THE ALL-NEW Ford Everest looks impressive with many class-leading features: biggest in class, best fording depth, a choice of two excellent diesel engines, and a six-speed ratio for both manual and automatic.
Its pretty much déjà vu, similar to Ford’s unveiling of the Ranger pickup a few years back, which shares the Everest’s primary architecture and raised the stakes for the pickup segment, thus leaving all others madly scrambling to catch up.
Ford wisely partnered with Volvo several years back for the excellent 3.2-liter, five-cylinder diesel engine, and Land Rover for arguably the best offroad electronic aid, and the Terrain Response Management System—which should theoretically give the all-new Everest the very best in sheer offroad prowess for even the most unskilled and inexperienced of drivers.
Ford raises the bar yet again in the SUV segment with the Everest. The new Everest also boasts the biggest and roomiest in-car cabin space for a seven-seat, pickup-based SUV, with a promise of excellent refinement despite its tough and mach appeal.
Is it the best? Specs-wise, yes. A proper road test in comparison with key rivals will cement its status as the new king of the SUV hill.
With a very wide model variant range, there’s an Everest to suit almost any budget.
WITH an impressive 225 mm of ground clearance, 800-mm water-wading ability and a terrain-specific driving system that tweaks the SUV’s throttle response, transmission, intelligent four-wheel-drive system and traction control for specific road condition, what’s not to love about the all-new Ford Everest?
Safety-conscious buyers would be delighted to learn that this SUV also features roll stability control, electronic stability control, curve control (torque vectoring by braking), blind spot information system and cross traffic alert.
It also has semi-automatic parking that is is designed to help owners of the all-new Everest deal with tight parking space.
Indeed, with the all-new Everest, Ford has truly raised the bar for this type of vehicle (midsize SUV) in design and capability.
The looks are in line with the Ford truck family, an upscale that would compare well even to the Explorer.
Still built with a body-on-frame construction, the Everest seems fit to tackle both Metro Manila’s decrepit roads and, if it takes your fancy, your favorite offroad trail.
The 20-inch alloys with relatively short-profile tires may not seem the best for heavy offroading, but the Everest has a tall 225-mm ground clearance.
Where the Everest will distance itself from its competitors is its use of advanced electronics to improve performance and safety. Ford’s Terrain Management System, pinched from former subsidiary Land Rover, enables the four-wheel-drive system to tackle different types of terrain, including tarmac (normal), gravel/grass, sand, and rock. The control knob adjusts throttle, transmission, four-wheel drive system and traction control.
There’s hill descent control for easy downhill runs, and electronically locking rear differential, with low-range gearbox.
Safety electronics include curve control, designed to maintain control when approaching turns too quickly. There’s also a blind spot warning with cross traffic alert when backing out of parking spaces.
Roll stability control and electronic stability program help keep the Everest right side up and pointed in the correct direction. Parking assist also allows hands-free parallel parking.