At first glance it’s hard to tell that the 2015 Ford Edge is much different from the previous year’s model. After all, its looks aren’t radically different from the original Edge that came out nearly a decade ago.

But like a remodeled loft in some trendy warehouse district, you shouldn’t be fooled by the outside. Inside and underneath there are changes galore. It has new suspension front and rear that deliver a more refined ride. The chassis is stiffer to give the Edge better handling. It’s also longer by nearly four inches. The result gives passengers just a little more room.

You now get three engine choices. My test car had the 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produced 245 horsepower. I normally feel like the sweet spot for power these days is between 250 and 280 horsepower. While this turbo four-banger was just a notch below that level, I didn’t find it disappointing. Of course I don’t think I pushed it much during my test week, but I never felt like it was underpowered. The advantage, of course, is fuel economy. You can expect 20 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway with a combined number of 24 mpg. For some reason, my test week never got that high. I finished just shy of 22 mpg.

Of course, if horsepower is a priority you have options. The first bump is a non-turbo 3.5 liter V6 that bumps the output to 280 horsepower. Of course you lose some mileage, with the combined number dropping to 21 mpg. A better choice might be Ford’s 2.7 liter turbocharged V6 that delivers 315 horsepower with the same 21 mpg. One change from 2014 is that premium unleaded is now recommended for the Ecoboost engine. I’m not sure the increased cost of fuel is worth the extra mileage. Interestingly, the big horsepower turbo V6 still takes regular.

Inside, the passenger compartment gets a pleasant upgrade. The soft touch material on the dash has an almost suede-like look. The seats were comfortable and I was especially impressed that my test Edge had heated rear seats. Not a critical item living in Phoenix, but I can see how back seat passengers in colder climates will appreciate your generosity. Front leg room is increased by two inches while the back seat gets an additional inch.

I last drove a Ford Edge back in 2012. I remember being very unimpressed with the MyFord Touch system. The good news is that it’s much better. The bad news is that it’s not great. It just doesn’t seem as responsive as others I’ve tested. Rumor has it Ford is breaking out a new generation next year. Hopefully they’ll have some retroactive fixes for this version as well.

My test car had lanekeeper assist. It’s designed to keep you from wandering over the line. While it was very accurate, I wondered if it was a little too subtle. Some versions I’ve tested make it pretty obvious when you’ve wandered astray. The Edge gave a slight tug on the wheel and a small light on the dash. If you want something that isn’t obnoxious, this is for you. If you want something that grabs your attention a little more firmly, you might want to look elsewhere.

You have four option levels to deck out the Edge to your liking. It starts with the SE, works up through the SEL, Titanium and Sport models. The more you spend the more you get, but the base model is still an attractive and comfortable SUV. My test car was the Titanium model with a base price of $37,595 and a total sticker of $44,185. It’s not cheap, but it compares favorably with my wife’s Acura MDX.

I’ve always liked the looks of the Edge. I’m a little worried that it needs to change in a bigger way to keep up with the competition, but for now it’s still attractive. It compares nicely with the Jeep Grand Cherokee, but probably isn’t as stylish as the Hyundai Santa Fe or the Nissan Murano.

I also wonder if they shouldn’t have taken that extra four inches and made room for a third row. Right now this is a mid-sized SUV that only seats five. Seven is not an option. Our family doesn’t need three rows very often, but when we do it’s a great advantage not to have to pile the excess passengers into a second car.

So while it may not look much different on the outside, the 2015 Ford Edge is definitely new inside and a solid competitor for the two-row SUV market.