Test Drive Ford Edge since 2010 SUV

Comparative Test crossovers: Ford Edge against Nissan Murano and Toyota Venza

Choose between Sedan and SUV? Maybe a crossover?
  
An ordinary sedan, tested and boring, most often turns out to be the best choice for every day. It can easily fit a large family, including pets, weekly stock products or your suitcases. It is convenient to sit in it, it is convenient to go out of it, it provides a low landing, which is good on the track, and, importantly, it is much more economical than large SUV. But sometimes, when the stroller does not fit into the trunk, or you need to take the old kitchen table to the country, or the whole family languishes waiting for a weekly holiday in a forest tent camp, the ideal means of movement suddenly becomes bulky and voracious SUV, and not economical, out of itself Such moments sedan. Let's take a risk to admit yourself: it is on such days most of the buyers of SUV realize that a huge flagship on wheels not only is preferable, it is necessary even for everyday movement. But is it really? Is there a compromise solution in this situation, or maybe the golden middle in the form of a crossover? A car that would combine controllability, comfort and economy of a sedan with a capacity (luggage and passengers) SUV?
And after all, the truth, there are those, and we collected three, newest and most excellent Ford Edge Sport, Nissan Murano SL and Toyota Venza to find out which of them is the best choice. All of them are based on the base of passenger cars, with two rows of seats, vapy V6 with a front axle drive, a fuel consumption of about 12 liters per 100 km in mixed mode and very spacious, not honing your family sedan.
In the 2009 model year, Ford EDGE, launched in production in 2007, looks like its predecessor in the configuration of Sport Trim for $ 35,530, which means the presence of a body kit (8 parts) in the body of the body, the most noticeable and wonderful, and 22-inch forged polished wheels disks. The test instance also turned out to be equipped with a chic audio system for $ 385. Large discs, low-profile tires, airfoot make it aggressive, a bit terrible and, with your permission, almost a toy huge plastic box and sticker Hotub would have made his sale of sales at any toy store. Considering that this is the debut of 2009, which Ford introduced in Los Angeles as Edge Sport for $ 35,915, we gladly got out to find out if EDGE can be able to make a more positive impression on us than the previous Ford Edge.
Nissan Murano, updated just in 2009, arrived on a test in a fresh bright design, with a popular V6 VQ series under the hood and, as we managed to find out during our competition the best SUV 2009, with a good suspension. The instance we tested costs $ 30,010, the equipment is called SL. Plus he has a double hatch for $ 1,170 and a set of options for a total value of $ 4,500, including, among other things, a rear view camera, a BOSE audio system, xenon headlights, Bluetooth, a system of automatic opening of the fifth door and a leather interior that eventually increased it Cost up to $ 35 805.
Toyota We have a special account. If you remember, Venza did not participate in our competition best SUV 2009 (Sport / Utility of the Year). You see, Toyota positions this model as an ordinary car. Scenarios where this machine is pierced by graving among others SUV, raises dust clubs, as if it is Land Cruiser, are extremely unwanted. Why? Imagine her victory: Toyota Venza: a passenger car, or rather, not quite passenger, gets the prize is the best SUV 2009 according to Motor Trend magazine. Perhaps it's all about us, but we cannot understand exactly how Toyota wants to position its model. To be honest, the concern just rejected our invitation to the SUV contest. Yes, you could also see that Toyota Venza did not participate in our ranking the best car 2009 (Car of the Year). But how so? After all, Toyota calls this model by the car! But we believe that Venza is still a crossover, since she can have four-wheel drive, there is a road clearance of 20.5 cm, which Honda Pilot envies, it can pull the trailer weighing 1.5 tons, as the Volkswagen Tiguan can, And Venza is indignantly spacious as Porsche Cayenne 974 liters. Still passenger car? Then Tundra is a small open trunk sedan.
For our Toyota party, sent Venza with V6 for $ 28,520, equipped with PREMIUM Package 2 options for $ 4,345 (leather interior, xenon headlights, SMART KEY system, fifth door automatic opening system, rear-view camera) and improved JBL audio system with 13 Speakers for $ 1 090. All this stretched in the end of $ 33,955.
Our path ran through the picturesque rural roads, which is climbed around the Santa Ynez Valley and Ranch, which previously belonged to Cefera Sutherland. You just imagine what parties were here, our chief editor of Arthur St. Antoine sighs. We start our acquaintance with three crossovers, quickly having mastered with the form and style of EDGE. St. Antoine noted that he considers Edge the most beautiful in this group. Excellent proportions, clean lines, aggressive posture. We also like Murano, but rather, in terms of novelty, rather than classical aesthetics. There is something frightening and unusual in the appearance of Murano: a predatory chrome falsit-grille of the radiator and resembling the eyes of some insect Triple headlights, noted ED Lo, our senior editor. Interestingly, a low and slightly elongated Venza body did not receive a single commentary. Like? I do not like? Some kind of stool.
 
The interior of Venza was awarded a wide variety of comments. I liked the audio-system management bodies and a very interesting central console, which easily gives back numerous configurations and gently accommodates the iPhone, considers St. Antoine. Lo notes that Venza has the most successful interior in the group. In the interior decoration used materials are much better than in EDGE and Murano. A little strangely located some elements decorated with wood, but in general it felt that the Toyota design department tries not to hit the dirt face. In principle, the inner decoration of Edge and Murano also liked, although our taste is gloomy and even annoying dark, especially against the backdrop of a simple and light salon Venza. In addition, Toyota has the most comfortable rear seat, which does not prevent landing and disembarking, as well as the most spacious trunk, in any position neither the backs of the rear seats were.
For 56 km of our route, most of which the pavement was an uneven, dying asphalt, Murano, with his light, responsive steering wheel and a harsh suspension worse, coped with the absorption of road irregularities, although at the same time did not lose the indentacy of reactions and confidence Purchase superstitude. The most sporting group, considers St. Antoine. It makes it easy, the steering wheel is well balanced and responsive, stability and grip also at the proper level. CVT variator holds all 265 horses in a tone, not mistaken at the entrance to a sharp turn, nor when overtaking on the track.
Without possessing the abilities of the nature and acute control of Murano, Venza was impressed that the faster was in the rise and on the descent, all thanks to the 3.5-liter 268-strong V6, intuitive 6-speed gearbox and chain tires Michelin. It is quickly accelerated to 96 km / h and overcomes the quotor 6.5 seconds and 15 seconds at a speed of 150 km / h on the finish, respectively, exceeding not only EDGE and Murano, but even Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T Track. Even the side acceleration in her, like a sedan 0.81g. Exceptionally smooth transmission and a pickup engine. Click on the accelerator pedal, and you will get excellent and constant acceleration, says Lo. But, according to St. Antoine, the steering wheel is a little stupid, the 20-inch wheels spoil the impression from, in general, a pleasant ride, and the suspension is too soft if it comes to really high speeds. For example, Edge on this background is sports, but harder and briefly Nissan and Toyota.
If all of them to weigh them (Ford pulled out 1,918 kg, Nissan for 1 825 kg and Toyota per 1,774 kg) everything immediately falls into place. Moreover, the 3.5-liter EDGE motor on the cut-off is noise more than others, and when aggressive acceleration seems the most overloaded. The situation is even more complicated by the situation of Tires with tires, providing an increase in unwanted non-stop masses, which dulls entry into turns and makes riding unnecessarily tough, to such a limit that we started dreaming about the SEL's complete set on 18-inch drives. The Ford Board should be crucial to punish the manager who decided to equip the tested set of 22-inch discs. He wanted to hit visitors tuning show? I ask St. Antoine. Nevertheless, Chain Pirelli provide the Ford optimal contact with the road surface, as a result of which it stops faster than all 37.49 m from 96 km / h and demonstrates the best side acceleration of 0.83 g. But this is not enough, and late.
It is impossible not to evaluate the advantages of Toyota: fast, smooth, spacious, good, economical car at an affordable price, says St. Antoine. Lo agrees with him: Despite the fact that I like the appearance of EDGE and the controllability of Murano, Toyota cannot be defeated by configuration, dynamics and cost. Venza is not only the most inexpensive car in our test, and not due to the scarce of the configuration, but also the most economical (12.84 l per 100 km in mixed mode according to Era estimates, 14.2 liters according to our observations), fast and spacious. It doesn't matter how it is called a passenger car or the Venza crossover wins in our test.
1st place: Toyota Venza
The most auto-like crossover. Venza does not need to sacrifice either sports or practicality.
2nd place: Nissan Murano SL
Throw and bright, but does not reach the winner speed and voluntaryness.
3 place: Ford Edge Sport
Giant wheels and high weight spoil a good offer.
 
Some specific characteristics of compared machines
Toyota Venza Nissan Murano Ford Edge
Engine 3 456 cubic meters. CM, V6 3,498 cubic meters. CM, V6 3,496 cubic meters. cm, V6.
Power 268 hp at 6,200 rpm 265 hp at 6,000 rpm 265 hp at 6 250 rpm
Torque 333 nm at 4,700 rpm 336 nm at 4,400 rpm 339 nm at 4,500 rpm
Transmission 6-speed automatic transmission variator 6-speed automatic transmission
Acceleration from 0 to 96 km / h 6.5 s 7.2 s 7.3 s
402 meters 15.0 s at 150 km / h 15.6 s at 146 km / h 15.8 s at 142 km / h
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A source: Motor Trend.