It’s interesting when random stations make an appearance in your saved settings. The touch-sensitive buttons can become frustrating if you have to slowly proceed to up the vehicles climate settings (just give me a knob for heaven’s sake!). There’s also a half-second delay in system-response, which makes you think the system didn’t accept your input. There should be a way where the user can completely customize their Sync experience. Instead of having to scroll down to access your Bluetooth or satellite radio, being able to designate which systems you use the most would be a welcomed change. I find the menus a bit tedious, especially when you must click through your stereo screens just adjust climate. Or how about a few more simple buttons or knobs? Easy-enough solution.

I’m unsure about the upgraded Sync system in those models with Navigation, so perhaps they’re not dealing with the issues I’m discussing. Ford has even admitted to the technology blunder by recalling the sync system, and also promised the return of buttons for next generation.

Overall, the Edge is a capable, roomy, and entertaining crossover that I may find hard to turn-in. Alas, a newer model might find resolutions to the stubborn Sync system, plus the Escape is looking a bit more nimble and appropriate for my solo needs.

One thought on “An Update On The 2011 Ford Edge: Bestselling For A Reason

  1. I have the normally aspirated, 6 speed automatic 2.5 liter 2013 Escape company car as well as a personal 2005 V6 Ford Escape. The 2013 is showing about 24 mpg average which is better than the 18 mpg of the 2005. The 2013 is okay but where it really falls down on is room and comfort. Took weeks to find a decent driving position unlike the 2005. For me, the seat had to be at the highest position and I’m 6 feet tall. The back seat is not as roomy and passenger friendly. It is a mess when it comes down to cargo space and access. The single piece tailgate is annoying and the sloping roof really cuts down on the visibility from inside the car as well as cargo space. And the stereo in the 2013 (non-My Ford Touch) is mediocre plus it has way too many push buttons. Both have been flawless in terms of quality.

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