Ford Edge

#69 Ford Edge ST debuts as carmaker’s performance SUV

Tyler Swedensky is the new car manager at Future Ford in Sacramento, California, and he’s good at what he does. With co-host Bruce Aldrich driving and me observing as a back- seat passenger, Swedensky recently took us for a test drive and preview of the 2019 Ford Edge ST. Ford is marketing the new vehicle as its first performance SUV, and Swedensky is our guest on this week’s episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. After our ride, Bruce and I asked our guest about the Edge ST from the offices of the Sacramento dealership. He explained the SUV’s innovative Co-Pilot 360. It’s a suite of standard driver- assist technologies. Features include a blind spot information system, lane keeping system, enhanced

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Good Housekeeping debuts Best New Cars list

Good Housekeeping, the magazine whose testing institute has evaluated products and presented the Good Housekeeping Seal of approval since 1909, has unveiled its inaugural “Best New Cars” for 2016. The new list was compiled in conjunction with Car and Driver, the renowned automobile publication. The two publications’ collaboration narrowed 160 vehicles to 41 across four categories; eight winners: Compact, Sedan, Eco and Crossover. Then, the engineers from the Good Housekeeping Institute logged 2,000-plus miles on real roads, assessing performance, safety features, family friendliness, price, infotainment systems, usability, storage and intuitive design. Here are the winners, announced January 11, 2016 at North American International Auto Show in Detroit: Compact Mazda3 S 5-Door Grand Touring (2015): Swift acceleration gives this car a

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2016 Honda Civic gets Car of the Year honors in Detroit

The perennially best-selling Honda Civic, manufactured since 1972 and in its 10th generation, was named 2016 North American Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Volvo XC90 took top truck honors. Both models are repeat winners. The Honda Civic won the best car award in 2006. The Volvo XC90 claimed Truck of the Year in 2003. Repeat Honor For Honda Civic It was the third time since the awards were launched in 1993 domestic automakers were shut out Honda swept the awards with the Civic and Ridgeline winning in 2006. Land Rover and Hyundai won in 2012. The winners were chosen by a jury of 53 automotive journalists from a group of three

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2016 Car of the Year? Chevrolet, Honda, Mazda?

The Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Civic and Mazda MX-5 Miata, three longstanding vehicles with loyal followings in vastly different new and used car markets, have been named finalists for 2016 North American Car of the Year. The Honda Pilot, Nissan Titan XD and Volvo XC90 were name finalists for Truck of the Year in the recent announcement the Automotive Press Association in Detroit. The 2016 North American Car and Truck of the Year will be announced in January at the Detroit Auto Show. The finalists were chosen from short lists of 10 cars and 12 pickups and SUVs created by a jury of 53 automotive journalists. Chevrolet Has Two Cars Considered For Car of the Year The BMW 7 series, Cadillac

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Ford Fusion three times isn’t charm in recalls

One recall is bad enough, but 2014 Ford Fusion owners have gotten the unsettling news that three times in the past week their cars have been recalled for steering problems. Adding further worries, Ford has also recalled Lincoln MKZ (2013-2015), Ford Edge (2015), and Ford Fiesta (2013-2015) pushing the manufacturer’s car and truck recall list in the past week to nearly one million units. The largest of the recalls is 520,000 units of the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ from 2013 to 2015 model years, and some 2015 Ford Edges. All of the defective models have a steering gear motor problem that could result in a loss of power steering. Ford said it is not aware of any accidents related

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Wild and crazy car colors at the 2014 LA Auto Show

Most car buyers play it safe when it comes to car colors. White is the most popular exterior color, followed by black, silver and gray. Boring, right? But many manufacturers, seeking to appeal to young buyers, also offer limited edition to full-fledged models with wild color patterns — Plasma Purple to Tangerine Scream and Bronze Fire to Sun Fusion. The new wild and wacky cars colors have been inspired for several reasons, according to several manufacturers’ brand representatives at the2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. “The new colors appeal to younger buyers and those young at heart,” extolled a young man whose company is about to introduce a limited edition two-tone Scion Tc dominated by the color Magma. A young woman

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Lexus, Mazda shine in 2014 Best Family Car list

A family car once meant a station wagon or a lackluster, underpowered box-like sedan. No more. For 2014, U.S. News & World Report has selected performance cars and family oriented cars that are perfectly capable for single drivers. The magazine (and its corresponding online edition) has selected the best vehicles for families in 19 categories, compact cars to minivans, hatchback to luxury cars. The 2014 Mazda6, the Best Midsize Car for Families, and the 2014 Mazda3, the Best Compact Car for Families, both have performance that car reviewers love. That performance comes in addition to available high-tech safety features, like forward collision warning and lane departure warning, as well as spacious cabins most car critics agree feel upscale. The Honda

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2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport: Redesigned Crossover has sleeker styling

The mid-size 2013 Santa Fe Sport crossover has rakish new styling similar to that of Hyundai Sonata and Elantra sedans. It also has carlike road manners and plenty of room. The Santa Fe Sport should do well, even though it’s up against rivals such as the Honda Pilot, Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Edge, Nissan Murano and Toyota Highlander. The five-passenger, two-row Santa Fe Sport should not be confused with the costlier, longer-wheelbase seven-passenger, three-row Santa Fe, which has replaced Hyundai’s underachieving 7-passenger Veracruz. That Santa Fe lacks the word “Sport” in its name, but comes with a 3.3-liter, 290-horsepower V-6. The solidly built Santa Fe Sport lists from $24,450 to $29,450 and comes with either front- or all-wheel drive (AWD). It

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Ford Edge SE overtakes minivan dominance, tops lowest annual insurance rates

Minivans, once the go-to car for family versatility and insurance friendliness, have been overtaken in 2013 by crossovers and SUVs, including models from Ford, Jeep, Kia and Hyundai, according to a report by Insure.com. In its recently announced findings, the insurance website noted the Ford Edge SE has the country’s lowest annual insurance rate. “The SUV is the new minivan,” said Russ Rader, spokesperson for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which performs crash tests on vehicles. “These are vehicles used largely by families. They’re going to the mall, taking kids to school and driving to sports practices on the weekends. They’re not getting into a lot of crashes.” The only small among the least expensive top-20 cars to insure

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Ford Edge EcoBoost, 2012: Surprising performance, extra fuel efficiency

Placing a small 4-cylinder engine inside a mid-size SUV might seem like a bad idea, especially for power-hungry American drivers. Yet, this is exactly what Ford has done with the 2012 Edge EcoBoost mid-size crossover. Fortunately, this motor is an overachiever. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine features direct injection, twin independent variable camshaft timing, and a turbocharger that spools up to 16 psi of boost. Output is 240 hp at 5500 rpm and a healthy 270 lb-ft of torque from 3,000 rpm. The end result of this unusual arrangement is a surprising level of real-world performance. The beefy torque response makes for effortless everyday driving, and the engine is impressively smooth and quiet. If you didn’t know it, you’d never guess

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Kia Sorento 2011 car review

The carlike Kia Sorento is so dramatically changed one might wonder why it retains the name of the old truck-like Sorento, which arrived for 2003 and became dated. A test drive during the media preview of the new Sorento to Kia’s sprawling new, $1 billion assembly plant in a rural area an hour from Atlanta, Georgia, showed this crossover vehicle to be poised, quiet and comfortable. Kia‘s newest Sorento is the sporty “SX.” It has a revised front end, more luxury and sharper handling. The Sorento comes as an entry model and as the LX, EX and SX. It has front or four-wheel drive and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder or 3.5-liter V-6. Kia says rivals of the early 2011 Sorento include

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GM, Nissan dominate North American best car nominees

The 18th annual awards are chosen by automotive journalists from the United States and Canada who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and web sites. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION Auto Shipping Quote–Car Financing–Car Insurance Quotes–Car Loans–Online Car Insurance–Rental Cars–Used Cars Twenty-seven new cars were eligible for the 2011 North American Car of the Year award and 14 have been selected as semi-finalists. The jurors did not vote on the trucks because there were only 14 on the original list. The North American Car of the Year and North American Truck of the Year will be announced in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Audi A8 Buick Regal Chevrolet Cruze Chevrolet Volt Ford Fiesta Hyundai Sonata/2.0T/Hybrid Infiniti M37/56

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Chicago Auto Show, 2010: New models, concept cars from Ford, Chevy, Honda, Toyota, Kia

The new Ford Edge, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Avalon, Silverado HD and of futuristic KIA Ray, were all also included. The show continues through Feb. 21. Check out Mica’s highlights from the Chicago Auto Show in the video below: James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver

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Porsche to Audi, Lexus to BMW: Best (used) luxury cars under $30,000

For the past few years, I’ve become a regular reader of the AOL Autos. Its writers and editors seemingly have a never-ending stream of top-10 lists while approaching the automotive industry with the consumer in mind. The latest AOL Auto offering, written by Kevin Ransom, is the “baker’s dozen” list of best luxury cars for under $30,000. It’s a diverse selection, Porsche to Lincoln, Audi to Lexus. Says Ransom in his introduction: “For some buyers, the used-luxury market is a way of getting into that Lexus, Lincoln, Infiniti or Porsche you always wanted, without laying out $70,000 or $80,000 for something you’re not actually going to live in.” In conjunction with a recent Consumer Reports study, AOL has published its

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Toyota Venza, 2009: The Weekly Driver Car Review

The Japanese manufacturer introduced the vehicle with hopes of attracting customers who want the comforts of a passenger car (camry) with the versatility of a sport utility vehicle (highlander). The combination defines crossover. In other words, the Venza is a modern-day station wagon. The Weekly Driver’s Ratings Acceleration (6) It’s standard for its vehicle segment, but doesn’t have the same peppiness as its primary competitors, the Mazda CX-7 or Nissan Murano. I drive often to the Monterey Peninsula and the stretch over the Pacheco Pass has a winding, hill section ideal for braking, acceleration and handling. The Venza fared well, with some moments of hesitation when accelerating on short, steep hills — even with the optional Braking/Steering/Handling (6) The AWD

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Dodge Journey, 2009: Weidel on Wheels

By Jeff Weidel Declining minivan sales doesn’t mean people movers are outdated. School carpools and youth sports teams still need transportation versatility and large families require seven-passenger vehicles. Understanding the concept, Chrysler came out with the Dodge Journey for 2009. Much like the family station wagon evolving into minivans, the latest incarnations are midsize crossover sport utility vehicles like the Journey. The idea behind crossovers is creating a practical vehicle with size and versatility. While the concept is solid, Chrysler’s mistake is waiting so long to produce its first midsize model. The Journey has serious competition in the established Toyota Highlander, Ford Edge, Subaru Tribeca and Hyundai Santa Fe. Despite its late arrival, the Journey could find a niche. One

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