The new Ford Everest Platinum cuts an imposing figure, no matter which way you look at it, & ticks a lot of boxes for those interested in a Premium family SUV
2023 has been one sweet year for Ford. Their new Ranger bakkie clinched South African Car of the Year, while the Everest came in second position. The Everest is the brand’s solitary SUV option, but the soon-to-be-launched Puma compact crossover will join it in the stable.
Ford first lifted the covers off the current generation early in 2022, and what a specimen of an SUV it was. It was bigger, brasher and more technologically advanced than the generation it succeeded and what’s pivotal was that people simply loved it.
There was intense demand for the vehicle, brought on by global supply chain challenges and shipping logistics at the time of introduction, and customers had to reserve their vehicles. Locally, customers have a wide range of derivatives to choose from like XLT, Sport, Wildtrak and Platinum.
We had the latter derivative on test for a week and this is what we thought about it:
Where does it fit in? Rivals?
The Platinum tops the range as the flagship model and is the one to get if you want absolutely every feature available. The only other derivative that is on a ‘more or less’ even keel with the Platinum is the Wildtrak. You can read that review, here. Just like the Wildtrak, the behemoth that is the Platinum is fitted with a turbodiesel 3.0-litre V6 engine that produces 184kW of power and 600Nm of torque and is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The previous generation went up against models like the Toyota Fortuner and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, but the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is perhaps the current gen’s closest rival before the new generation arrives. The Platinum does usurp the Prado in a few areas, such as having greater ground clearance and being cheaper overall. The Prado does hit back by having two fuel tanks with litres of 87 and 63, respectively, and more off-road-based features like Downhill Assist and Crawl Control, for example.
The Everest Platinum, which, remember is the flagship model, is only slightly pricier than the Land Cruiser Prado’s entry level model, the 2.8GD TX. The Prado’s top-specced VX-L trim is currently listed with a starting price of R1 349 400. Both models are off-road capable and are similarly specced, but the Ford edges the Toyota, in our book. It would be interesting to see how the new generation Land Cruiser Prado will do against the Everest.
Feature packed and intimidating
Ford really packed the SUV with a wide range of features. The Platinum comes standard with a 12-speaker B&O sound system, active park assist, a 400W inverter for rear passengers, tyre pressure monitor, adaptive cruise control, heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats, a panoramic sunroof, wireless charging and leather seats with 10-way adjustment for drive and passenger, and so much more.
Those C-shaped daytime running lights combined with the huge body are quite intimidating. It’s the type of SUV that has a commanding presence and garners plenty of attention. Fitted as standard to the Platinum are massive 21-inch alloy wheels.
How is it to live with?
Due to its wider stance and bulkier nature, the Everest takes up almost all the space in a normal home garage. The 360-degree camera on the 12-inch infotainment screen, which is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible, is a gem in such a large car and helps to better judge how far the wheels are from the curb or if any vehicles are approaching from either side while reversing. The 8-inch digital cluster is simple and straightforward showing all the vitals clearly when switching drive or terrain modes from the rotating dial.
As expected of a seven-seater, the boot isn’t very big when all the seats are up and only allows for 259 litres of luggage space. Having to utilise the boot, we had to drop the seats for extra space, a task made easier by buttons that drop them electronically.
Image credit: Drive.com.au
The V6 and gearbox make for a really smooth ride and you can feel the torque almost grip the road through the wheels. With the bigger engine, you can expect it to be thirsty, and we averaged roughly 10.7 litres per 100km, only doing a R200 top-up once in the seven days that we drove it. This is not the type of SUV for you if fuel consumption is top of your list, even if Ford claimed a figure of 8.5-litres. What it lacks in fuel conservation duly makes up for in performance and technology.
Not forgetting extra passengers, there are a variety of USB ports for the front and rear passengers, eliminating the need for cables all over the show. From a practical point of view, we would consider it one of the best options out there right now. Ford also made sure to cater for a range of buyers that want an Everest, but not necessarily a Platinum. The brand is also set to introduce the Puma compact SUV locally, further giving customers more variety.
Pricing and aftersales
Everest XLT - R848 300
Everest Sport - R936 000
Everest Wildtrak - R1 115 700
Everest Platinum - R1 180 000
A four-year/120 000km warranty, four-year/unlimited km roadside assistance, and a five-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty are included as standard.
Customers have the option of purchasing service or maintenance plans for up to eight years or 165,000 km. Additionally, the warranty can be extended up to seven years or 200,000 km, while roadside assistance can be extended for an additional one or two years.
According to Wesbank’s car finance calculator, customers can expect to pay approximately R23 780 over a period of 72 months with no deposit and an interest rate set at 13%.
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