The 2022 Ford Edge
doesn’t have the off-road capabilities of the Bronco
, but with eight inches of ground clearance, AWD, and a good amount of torque, the Edge can hold its own on all terrain. If you’re looking to explore the outdoors, having a vehicle with good off-road capabilities is a must. And when you can cruise over any terrain with ease, there are no limitations to where you can go. But with plenty of off-road options, how do you know which vehicles are true trail bosses and which are just masquerading?
If you’re ready to get down and dirty off the beaten path but aren't sure if your Edge can handle the heat, Jerry
, the car insurance super app
, is giving you all the off-road specs for the 2022 Ford Edge. We’ll cover the key off-roading features like ground clearance and torque—and provide more capable off-roading alternatives to consider if you’re looking for an adrenaline rush. Can the 2022 Ford Edge go off road?
Yes—the 2022 Ford Edge isn’t Ford’s most-capable off-road vehicle, but with a solid powertrain and all-wheel drive, it’s more than capable of cruising down dirt or gravel roads. That said, with only eight inches of ground clearance, don’t expect it to be log crawling or trekking through the mud anytime soon.
Starting at $38,905, the 2022 Ford Edge is Ford’s mid-size crossover SUV. It offers a spacious, comfortable ride and is the perfect mix between high-end luxury and capable off-roading. With the option of a 250-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a 335-hp twin-turbo 2.7L V6 on the ST, there’s ample power, and when equipped with AWD, you’ll have no difficulty traversing off-road terrain.
What else makes the 2022 Ford Edge a great option for your next epic off-road adventure? Let’s zoom in on some of the key specs.
Ground clearance
If you want to venture off the beaten path and see how capable your vehicle is, there’s one number you’ll want to pay attention to: ground clearance. And with only 8 inches of ground clearance on the 2022 Ford Edge, you won’t be stomping over serious obstacles in your Edge.
Ideally, you want a ground clearance between 8.8 and 10.8 inches for optimal off-roading. The higher your vehicle’s minimum clearance, the more capable it is of handling rough terrains without risking damage to the undercarriage. But if you compare the Edge’s 8 inches of ground clearance to the Toyota Tacoma’s
9.4 inches or the Jeep Wrangler’s
9.7 inches, you can quickly see that the Edge isn’t near as capable of tackling rugged trails. Torque
If you know anything about off-roading, you’re probably familiar with the importance of torque—but if you’re leaving the pavement behind, it’s low-end torque you’re looking for. Essentially, higher low-end torque means your vehicle is more capable of overcoming obstacles faster. The vehicle maintains control even at low speeds when you have good low-end torque.
Low-end torque is a must for off-roading. It prevents your engine from working overtime when you need momentum to pull you through a sticky situation, or you want to crawl over rocks without losing control of your car.
The 2022 Ford Edge’s 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine gets a maximum torque of 275 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm. With decent power, it can pull you through even terrain, but you likely won’t be able to access the power at a lower rpm, which means it’s not the best pick for trudging through sand and mud.
Tires
If you want to take your vehicle off paved roads, make sure it’s equipped with a solid set of off-road capable tires. For most people, all-terrain tires
provide the perfect balance for driving on flat and bumpy surfaces. But if there’s one area where the Ford Edge’s off-road capabilities fall flat, it’s the tires—the Pirelli Scorpion Verde All-Season, 245/50R-20 102V M+Sare. Not sure what that means? Understanding tire talk can be difficult, but here’s what you need to know about them. In general, you'll find two types of tires on a car: all-terrain tires
(A/T tires) or all-season tires (A/S tires). For those who drive on both streets and trails, all-terrain tires are the ideal option—they’re the middle ground between all-season and mud-terrain tires and offer outstanding performance in both conditions. While all-seasons are more durable and have a longer life than A/T tires, they don’t have the same grip as all-terrain tires and aren’t as capable off-road. While the 2022 Edge may perform well on the pavement with more durable tires, they decrease its performance off-road.
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Start earning nowDrivetrain
If you plan to take your vehicle off-road, you’ll want to pay attention to the drivetrain, specifically all-wheel drive—and AWD is standard on all trims of the 2022 Ford Edge. Many mid-size SUVs come standard with FWD, but you don’t have to word about that with the Edge—it’s ready to conquer the road, base trim or not.
Angles
If you’re heading off-road, you’ll want to pay attention to your angles—and not what angle you’re catching your photos at. We’re talking about two angles with respect to off-roading: the approach angle and departure angle. Here’s what they are:
Approach angle: the maximum angle that a vehicle can climb without interference
Departure angle: the maximum angle that a vehicle can descend without interference
In simple terms, the approach angle of your vehicle needs to be greater than the angle of what you’re trying to climb to avoid risking damage to your front bumper or undercarriage. The departure angle is the same, only applied to the rear bumper and tires.
If it wasn’t apparent that the Edge isn’t the best pick for the serious off-roader, here’s another example to clarify: the approach and departure angles of the 2022 Ford Edge are 18.9 and 22.2, respectively. While they may be higher than some of its competitors, compare them to the 42.2-degree approach angle of the Jeep Wrangler
or the 33 degrees of the Toyota 4Runner
, and it’s clear that the Edge is better suited for paved roads or minor off-roading challenges. Off-road rating: In a pinch
If you want a quick answer to if the 2022 Ford Edge can travel off-road, we’ve answered it using Jerry’s
super-technical DIRT rating system, broken down in the table below:
| | |
|---|
| | Vehicles better suited to highway conditions |
| | Vehicles that can handle off-road situations in certain circumstances |
| | Vehicles designed for casual off-roading |
| | True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain |
So, how does the 2022 Ford Edge rank? We give it an I rating. Although the Edge is capable of traversing some rocky terrain, it’s a solid two-row crossover build for smooth roads. If you do need to cover a bit of uneven turf, the Edge isn’t going to back down—but don’t expect to crawl of boulders or trek through mud.
The best off-road alternatives to the 2022 Ford Edge
The 2022 Ford Edge is a great choice if you want a vehicle that’s perfect for cruising through the city while still being able to tackle light trails. But even with excellent reliability and power, and plenty of cargo space, the Edge isn’t going to work for every outdoor adventurer. Whether you’re looking for something better equipped for prowling through mud or you just want something more affordable, there are several great picks.
Here are a few of the best alternatives to the 2022 Ford Edge, regardless of what you’re looking for.
| | | |
|---|
Best budget-friendly alternative | | | Although it may be slightly smaller and less powerful than the Edge, the 2022 Equinox is well-equipped for the daily grind but is also capable of powering your off-road adventures. |
Best affordable off-road alternative | | | Regardless of terrain, the GMC Terrain is loaded with off-road features like traction control and stability control systems to help you drive on dirt, gravel, and sand with confidence. |
Best eco-friendly alternative | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe | | With up to 10.8 inches of ground clearance and a powerful hybrid powertrain, the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk offers a comparable size to the Edge with great off-road capabilities—and much better fuel efficiency. |
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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles
Whether you’re in the thick of the bush or crawling over sand dunes in the desert, there’s no arguing that off-roading is a lot of fun. But one of the biggest pitfalls of taking your vehicle into unknown territory is the cost—buying an off-roader isn’t cheap, and neither is getting insurance for it.
Luckily, there’s a simple solution to keeping your costs low: Jerry
. As the #1 rated car insurance app and a licensed insurance broker
, Jerry compares rates from over 50 top insurance providers to find the right policy to protect your off-roader and your budget. Shopping for car insurance with Jerry could save you more than $800 a year! With that kind of change rolling around, you could get down with some epic mods to create your perfect Edge off-roader.
“I was tired of looking around multiple websites, so I decided to give Jerry
a try. Let me tell you—the process is so easy and simple, and they really find you the best prices for your coverage level. Getting insurance for my new car was quick and easy!” —Joanna D.
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