If an SUV doesn’t make the vehicle choice cut for you, then perhaps a crossover – essentially a cross between an SUV and car – is the right choice. The new Ford Edge certainly cuts through the cluttered field of vehicles with its looks. And the roomy vehicle provides a comfortable environment for five adults. Edge also puts a spotlight on all-weather attributes, like the availability of intelligent all-wheel-drive that uses an on-demand coupler to distribute torque to the front and/or rear axles. As standard fare, the Edge provides AdvanceTrac with roll stability control. This safety system utilizes a gyroscopic roll rate sensor to measure the vehicle’s roll rate. If roll is detected, the system intervenes via braking or engine power reduction as a means of impeding vehicle roll.

Powering the Edge is the new 3.5-liter Duratec V6 with variable cam timing and electronic throttle control. The engine produces 265 horsepower at 6250 rpm and 250 pounds-feet of torque at 4500 rpm. A 6-speed automatic overdrive transmission mates to the V6. The standard equipment list on the Edge SEL with AWD includes 6-way power/heated/memory front seats, a fold-flat passenger seat, and 17-inch painted aluminum wheels. A panoramic roof consisting of two glass panels ($1,395), a reverse sensing system ($245), and a class two trailer-towing package ($350) are on the options list The unibody Edge gains safety reinforcement from a stamped steel ladder frame. Edge SEL with AWD has per gallon fuel economy estimates of 17 city/24 highway and an MSRP of $30,720.