Four short years ago, Ford raised the bar on crossover SUVs when it introduced the Edge, a mid-size crossover SUV that successfully married cool with convenient. The Edge was an instant hit, appealing to a wide demographic and announcing Ford's return to prominence in the passenger-car market. You can imagine, then, that the expectations for the redesigned 2011 Edge would be very, very high--and you'd be right.

So, here's the good news: as a vehicle, the award-winning, second-generation Edge is excellent. It looks even better than the original, both inside and out, and provides all the interior space and cargo room you'd expect. Pick up the top-end Sport model, and you'll also get a stiffer suspension and 22-inch wheels, along with a host of high-tech features. Unfortunately, while the top-level Sport is a ton of fun to drive, its many features are a bit overwhelming.

Ford bills its new SYNC with MyFord Touch system as a major innovation, combining the highly effective voice controls of SYNC with a touch-based control setup. MyFord Touch integrates vehicle systems with a large, dash-mounted LCD and two smaller screens flanking the speedometer, both connected to individual thumb-pads on the steering wheel. It sounds like a great idea, enabling drivers to keep their hands on the wheel at all times, but Ford has perhaps provided too many menus and choices. As a result, MyFord Touch proves far more distracting than it should be.

The Edge Sport also comes with an upgraded Sony audio system that replaces the physical stereo and climate-control buttons with touch-sensitive panels. The system sounds first class, but the reality is that touch panels are impossible to find without looking away from the road, turning quick glances into longer looks at the dashboard, and can be difficult to operate with gloves or long fingernails. Physical buttons aren't nearly as cool, but you can find them on the dashboard without looking, and you know when you've pressed them.

For the second-generation Edge Sport version to be truly successful, its Lincoln-derived, iPod-like touch panel system needs to be improved. Otherwise, the Edge itself is a top-of-the-class vehicle with amazing attributes and characters.

Design--The 2011 Edge is a beautiful vehicle, and a strong follow-up to what was already a very attractive crossover. The proportions haven't changed much, but the lines are smoother and bolder, in keeping with recent Ford design work. The Sport gains a few tweaks, the most noticeable of which is the blacked-out front grille.

If you believe in the importance of small details, take an up-close look at the projector-style headlamps, which feature clear Edge nameplates suspended behind the lenses. The plates don't impact the lighting at all (and won't project the name onto your garage door), but are a nice little addition.

The 22-inch wheels look gigantic on most vehicles, but not so with the Edge Sport. The styling is so good that the vehicle can happily accept any of the 17, 18, or 22-inch wheels available for the various models.

The interior is as well-done as the exterior, with a tiered dashboard that flows into the centre console. Instead of a hard-plastic shell, the top of the dashboard is padded to create a softer finish that's more inviting. And ergonomics aside, the touch panels look nifty.

From the plastics and leather surfaces to the small panel gaps and generally excellent workmanship, there's a feeling of great quality throughout the Edge's cabin that lends to the crossover's upscale feel.

Performance--Most Edges feature a 3.5L V6 with 285-hp and 253 lb-ft of torque, but the Sport gets a 3.7L V6 with 305-hp and 280 lb-ft of torque that's borrowed from the Mustang, along with a fluid six-speed automatic transmission and paddle shifters that are surprisingly responsive.

Where handling is concerned, the Edge Sport puts its stiffer suspension to good use. It feels like a performance vehicle, with great stability, lots of grip, and handling that belies the vehicle's size. You wouldn't confuse it with a sports car, but the Sport is far more aggressive and fun to drive than your average mid-size SUV.

Steering is solid and direct, with understeer that's about average for the crossover segment. However, the all-wheel drive and traction control don't provide as much confidence as more advanced systems in harsh weather conditions.

Performance-wise, the only question is whether the Sport's large V6 is really necessary. The base Edge's 3.5L block is more than adequate, and the minimal power and torque gains attributed to the 3.7L don't justify the corresponding increase in fuel consumption.

Environment--There's ample passenger space in both the front and rear, along with auto-folding rear seats that make it easy to extend the large cargo area. The cupholders and storage bin in the centre console are underwhelming, but sizable map pockets and a decent glove box make up for it.

The touch-sensitive button for the hazard lights is located in an unfortunate spot immediately below the main LCD screen. As a result, when pressing the Home icon at the bottom-middle of the screen, it's easy to turn on the hazards.

Putting controls aside, the overall integration of the Edge's systems is impressive. However, there's a noticeable lag in responsiveness when the vehicle is first started up in cold weather, which lasts until the hardware has warmed up.

Wind noise is very noticeable through the optional panoramic sunroof. It can be suppressed by closing the automatic sunshade, but that somewhat defeats the purpose.

Features--The Edge Sport sells for $43,499 with all-wheel drive, and comes loaded with standard features such as ABS, traction control, stability control, automatic A/C, cruise control, heated front seats, tilt/telescope steering, 12-speaker Sony stereo, SYNC handsfree system, reverse-sensing system, and front/side/side-curtain airbags.

Optional items on the Sport include a power moonroof, remote starter, entertainment system, GPS navigation, rain-sensing wipers, and blind-spot sensors. However, you have to go to the Limited model to get distance-pacing cruise control, Xenon headlamps, and--oddly enough--garage-door transmitters.

Fuel economy for the Edge Sport is rated at 12.2L/100km in the city and 8.8L/100km on the highway.

Thumbs up--Attractive interior and exterior styling; high-quality workmanship; excellent performance.

Thumbs down--Difficult touch-sensitive controls.

The bottom line--An impressive and innovative vehicle that takes the innovation to the extreme.

editor@automotivepress.com