Ford’s Mid-Size Crossover Is on the Edge of Dying in North America

Ford is preparing to discontinue the Edge in North America, with the only production facility located in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, being restructured to focus on electric vehicle manufacturing.

Ford Edge

11 photos Photo: Ford The announcement, made by Marc Brennan, the Ford Council Vice Chairperson, via Unifor Local 707, stated that the last Edge is set to roll off the line on April 26.

The factory will then transition to electric vehicle assembly following a CA$1.95 billion (~US$1.45 billion) investment. Five new EVs are expected to be produced at the Oakville facility, with the first set to hit the assembly line next year and the last in 2028.

According to GoodCarBadCar, the second-generation Ford Edge sold over 124,000 units in 2015, its first full year of production. Sales figures exceeded 134,000, 142,000, 134,000, 138,000, and 108,000 in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively. Sales decreased to around 85,000 for the following two years, and surged to over 106,000 in 2023.

Ford Edge

Photo: Ford As a result, the model has been a successful product, particularly considering it has been on the market since 2015, with a mid-cycle refresh in 2019. Customers interested in a new Ford Edge will have a few more months to make a purchase, and it is likely that dealers will have sufficient inventory even after the vehicle is discontinued.

For 2024, the Dearborn company offers the Edge in five different trim levels. The base SE comes with LED headlamps, privacy rear windows, 18-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, a 12-inch infotainment system, a 4.2-inch instrument cluster display, and a 250 hp (254 ps/187 kW) and 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) of torque 2.0L EcoBoost with an eight-speed auto and all-wheel drive, priced at $38,465 MSRP.

The SEL, ST-Line, and Titanium start at $39,665, $43,720, and $43,820, respectively, and are equipped with the same engine and gearbox. The top-of-the-line ST is powered by a 2.7L EcoBoost V6 with twin turbocharging that produces 335 hp (340 ps/250 kW) and 380 lb-ft (515 Nm) of torque, with a starting price of $47,205. This version of the mid-size crossover is the most well-equipped, featuring amenities such as ambient lighting, power liftgate, B&O audio, Wi-Fi hotspot, leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats with electric adjustment, and numerous optional features.

The slightly larger Ford Explorer is available in eight trims, starting at $36,860, $1,605 less than the base Edge, and reaching over $54,770 for the top-of-the-line Platinum. The engine lineup includes the 2.3L turbo-four and 3.0L V6, offering 300 hp (304 ps/224 kW) and 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque, and 400 hp (406 ps/298 kW) and 415 lb-ft (563 Nm) of torque, respectively.