Ford Edge Vignale Diesel Estate

Review of the Ford Edge Vignale Diesel Estate

The new Ford Edge Vignale Diesel Estate is the highest-spec version of the Edge. Ford sees it as a standalone model, so we’re going to give it its own review, but for clarity’s sake, it’s the most expensive Edge you can buy.

The Edge itself is a huge car that’s bold and brash. It’s comfortable, imposing on the road, and full of character. Five seats, sharp styling and 20” alloys are the order of the day for the Vignale version, and if you’re looking for a meaty, premium colossal family car that’s not a Land Rover, it’s well worth a look.

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OSV takes a closer look at what it’s all about with our 2018 Ford Edge Vignale Diesel Estate review.

Overview of the Ford Edge Vignale Diesel Estate

On the Road

One thing that the Edge isn’t is fast. Instead, it’s a comfortable and quiet way to get out and about in a large family car. Noise-cancelling tech is standard, and it does a great job of keeping out exterior noises. Added soundproofing and laminated glass further reinforce things, and refinement is very good.

Ride quality is decent on the Vignale model too, although it doesn’t get the same American-style suspension setup that the lower-spec models get. Instead, Ford have given it stiffer suspension and bigger 20” alloys that cause it to feel a bit unsettled on harsher roads.

That wouldn’t be too bad if the firmer suspension meant that the Vignale Edge was able to take corners with more agility – but it doesn’t. Instead, body roll is still an issue, and you’re aware of just how much this car weighs.

Its steering lacks feel too, although it’s responsive and fast.

All in all, the Edge should be seen as a relaxed cruiser. It’s comfortable and easy to drive – just not a whole lot of fun.

Off-road? A smart all-wheel-drive system will help you in tougher terrain, as will a higher ride height. However, it probably isn’t as competent as a Land Rover Discovery Sport.

In terms of its engines, all of them are diesels. We say “all” but there is in fact just one – a 2.0-litre diesel that’s available with two power outputs.

A 177bhp variant is the smaller of the two. It’s got punch, overtakes with confidence, and comes paired up with a 6-speed manual gearbox that’s hassle-free to use. It’s also a smooth engine, but a twin-turbocharged 207bhp variant puts a lot more meat on the bone and comes mated to an automatic ‘box.

That said, the automatic transmission is really the only reason to splash the extra cash on it. It’s hardly much quicker, with the 177bhp variant completing the 0-62 dash in 9.9 seconds, and the 207bhp variant completing it in 9.4 seconds. This is a seriously heavy car, so neither engine feels fast.

Ford Edge Vignale Diesel Estate Interior, Design and Build

It’s hard to find too much to criticise about the Edge’s cabin. It gets more quality than the lower-spec models, with Ford adding a top-notch leather interior and lashings of silver trim.

That said, although these extras sound and look luxurious, the interior, on the whole, is acceptable – but not very exciting.

Everything is logically arranged and the plastics feel as though they’re built to last, but there’s a real lack of design flair here.

As we said, there isn’t much to criticise, however, because there are touches of luxury here and there, and the cabin is perfectly liveable.

It gets the brand’s most recent SYNC3 infotainment system, which itself comes with Bluetooth, sat nav and a digital radio. Comfort throughout the cabin is good, and the Vignale trim gets a panoramic sunroof as standard.

Is the Ford Edge Vignale Diesel Estate practical? This is where its strengths lie and there’s enough room in the rear for two adults to be comfortable on longer journeys, but the 602-litre boot could probably have been a tad smaller so that taller adults back there would be even more comfortable.

The boot extends to 1,788-litres when you fold the rear seats, and a low loading lip and usable shape make it one of the best and largest in its class.

Headroom is a bit limited by the sunroof, but there are lots of storage solutions dotted around the place, including a reasonably sized glovebox.

Equipment and Safety of the Ford Edge Vignale Diesel Estate

The Vignale model is well-equipped. It comes with 20” alloys, Ford’s SYNC3 touchscreen, twin-zone climate control, automatic lights and wipers, rear privacy glass, heated front sports seats, and enhanced Sony-branded stereo, firmer suspension and a hexagonal chrome grille.

In terms of how safe the car is, EuroNCAP awarded it 5/5 for its crash test performance. It scored very well for both safety assist and adult occupant protection, while all models get autonomous emergency braking, lane departure and traffic sign recognition.

Are Ford cars reliable? Read our honest assessment here.

Costs of the Ford Edge Vignale Diesel Estate

Prices for the standard car start out from £35,195, but you can expect to pay as much as £42,695 for the Vignale trim. For more information on our leasing deals, you can check out our page here.

In terms of its running costs, the twin-turbo 207bhp might be considerably bigger than the 177bhp variant, but the two engines return the same fuel and emission numbers. They can manage 47.9mpg at best and emit 152g/km of CO₂, which is about average for this class, and which gives them a BiK rating of 32%.

This makes the Vignale a bit more expensive to run than the standard Edge, which can return 49mpg on a good day. It also has a lower BiK rating of 31% thanks to emitting 149g/km.

The Edge Vignale is also more expensive to insure, sitting as it does in insurance group 30 out of 50.

Pros and Cons of the Ford Vignale Diesel Estate

Pros:

Massive boot

It measures 602-litres, which is very impressive.

Looks great

Buyers in this market are more style conscious than ever. Fortunately, the Edge is one of the best looking cars in this sector.

Has an upmarket feel

Ford wanted to move the Edge more upmarket, and they’ve certainly succeeded with the Vignale trim.

Cons:

Five seats at most

If you wanted seven seats, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Bland to drive

Most Fords are fun to drive. This isn’t. Instead, it’s more of a comfortable and relaxed cruiser.

Ford Edge Vignale Diesel Estate vs BMW X3 vs Hyundai Santa Fe

Let’s see how the car fares against its rivals in the comparison section of our 2018 Ford Edge Vignale Diesel Estate review.

Ford Edge Vignale Diesel Estate vs BMW X3

The new BMW X3 is a comfortable, technology-laden large family car that will appeal to both families and enthusiastic drivers.

On the road, it handles as good as anything else this size, with BMW admitting they were inspired by the exciting Jaguar F-Pace. The X3 is a lot of fun to drive, doesn’t feel as heavy as it looks – but it is let down in the town and cities by steering that’s just a bit too light.

Ride quality is good, which will suit families and other passengers, although harsher British roads might present one or two problems.

In terms of its engines, a 2.0-litre 20d diesel sits at the bottom of the range. It develops 188bhp and can get you from a standstill to 62mph in 8.0 seconds flat. It’s refined, comes paired up with an 8-speed automatic transmission and works well as a motorway cruiser.

If you’ve got a bit more cash to burn, you might want to take a look at the meatier 30d diesel model. It’s got six cylinders, produces a titanic 261bhp, and covers the 0-62 sprint in 5.8 seconds.

Running costs? The smaller diesel is very economical for an engine and car of this size and can return as much as 56.5mpg on a good day while emitting 132g/km of CO₂. That qualifies it for a BiK rating of 28%, which isn’t too bad at all.

Meanwhile, the 3.0-litre engine is good for 49.6mpg economy and has a BiK rating of 31%.

Inside, the X3 is gorgeously put together, with BMW utilising their latest design language. Quality is excellent, the dashboard is superbly built while the materials are all top notch. All models get leather as standard, and there are lashings of aluminium and gloss-black here and there.

Is the BMW X3 practical? It’s spacious, if not quite as spacious as the X5, but it is strictly a five-seater. An increased wheelbase means it’s bigger than last time, though, which means legroom is very good. Shoulder room is also fine if just two people are sat in the rear, but three adults might find things a bit cramped back there.

Headroom, meanwhile, is excellent for all.

A 550-litre boot is a bit on the small side in this class, but you can extend it to 1,550-litres by folding the rear seats and it boasts a very usable shape.

Price:

Ford – £42,695
BMW – £39,105 – £51,680

Ford Edge Vignale Diesel Estate vs Hyundai Santa Fe

The new Hyundai Santa Fe is no BMW but it’s slickly designed, roomy and comes with a five-year warranty. It also has the ace card of seven seats.

However, it isn’t fun to drive. Instead, it’s highly capable and deals well with British roads. It’s a bit on the firm side at times but never feels uncomfortable. Body lean is a bit of an issue, but that’s largely par for the course with cars of this size. Moreover, we hardly suspect that Santa Fe drivers will be wanting to throw this car into bends anyway.

In terms of its engines, there’s only one available – a turbocharged 2.2-litre diesel that develops 198bhp. It’s got a good amount of power and can complete the 0-62 dash in 9.6 seconds if you specify the automatic gearbox. Stick to the manual, and you can complete the same sprint in 9.0 seconds flat.

That’s an impressive time for such a big, seven-seater car, but how do its running costs measure up? Four-wheel-drive comes as standard, and usually, this system has a dampening effect on economy. Hyundai have added torque on demand to their system and it helps to keep costs down.

Stick to the manual ‘box and the Santa Fe returns 46.3mpg at best while emitting 161g/km of CO₂. Specify the automatic and those numbers drop to 42.2mpg while emissions go up to 177g. That means you can expect to pay £230 a year in road tax.

Inside, the Santa Fe’s interior is comfortable, smart, well kitted out – but it’s ultimately nothing special. Moreover, while there’s nothing inherently wrong with its simple design, harder plastics can be spotted here and there, and they don’t exactly compare favourably to rivals.

Insulation is a bit of an issue when you put your foot down, but comfort is good.

Is the Hyundai Santa Fe practical? The fact that it can be specified as a seven-seater is a massive pro, even if the third row is for kids only. There’s lots of storage solutions, including some large door bins and a massive glovebox, while the boot measures 585-litres. Fold the rear seats and you can extend it to 1,680-litres.

Price:

Hyundai – £32,845 – £39,995

Verdict of our 2018 Ford Edge Vignale Diesel Estate Review

The Vignale is the upmarket variant of the Ford Edge, an impressive large family car that’s big, powerful, safe and usable. It’s got serious road presence but despite its dimensions, it’s easy to drive, and there’s plenty of luxurious standard kit on board to give it a real premium feel. The new Ford Edge Vignale Diesel Estate is classy, practical and very modern.