The rear seatbelts optional on the Edge inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The XT5 doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.
The Edge has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The XT5 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.
Both the Edge and the XT5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all-wheel drive and front and rear parking sensors.
There are over 3 times as many Ford dealers as there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Edge’s warranty.
To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Edge has a standard 175-amp alternator. The XT5’s standard 155-amp alternator and largest (optional) 170-amp alternator aren’t as powerful.
A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Edge’s reliability 13 points higher than the XT5.
J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford fifth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 12th.
J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 16th in reliability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 27th.
From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2018 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 12 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.
The Edge ST’s standard 2.7 turbo V6 produces 25 more horsepower (335 vs. 310) and 109 lbs.-ft. more torque (380 vs. 271) than the XT5’s 3.6 DOHC V6.
On the EPA test cycle the Edge gets better fuel mileage than the XT5:
|
|
Edge |
XT5 |
|
2WD |
2.0 turbo 4 cyl./8-spd. Auto |
22 city/29 hwy |
19 city/26 hwy |
3.6 V6/Auto |
4WD |
2.0 turbo 4 cyl./8-spd. Auto |
21 city/28 hwy |
18 city/25 hwy |
3.6 V6/Auto |
The Edge stops shorter than the XT5:
|
Edge |
XT5 |
|
60 to 0 MPH |
120 feet |
128 feet |
Motor Trend |
For better traction, the Edge has larger standard tires than the XT5 (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R18). The Edge ST’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XT5 (265/40R21 vs. 235/65R18).
The Edge SE/SEL’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XT5’s standard 65 series tires. The Edge ST’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the XT5’s optional 55 series tires.
For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Edge ST offers optional 21-inch wheels. The XT5’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.
The Edge ST AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the XT5 pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.
The Edge ST AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XT5 4x4 (26.2 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.1 seconds @ .65 average G’s).
The Edge Sport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The XT5 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.
As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Edge Titanium AWD is quieter than the XT5 4x4:
|
Edge |
XT5 |
At idle |
40 dB |
44 dB |
Full-Throttle |
71 dB |
77 dB |
70 MPH Cruising |
68 dB |
68 dB |
The Edge has 1.8 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, 4.3 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear legroom, 2.8 inches more rear hip room and 4.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the XT5.
The Edge has a much larger cargo area with its rear seat up than the XT5 with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 30 cubic feet). The Edge has a much larger cargo area with its rear seat folded than the XT5 with its rear seat folded (73.4 vs. 63 cubic feet).
In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Edge’s exterior PIN entry system. The XT5 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.
The Edge’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The XT5’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.
The Edge (except SE) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The XT5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.
According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Edge is less expensive to operate than the XT5 because it costs $396 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Edge than the XT5, including $218 less for a water pump, $112 less for a muffler, $226 less for a starter, $192 less for fuel injection and $45 less for a timing belt/chain.
The Ford Edge has won recognition from these important consumer publications:
|
Edge |
XT5 |
Consumer Reports® Recommends |
TRUE |
FALSE |
Car Book “Best Bet” |
TRUE |
FALSE |
The Ford Edge outsold the Cadillac XT5 by over two to one during 2017.
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