There is plenty of utility -- and a little bit of sportiness -- packed into the Ford Edge, a brand-new crossover utility vehicle Ford hopes will become a new standard-bearer.

Photo by Ford (ENLARGE)

Ford Edge

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ABOUT THE FORD EDGE:

Body style: Four-door crossover utility vehicle

Trim lines: SE, SEL, SEL Plus

Price: MSRP $25,320 to $30,720

Drive: Front-wheel, all-wheel

Seating: Two in front, three in rear

Engine: 3.5-liter V-6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Miles per gallon of fuel: EPA estimate 118 city/25 highway; 17/24 for all wheel drive

WHAT'S SPECIAL: Style is this CUV's edge. The three-bar chromed grill resembles the Ford Fusion. The slope of the windshield and rear window seem made for the wind tunnel. A woman driving a van in the next lane at a red light rolled down her window and shouted: "That's a good looking car. What is that?" Ford has to hope she has plenty of company.

WHAT WE LIKE: This is a smooth- riding vehicle. The 265-horsepower V-6 whines a bit during hard acceleration but quickly gets to freeway speed. The six-speed automatic transmission is silky smooth; the customary shift jolt is barely perceptible.

WHAT ISN'T THERE: Third-row seating, not even as an option. There is, however, a generous amount of rear seat legroom. And the back seats recline to make them even more comfortable. The kids should be dozing in no time.

YOU OUGHTA KNOW: The large center console is designed for the digital age. There is an MP3 player jack and 12-volt power plug. Small slots molded into the side of the console are designed to keep cellphone cords and MP3 player cords neatly organized. The rear-door pockets are specially designed to hold juice boxes. There is a total of four power outlets in the cabin.

EXTRAS: The optional Vista Roof lets everyone watch the clouds scoot by while traveling. Everyone except the driver, of course. The 27-by-29-inch forward panel slides open while the 16-by-31-inch back panel is fixed. Both can be covered by a sun shade with the press of a button. Rear passengers can also gaze at an 8-inch DVD screen. The entertainment system features wireless headphones.

AND ANOTHER THING: Safety features include stability control and side curtain air bags that provide head protection for all passengers.