2019 Ford Edge ST Review

2019 Ford Edge ST

Price as tested: $49,430

Engine: 2.7 Liter Twin Turbo V6

Horsepower/Torque: 335/380

0-60: 5.7 Seconds

MPG: 20 as observed

Text: Yousef Alvi // Photography: Alexander Grant

The story of the Edge ST is multifaceted.  Is it a good car?  In some aspects yes it is but in some aspects it is bit disappointing.  But the real story of the Edge ST is about the reactionary and caustic hate of the internet and how it can lead us down a dark road.  Let me explain.  

To me, the Edge ST is a poor man’s Porsche Macan S.  Where else can you get a turbocharged V6, AWD, Sport Tuned Crossover that is less than $60,000?  Nowhere.  Is it as a good as a Macan S?  Well…umm no.  But it doesn’t have to be.  It gives you 90% of what makes a Macan special but at a lower price point and without major sacrifice. So what makes both so special? It’s the fine dance between handling, power, poise and practicality. Those ingredients make these crossovers a refreshing alternative to their bland eco/budget minded brethren.

Now if you scour the internet for a standard review of this Edge ST, you maybe lead astray. The reason is so called ‘enthusiasts’ are up in arms over the badge. ST, to them, holds a special place. Let me explain. In the prior years, the ST moniker was strictly held for the sporty versions of the Fiesta, Focus and to a lesser extent the Fusion. Those models developed a keen following but as with most sporty cars…lackluster sales. So they were eliminated and paved the way to the Edge ST. To the fans of the ST line it was insult to injury. Your favorite car was eliminated and now the supposed hallowed badge is slapped on a crossover.

“New Car Sales Dictate Product and that is how the automotive world works people.”

That lead to shouting across the internet from bloggers and journalists. Unfortunately the loudest voice in the room tends to be stupidest person. You know what?  New Car Sales dictate product.  Those five words is how the automotive world works people.  If the Fiesta, Focus and even the Fusion ST line sold in droves…they never would have went away.  They didn’t.  So, as any responsible company does, Ford moved on.  But they didn’t kill performance.  They attached performance to a product line that actually does sell.  Crossovers.  

So you have to ask yourself the following the question.  Do you want performance go away entirely just in the name of so-called legacy?  Or do you want performance to stay and shift with the ever changing automotive landscape?  I prefer the latter.

So back to the Edge ST shall we?  How is it?  It’s actually pretty damn quick is what it is.  The 2.7 V6 is an absolute jewel of a motor.  The transmission tuning needs a bit work and the paddles are rather worthless but other than that…the drivetrain is an absolute joy.  It’s also quiet at any given speed, rides great and fits most anything you can throw at it. On top of that it is a handsome looking devil as well.  Strong lines adorn the sides, a set of gorgeous looking tail-lamps at the rear and a front end the screams aggressiveness. 

The negatives to me is the interior.  The gauges are atrocious and cheap looking.  The digital so called tachometer is bordering on worthless and the center stack is from the early 2000s.  Fit and finish overall is good though and but the quality of the materials needs updating.  One has to bear in mind that this is a Mid Cycle Refresh…not an entirely new Edge.  So the dated interior makes sense.  

So what do I think of the 2019 Ford Edge ST?  It’s the poor man’s Porsche Macan.