Midsize SUVs aren’t known for being blitzers off the line. You typically don’t find them on the drag strip (but then again, sometimes you do), and usually it requires specific powertrain setups and tuning to get the most out of a midsize SUV. In the case of the 2022 Ford Edge ST, the quickest of the Edge’s trimline, how does it rank in terms of top-end performance—and, most importantly, is it fast?
That’s what I’ll be examining here today. I’m taking a look at the powertrain, the gains, the speed, and the acceleration in the 2022 Ford Edge ST. Is this the sort of SUV you might want to eye if you want peppy performance and reliable power?
What Sort of Power Do You Get from the 2022 Ford Edge ST?
This midsize SUV is available with two powertrain options: a standard 2.0-L EcoBoost 4-cylinder and a 2.7-L EcoBoost V6, both of which are turbocharged. The Edge ST, however, comes standard with the 2.7-L turbocharged V6, so you’re rocking the most powerful iteration of the powertrain selection right from the start. This gives you an impressive 335 max horsepower and up to 380 lb-ft of torque to work with—a very nice output for Ford’s midsize offering.
By comparison, Chevy’s 2022 Blazer, a competing midsize SUV, tops out at 308 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque when paired up with its 3.6-L V6. On Jeep’s end, the midsize Grand Cherokee requires the 5.7-L HEMI V8 in order to compete with the Edge ST’s horsepower and torque. Otherwise, the standard 3.6-L Pentastar V6 trails behind—offering 293 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.
That definitely gives you an idea of where the Edge stands when it comes to top-end performance specs. You also have an idea of where the Edge compares to its nearest rivals on the power scale. But that doesn’t really tell us how well the Edge actually performs on the road. What’s on the spec sheets doesn’t always translate to real-world performance. Thankfully, we actually do have an idea of how well the Edge drives. Check out its acceleration and quarter-mile performance ratings.
0-to-60 MPH in the Quarter Mile
Quarter-mile times don’t always give us the best idea of how well or how long you expect a certain vehicle to perform over a period of time, but it is a reliable way to measure acceleration and potential top-end speeds. In the case of the Ford Edge ST, you’re looking at around 6 seconds flat from 0 to 60 on the strip with the 2.7-L turbocharged EcoBoost V6, according to CarHP. How fast is that and where does it rank among its nearest competitors?
Well, it’s 0.7 seconds faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee when it comes to 0-to-60 acceleration, and up to 1.6 seconds faster than the Infiniti QX60 in the exact same test. It also smokes both the Grand Cherokee and QX60 in the standing quarter-mile run, managing an extremely impressive 14.7 seconds—compared to the Cherokee’s 15.2 seconds and the QX60’s 16 seconds. It does trail behind the Audi Q5, but only by a few tenths of a second.
Interestingly enough, the Edge ST can perform even better in the quarter-mile run. That is, if tuned properly and handled by a skilled driver. How much better can it get? Well, some people have actually taken their Edge ST SUVs to the drag strip to give it a test run against some very noteworthy opponents. No joke: the ST can actually hold its own quite well when tuned for optimal performance.
Quarter-Mile Run Against Real Competition
Most people aren’t going to be tuning their midsize 2022 Ford Edge to compete on the drag strip against Hellcats and Demons, but for those of you who are at least curious to know how well it does: YouTube outlet Drag Racing and Car Stuff captured a Ford Edge taking on a BMW. The Edge managed to post 13 seconds on the board. The improvement over CarHP’s quarter-mile benchmark by one whole second is thanks to an upgraded intercooler and intake, along with a Livernois E30 tune. What’s impressive here is that it doesn’t even take a massive overhaul or super expensive upgrades to get massive gains for the Edge.
Is a 2022 Ford Edge ST Worth It for Performance Drivers?
When it comes to SUVs, you have to consider that they’re multi-functional vehicles, used for a wide number of different tasks, some of which include traveling from one destination to the next as quickly as possible. However, the shared functionality with towing, passenger accommodation, and luxury-oriented purposes can absolutely dilute most SUVs’ top-end performance potential. This isn’t to say that an SUV can’t be oriented around performance.
In the case of the Ford Edge, it’s a midsize SUV, so performance is going to be further down the chain of priorities than it would be in a compact or subcompact SUV. You’ll definitely get more gains out of a smaller vehicle because a smaller vehicle with a larger engine has less weight to carry around—and more power to put down on the road. All that being said, the Edge ST with the V6 is still an impressive machine in its segment and for its price.
Keep in mind, the Edge ST is mostly competing against other vehicles in its segment, and with equivalent powertrain setups, it mostly out-performs them. Keep in mind that a Jeep Cherokee needs a HEMI V8 to get comparative performance ratings to the Edge, but that’s because the Cherokee scales up to well over 1,000 pounds more than the Edge. Overall, that makes a massive difference when it comes to performance gains. A smaller engine on a smaller vehicle can oftentimes outperform a larger vehicle with a larger engine (when tuned the right way), but even then, it’s going to have a tough time against a longstanding performance hog like a HEMI.
The 2022 Ford Edge ST welcomes performance upgrades. It’s easy to tweak the powertrain without stripping down the engine block or completely overhauling the vehicle (unless you really want to). An ECU tuner can make all the difference in the world if you’re willing to sacrifice fuel economy for more power. Alternatively, you can opt for exhaust or intake upgrades to get even more power out of the Edge—without a lot of major surgery—to pump a few more horsepower out of the powertrain.
Fast Enough for Those Who Need a Multi-Functional SUV
So, is the 2022 Ford Edge ST worth it for the performance and potential power gains? If you need an SUV with the extra room to fit in family, friends, or lugging cargo—alongside quick, off-the-line performance—then the Edge ST is absolutely worth it. This SUV already earns solid numbers against its nearest competitors in the segment. It’s lighter than larger midsize SUVs, and has enough power scaling to get even more acceleration out of it. If you feel that’s worth the price of entry—especially if you wanted to turn the family vehicle into a high-end, turbocharged road beast—then the 2022 Ford Edge ST isn’t a bad way to go.
