Ford Edge In Snow & Winter Driving? (Explained)

The Ford Edge slots between the Escape and the Explorer in Ford’s SUV collection. This compact SUV has a roomy interior and offers a comfortable ride.

It also has decent cargo-carrying capacity and towing ability, making it an ideal choice for families.

How does the Edge perform on snow? Let’s find out.

Here is the short answer about whether the Ford Edge is good for snow and winter driving:

For a compact SUV, the Ford Edge is decent in snow and winter driving. The vehicle offers all-wheel-drive (AWD), which aids driving on ice and snow. It also has multiple safety features, such as ABS and stability control, that minimize risks associated with winter driving. 

Is a Ford Edge Good in the Snow?

The Ford Edge may be a small SUV, but it can hold its own in snow pretty well. Its ground clearance (8 in.) is lower than that of bigger models, but it can handle a decent amount of snow. Particularly, the ground clearance allows the truck to avoid getting stuck in snow.

Although it is a front-wheel drive model, the Edge SUV offers ‘Intelligent All-wheel-drive’ as optional equipment. AWD is one of the best features for driving in snow, as it prevents wheels from losing traction.

You can improve the performance of your Edge SUV in snow by swapping out the stock tires for dedicated winter tires. This is useful if you have a non-AWD Edge and don’t want the extra cost of upgrading to AWD.

You may also want to read our article to know “Where are Ford Edges made”?

What Features Will Improve Winter Driving?

Here are features of Edge SUVs that make them suitable for winter driving:

Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive

Edge models (except the ST trim level) come standard with front-wheel-drive (FWD). However, if you shell out an extra $1,995, you will get Intelligent All-wheel-drive on your Edge SUV.

While $1,995 may seem too steep for AWD, it’s worth it, particularly if you drive frequently in winter. The standard FWD system puts more power on the front, increasing the risk of your vehicle fishtailing on wet surfaces (ice, snow).

With intelligent AWD, chances of your vehicle slipping on slick surfaces are minimal. The system constantly monitors vehicle operation; if it senses wheel slip, it increases torque supply to prevent or control wheel slippage.

Unlike a full-time AWD/4WD system, the Edge’s intelligent AWD operates on an as-needed basis. This makes for better fuel efficiency, as AWD mode often increases fuel consumption.

Under normal driving, the front wheels get more power; but if the wheels start slipping, torque supply to the rear wheels increases. This way, none of your wheels will lose traction in winter road conditions.

Advanced Safety System

Winter driving is fraught with many safety risks. Inadequate traction on surfaces makes it easy for a vehicle to slip and crash. There’s also the characteristic low visibility at night that increases the chance of an accident.

Likewise, braking on wet surfaces is problematic–brake softly and your vehicle takes longer to stop; brake hard and your wheels may seize.

With all these risks, winter driving can seem dangerous–and it is. However, the Ford Edge comes with a litany of safety features designed to mitigate many of these risks. Here are some features that make driving your Edge in winter safer:

Electronic Stability Control

The Electronic Stability Control feature helps prevent skidding, under-steer, and over-steer, which often occur on wet surfaces.

It monitors your vehicle’s behavior by measuring steering angle, wheel speed, and yaw rate (the vehicle’s angle and direction).

If the ESC senses potential loss of stability, it applies brake pressure to the wheels to restore traction and maintain stability. The ESC is a boon in winter as it improves stability on low-traction surfaces such a snow, ice, and slush.

Traction Control System

The Traction Control system on Ford Edge SUVs ensures each wheel gets enough traction so it doesn’t slip out of control. TCS will adjust engine power and brake pressure to increase traction in the wheels.

This is useful in winter, where traction is notoriously low and chances of losing control are much higher.

Once the TCS detects wheel slip, it will reduce engine speed to maximize contact between the wheel and the pavement. Additionally, it may activate the brakes if the wheels are spinning excessively.

Anti-Lock Brake System

The Anti-lock brake system fixes the dilemma of braking on wet surfaces by allowing you to brake without locking up your wheels. It modulates brake pressure on the wheels once it senses wheel lock. This stops your wheels from locking and allows your vehicle to remain stable.

Electronic Brake force Distribution

The Electronic Brake force Distribution system works in a manner similar to ABS, as it also prevents wheel lockup. It balances brake pressure between front and rear wheels. Doing this ensures no wheel receives too much brake pressure and locks up.

Innovative Headlights

The Ford Edge has automatic high-beam headlights as part of the Ford Co-Pilot 360° system. Unlike regular headlights, AHB headlights provide greater visibility, necessary for navigating dark winter nights.

Please also read our article on how long Ford Edges last.

Does an Edge Have Snow Mode?

The Ford Edge doesn’t have a Snow Mode feature, but this hardly detracts from its snow driving abilities.

Its intelligent AWD improves the Edge’s handling in snow and compensates for the lack of Snow Mode.

Can You Install Additional Snow Gear on Edge?

Installing snow gear on your Ford Edge SUV is very much possible, so long as you do it right. Snow gear can help improve your vehicle’s winter driving capabilities, but they must be the right fit to work flawlessly.

If you install out-of-size snow equipment on your Edge, you’re preparing yourself for problems ahead.

How Much Snow Can an Edge Handle?

From owner reports, the Ford Edge can handle a decent amount of snow. It cannot handle extremely deep snow, but can wade through light to medium thickness of snow.

The ground clearance of the Ford Edge is 8 inches, which means it can handle around four to six inches of snow easily. Except you live in an area that sees heavy snowfall, the Edge should be enough for you.

Make sure to also reach our article on 11 Ford Edge statistics you should know.

How Does Edge Handle Low Winter Temperatures?

The Ford Edge uses fuel injection unlike older models that use carburetion. This allows it to warm up quickly and operate even on the coldest mornings.

Thus, your Edge should have no problem starting when the temperature is low. If it doesn’t start, the following may be responsible:

  • Bad spark plugs
  • Dead battery/inadequate battery power
  • Clogged fuel lines & fuel filters
  • Dirty air filters

Can a Ford Edge Drive on Ice?

The Ford Edge can drive on ice with relative ease. For starters, the compact size means it’s easier to control on icy surfaces. The intelligent AWD system also improves traction on wet surfaces such as ice. 

However, you must be careful when driving your Ford Edge on ice–the higher ride height increases rollover risk. And this is why it’s common to see vehicles tumbling over on icy roads.

Does the Edge Have 4WD?

The Ford Edge doesn’t come with 4WD per se, but it offers AWD, a form of four-wheel-drive. On a regular Edge, what you get is RWD, but you can have AWD at an additional cost.

Is the Edge’s AWD better than 4WD? No, it isn’t. Both AWD and 4WD will help limit wheelspin and suppress loss of traction, control, and stability, making for a better winter drive.

You should also read our article about how long Ford vehicles usually last.

What About Older Edge Models And Winter Driving?

From our research, older Ford Edge models are as good as newer ones in terms of winter performance. Many of the features that improve winter driving capabilities on the new Edges are present on the older variants.

For instance, the first-generation Edges came standard with the following features:

  • Electronic stability control
  • Traction control
  • Antilock brakes

Based on these features, we can safely say the older Edges are suitable for winter driving.

Do Edge Need Snow Tires?

The Edge needs snow tires, particularly if you’ll be doing a lot of winter driving. Here are reasons to use snow tires on your Edge SUV:

  • Shorter stopping times: Running all-season tires in winter makes it harder for your vehicle to halt. This is because all-season tires don’t have as much grip on wet surfaces as snow tires. Snow tires provide better grip, and thus have reduced braking distances.
  • Maximum control: Snow tires have special features geared towards maximizing control in low-traction conditions. This means you can drive without fear of losing control of your vehicle.
  • Increased stability: Snow tires have unique tread patterns that prevent hydroplaning or slipping on wet surfaces. This means your Edge SUV can remain stable, even on extremely slick surfaces.

Can You Mount A Snow Plow On An Edge?

Given its size, we won’t advise mounting a snowplow on the Ford Edge.

If you attempt to plow snow with your Edge SUV, your transmission and engine may suffer extensive damage.

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