Filed under: Car Buying, Crossovers/CUVs, Ford
Ford Edge sales gain momentum
To many, the 2007 Ford Edge represents the best Ford has to offer in its current lineup, and sales of the stylish crossover are starting to fulfill the vehicle's promise. The Edge has only been on the market for four months, and it's already within 1,000 monthly units of the segment leaders Toyota Highlander and Nissan Murano.
Even better, according to JD Powers' Power Information Network, the Edge is only staying on the dealer lot for about 20 days, which is far less than the 48 days it takes to move a mid size CUV industry-wide. Dealers are also finding it easier to sell higher-content models, as Edmunds.com reports an average March transaction price of $29,699. Ford is also using the Edge to help stop Explorer, Expedition, and Escape owners from leaving the Ford brand, with 25% of its sales coming from its own SUVs.
The Detroit Free Press quotes Ford spokesman Jim Cain as saying that a second wave of marketing is coming soon for the Edge, and production at the company's Oakville, Ontario plant is scheduled to increase.
We had a feeling the Edge's good looks would make for a hit for Ford, and early numbers are showing that the company's newest CUV is more than holding its own in the industry's hottest segment. Now if they could just work on that cheap-o interior.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Bryan 7:10PM (4/09/2007)
This is great news. If this continues with all of Ford's new models, there is no doubt that the company will be profitable again soon. Great automobiles, Great prices, Great standard features. Ford is on it's way back!
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Bojack 7:18PM (4/09/2007)
In before domestic haters will start squabbling.
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J B 7:18PM (4/09/2007)
Yay! In typical ford fashion the interior is kinda meh, but it is still selling great. Cant wait to see what happens when they step up their interior game like GM is doing.
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Will 7:21PM (4/09/2007)
@3 If the interior of the Flex is any indication, they HAVE stepped up their interiors which is quite welcome.
I hope they keep it up and add the same or better quality to the Edge.
Hear me Ford? I'm in the market!
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Tagg 7:22PM (4/09/2007)
I really liked the one I test drove a few weeks ago and am considering buying one. It doesn't matter to me that it is heavy, I don't have any plans of racing it on the local track. It rides good, drives good, and offers alot of features that I look for in a vehicle. There are some issues but nothing that makes me run the other way because the positives far outweigh the negatives.
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Bryan 7:23PM (4/09/2007)
J B I don't know what Edge you were looking in (or if you have only seen it in pictures) but the interior of the Ford Edge is superior to anything GM has. It's closest match is the Acadia interior which is in my opinion the best interior GM has EVER made. Go check out the Edge interior, especially the tan interior. Love it!
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Typesbad 7:24PM (4/09/2007)
This car would probably not be my choice for the segment, but I hope it is the choice for a lot of others. Ford needs a winner and this is one of their best chances. I'd probably go for its cousin, the CX-7.
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Alex Nunez 7:32PM (4/09/2007)
I've driven the Edge and will be doing an AB Garage piece on it in the future. I'll say this: it's a great-looking ride, and while I personally felt the interior was a bit of a letdown, it boasts great passenger space and comfort (reclining rear seats? check). The overall package is clearly a winner, and that's great news for Ford, as the sales seem to bear out.
Now, the Flex interior blows the Edge's away -- it's fantastic-looking -- and if that's the direction Ford's headed in, well, we all win.
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Will 7:33PM (4/09/2007)
#7 I agree. It's a little frustrating that Mazda gets all the cool versions of Ford vehicles (CX-7, 3, 6, etc.) while Mercury is slowly dying. The CX-7/9, the Mazda 3 and heck even the MX-5/Miata should either be Mercury or have a Mercury twin.
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Petey 7:46PM (4/09/2007)
Are these in Canada yet? I havent seen one on the road yet.
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Paul Y 8:02PM (4/09/2007)
As someone who isn't a ford-, domestic-, or SUV fan, honestly, I'm glad Ford has something they don't have to bribe people to drive that isn't a truck.
I don't like "domestic" cars, because they offer nothing I want that I can afford, and I think the UAW is a crooked anachronism, but I don't want them to fail, either. I just want them to make me say, "I'd buy that."
Maybe, eventually.
If Ford and GM bring in more of their European (and Australian?) offerings to the NA market, I'll give them a shot. For example, the Saturn Astra intrigues me. If the interior isn't total crap, I might be sold.
Again, good for Ford! It's a step in the right direction.
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Mary J 8:14PM (4/09/2007)
I am a new Edge owner, I got a loaded Creme Brulee color, i just left an 06 limited Explorer, afraid to leave my SUV, I did it anyway, I am sooooooo happy with the Edge, it is fun, sporty, better on gas, gets a LOT of looks and just serves every purpose i need it for! If you havent driven one and your interested, go drive one! My lease wasnt up for 7 months on my expl. after the driving the Edge, I didnt care... i now have my edge! Its GREAT! Great job Ford... I absolutely love it! Mary on the coast in NH
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sam 8:19PM (4/09/2007)
I have never been a Ford fan, but it is good to see them make a car people want. I personally dislike Fords new grill. My GF has a Freestyle as a company car and it is not bad. One thing that Ford has to do is increase their warranty. The Freestyle was great until 38K miles, 2K past the warranty. The instrument cluster went out and so did the fuel injection pump (I think that was it). I think it cost her company about $1300. It was only 13 months old. Now that GM has the long warranty why would a company that has a fleet buy a Ford?
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Daniel 8:20PM (4/09/2007)
With some better materials in the interior and with a Hybrid drive as an option - this would be one great ride!
The Hybrid could use the 3.0L V6 with Atkinson Cycle valve timing as the Gas engine.
I do hope Ford makes these two improvements as they would have a real winner on their hands - andthat is really needed right now.
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Reality Check 8:24PM (4/09/2007)
Ford has a Five year 60K warranty... I think she either has an 2005 or a used one. Either way Ford would have covered it if the District manager was called.
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Dude 9:01PM (4/09/2007)
#15 Reality Check.
Ford does NOT have a 5-year 60k bumper-to-bumper warranty for the Edge or the Freestyle. It has a 3/36 bumper-to-bumper and a 5/60 powertrain warranty.
http://www.fordvehicles.com/crossovers/edge/warranty/07/
http://www.fordvehicles.com/crossovers/freestyle/warranty/07/
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Bob R. 9:03PM (4/09/2007)
#4, exactly. The Flex interior is absolutely amazing, I really hope the interior materials are as good as they look, and I am sure they will be. If the Flex interior is any indication of Ford/Lincoln/Mercury products to come, they are defanitely on their way back.
GO FORD!
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CWS05 9:18PM (4/09/2007)
I'm glad to hear this, I've seen a bunch of them on the street lately and I was wondering if it was just my area that was going crazy for them.
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snickers_60177 9:26PM (4/09/2007)
"The Edge has only been on the market for four months, and it's already within 1,000 monthly units of the segment leaders Toyota Highlander and Nissan Murano."
Unfortunately for Ford and the writer of this article, the Highlander and Murano are not the industry leader. The Honda Pilot is the industry leader, and in many more ways than just sales. (I do believe that the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and the Ford Escape are the only SUVs that sold more this past month, and they are NOT, by the way, in the same class). Ford sold 10,915 Edges while the "industry leaders" sold 11,693 and 11,822 respectively. 14,339 Pilots were unloaded; nearly 3500 (23%) more than the Edge and about 2550 (18%) more than those "industry leaders." The Edge may be gaining, but it's not king-of-the-hill, at least not yet.
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MikeW 9:34PM (4/09/2007)
Too bad the ford edge was intentionally hamstrung. The correct axle ratios should be 3.16 for front drive, and 3.39 for haldex.
Guess what the LIncoln MKX uses, 3.39.
So if/when Ford ever puts a 300hp 3.7V6 into the lincoln, the Ford version can get the correct gearing.
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