Used Ford Edge review and buying guide (2015 to 2019): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Ford Edge should you buy?

The lesser risk is a 2.0 TDCi with the manual gearbox, because the Powershift automatic on 2016 to 2019 cars carries a High-rated known fault. That doesn't make the manual a clean buy. The auto shares its six-speed wet dual-clutch unit with the Mondeo and Kuga: it's due fresh fluid and a filter every 3 years or roughly 38,000 miles, and on those models skipped changes have brought judder, lost drive and slipping. Only buy an auto with invoices for every one.

From January 2019 the UK Edge came only with the 2.0 EcoBlue diesel. Its timing belt runs in oil and is due at 100,000 miles or 72 months, so every one has now passed that on age alone. Don't buy one without a receipt for the belt, or factor the job into your offer.

Whichever you pick, find out whether it has adaptive LED headlights. Ford recalled Edges fitted with them in 2016 because a software fault, combined with a lost control signal, could switch the lights off with no warning, which is a real danger at night. The fix was new software for the modules involved, so ask for proof it's been loaded. Beyond that the record's thin, just a few single owners' reports, and that isn't the same as a clean one.

Which Edge engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 2.0 TDCi with a manual gearbox is the lesser risk rather than a proven one, and the Powershift automatic is the one to be wary of. That auto was only sold with the most powerful TDCi, and it's the wet dual-clutch gearbox with a High known fault: it needs new fluid and a filter at each 3-year or roughly 38,000-mile interval, and on the Mondeo and Kuga missed changes have led to judder, a 'Transmission limited function' warning and the gearbox slipping or jumping out of gear.

One owner of that top TDCi had it fall back to limp mode on three separate motorway runs, and the dealer traced it to a failed turbo solenoid; a follow-up report of that repair said there'd been no trouble since the part was replaced. A 2017 car with the same engine made a whirring whistle that rose with the revs at 8,000 miles, then banged when a technician revved it. The cause turned out to be the air-con compressor's clutch coming off, not the turbo.

The 2.0 EcoBlue, fitted to UK cars from January 2019, runs its timing belt in oil, and it's due every 100,000 miles or 72 months. Every EcoBlue Edge has now passed that on age, so a receipt for the belt is the thing to ask for before you buy one, however low the mileage is.

What should you check when viewing a used Edge?

Paperwork decides this one. On a Powershift auto you want invoices showing fresh gearbox fluid and a new filter for each 3 years or roughly 38,000 miles of use, and on any car with adaptive LEDs, proof the 2016 headlight software recall was done. A 2019 EcoBlue needs a receipt for its oil-bathed timing belt, and every Edge should come with a full service history.

On the drive, set off from cold in slow traffic and then hold a steady speed on a fast road. Judder as you pull away, a 'Transmission limited function' message or an auto that slips or drops out of gear is the Powershift fault showing. One TDCi owner's car went into limp mode at motorway speed until a new turbo solenoid cured it, and on one 2017 car a whistle rising with the revs came from the air-con compressor clutch just before it let go.

Open and shut the powered tailgate a few times. One 2016 owner's went out of line, and the dealer blamed it being pulled shut by hand against its motor. Look inside both rear lights and the reflector strip across the back for misting, which one February 2017 car suffered on cold mornings and after a jet wash.

Feel the door trims, seats and carpets for signs of old water damage. One owner found every window had opened overnight and let rain ruin the interior; it wasn't clear whether the key fob's all-windows button had been pressed by accident or damp had got into the window and locking control unit in the driver's door. Try the fob and every window before you buy.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Ford Edge cost to run?

What do Edge owners like about them?

It's a very quiet SUV. Acoustic glass and an active system that cancels out noise keep the din well out of the cabin. That pays off most on the motorway, where the Edge is at its best, so it makes most sense if much of your driving is at motorway speeds rather than squeezing round town.

The boot's huge and takes a pushchair without any wrestling, which matters if that's the reason you want an SUV in the first place. For something this size it handles well, too, so it doesn't feel clumsy when the road starts to bend and you're not stuck with a car that only makes sense in a straight line.

• Acoustic glass and active noise control contribute to the Edge being one of the quietest SUVs available on the market.
• The Ford Edge features a spacious boot, ideal for pushchairs, with an electric boot mechanism standard on most models.
• The Ford Edge comes very well equipped as standard, offering good value compared to its competitors.
• This car handles very well for its size, proving most impressive when driven on motorways.
• The Ford Edge achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating when fitted with the safety pack, demonstrating high occupant protection.