2007 Ford Edge

Ford's completely new model, the Edge, is designed as a crossover, combining the cargo space and visibility of an SUV with the comfortable ride and fuel economy of a sedan. We got a chance to drive one through the windy roads north of San Francisco recently at a Ford model launch event. Our car was the top-of-the-line SEL version with all-wheel-drive, navigation, and a premium audio system. The Ford Edge goes on sale in November 2006.

The Edge uses Ford's new grille design, which gives it a meaty front end. A transversely mounted 3.5-liter V-6 sits under the hood.

Kind of like a station wagon, but higher up, the Edge has sporty accents, such as the spoiler over the rear window.

Available all-wheel-drive makes the Edge an all-weather car. It is also fairly heavy, coming in at close to two tons.

The rear seats in the Edge fold flat with the touch of a button in the cargo area. The front passenger seat also folds flat for hauling long, skinny objects.

The leather on the seats lends a feeling of quality, although the plastic covering the dashboard is a little rough. Both front seats in this car are power adjustable.

The console between the front seats is deep enough to fit a laptop. It also hides a 12-volt power access point and an auxiliary audio jack for the stereo.

With an iPod or any other MP3 player plugged into the auxiliary audio jack, you can bring your entire music library on road trips.

Beyond the usual audio and cruise control buttons on the steering wheel, Ford also includes temperature and fan speed.

Although the screen is on the small side, it presents a clear display with easily readable street names.

It's easy to enter destinations in the navigation system and set specific route preferences. The voice guidance can read out the street names for upcoming turns.

The in-dash six-CD changer reads MP3 CDs, but its display isn't the best for navigating discs. Selecting other audio sources is easy with the tab-style screen.

The premium audiophile stereo system lets you choose where to focus the sound. The system can automatically raise the volume as the car's speed increases.

A subwoofer in the cargo area enhances the sound put out by the four door speakers. Although not a surround system, the audio quality is good.