The Everest SUV has become a mainstay of Ford's automotive portfolio ever since the nameplate was introduced to the local market in 2009. Together with the Ranger bakkie, they've established a foothold in their respective segments and taken a significant chunk of the market share in the process.
So popular are the models that the Ranger was recently voted the 2023 South African Car of the Year, with the Everest taking the second spot.
The blue oval brand officially launched the next generation Everest towards the end of 2022, but now they've added a quartet of new derivatives to the lineup. The Sport 4x4 and top-specced Platinum were the introductory derivatives at launch, and they've now been joined with an XLT 4x2 and 4x4, Sport 4x2 and (for the first time ever in the range) a Wildtrak.
Engine and Drivetrain
Starting with what's under the bonnet, two turbodiesel engines are on offer – a 2.0-litre bi-turbo that produces 154kW and 500Nm and a 3.0-litre V6 with figures of 184kW and 600Nm. The 2.0-litre is exclusive to the XLT and Sport derivatives, while the V6 does duty in the Wildtrak and Platinum. Power is sent to the wheels courtesy of Ford's advanced 10-speed (SelectShift) automatic transmission.
In XLT specification, the Everest is available in a choice of two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive versions. The latter uses a part-time electronic shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive system, which includes 2H, 4H and 4L modes and a rear differential lock as standard for those trips that require going off the beaten track.
The Wildtrak has a permanent four-wheel drive system that automatically adjusts the drive flow between the front and rear axles for better traction, no matter the road surface. There's also a 2H mode which engages rear-wheel drive only.
Spec and pricing
XLT 4x2 - R832 400
XLT 4x4 - R896 300
Sport 4x2 - R918 500
Sport 4x4 - R984 800
Wildtrak 4WD - R1.0-million
Platinum 4WD - R1.1-million
Included as standard is a four-year or 120 000km mechanical warranty, four-year or unlimited distance roadside assistance and a five-year or unlimited distance corrosion warranty.
Customers can purchase service or maintenance plans for up to eight years or 165 000km. The warranty can be extended up to seven years or 200 000km, while the roadside assistance can be extended for an additional one or two years.
Design and interior
Ford spared no expense on the exterior design; you can see the USA DNA at a whim. The C-clamp daytime running lights (with full LED headlights) and horizontal front bar are intimidating, immediately making you feel like you're driving too slowly in front of it.
The Wildtrak features 'WILDTRAK' raised lettering on the edge of the bonnet, finished in the dark grey accent colour, which is also applied to the mirror caps, rear bumper and the WILDTRAK and 4x4 scripts on the rear tailgate to let you know what goes for what.
Design and interior
Ford spared no expense on the exterior design; you can see the USA DNA at a whim. The C-clamp daytime running lights (with full LED headlights) and horizontal front bar are intimidating, immediately making you feel like you're driving too slowly in front of it.
The Wildtrak features 'WILDTRAK' raised lettering on the edge of the bonnet, finished in the dark grey accent colour, which is also applied to the mirror caps, rear bumper and the WILDTRAK and 4x4 scripts on the rear tailgate to let you know what goes for what.
Regarding the wheels, the XLT comes with 18-inch alloys, the Sport and Wildtrak have chunkier 20-inch alloys (optional 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tyres), while the Platinum features 21-inch wheels also with the option of 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tyres.
The rear is completely redesigned with new horizontal tail lights, which is an upgrade from the previous generation, in our opinion. The body colour palette is quite extensive, too, consisting of nine options, two of which (Blue Lightning and Luxe Yellow) are exclusive to the Sport and Wildtrak derivatives, respectively. The Sport is made distinctive with the extensive use of black as a recurring theme for the front grille, mirrors, roof rails and alloy wheels.
Inside is an eight-inch LCD instrument cluster, 12-inch colour touchscreen, and partial leather seat trim for all seven seats) with eight-way power adjustment for the front seats) and electric windows all around. The Wildtrak benefits from signature orange stitching on the seats, steering wheel and dash.
The 'sweet spot' Wildtrak
Ford reckons the money will be made with the Wildtrak because other than the more powerful engine, it comes with a plethora of standard inventory like Adaptive Cruise Control, Cross Traffic Alert, Pre-Collision Assist, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and Blind Spot Monitoring. For the whole glut of specifications, click here.
Also available, as an optional extra, is Ford's Active Park Assist 2.0 with full autonomous parallel and perpendicular parking, combined with the 360-degree camera system that replaces the standard rear-view camera.
There's also a 12-inch touchscreen (with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), wireless charging, an eight-speaker sound system, USB-A and USB-C connectivity and charging ports and a built-in 400W/240v inverter. The Wildtrak also sees the addition of the intuitive electronic E-Shifter that looks the part in the modern-looking cabin.
Driving impression
While there's no faulting the XLT or Sport as they're both comprehensively specced for their price points, the Wildtrak is the standout. It has the grunt under the bonnet and all the niceties you could possibly need for a full-sized family. The touchscreen is ideally positioned, handling is *chef's kiss*, and the transition between gears is smooth as you like.
The lumbar back support could have been a bit better, but that's not a dealbreaker in the Everest, no matter the spec. It's not uncommon for brand-new vehicles to have squeaks or rattles coming from the cabin or suspension. There were no sounds whatsoever.
Perhaps one of the most impressive qualities is the fact that the majority of the range stays below the R1.0-million mark while also giving customers more variety in the same range compared to what Toyota has with the Land Cruiser Prado (priced from R1.1-million), which Ford says is its main competitor in the segment.
Verdict
If you're planning on paying upwards of R850 000 for a premium SUV, it must be as faultless as possible and lack pretty much nothing. Ford really did their homework on the new model and hit the nail on the head with near-surgical precision.
If you're in the market for an Everest or Ranger, check out what Gumtree's online classifieds has to offer with a wide selection.
