Considering the melee which is the affordable, full-size SUV market - and the remarkable propensity of the first generation Ford Everest to more than resemble something assembled in China - the all-new Ford Everest which was introduced locally yesterday, is a massively important moment for Ford South Africa.
It has one clear objective; to be better than the evergreen Toyota Fortuner in every way, and on paper it appears we might have a new class favourite. There is one problem, though, Toyota themselves are readying the introduction of their brand new Fortuner, which also promises to be better in every conceivable way. Leaving customers with a potential quandary; dive in and order the new Everest, or wait patiently for the release of the new Fortuner?
First off, design. As is readily apparent in attached images, the new Everest is a bold new thing. With that enormous blue oval emblazoned chrome grille and clamshell bonnet, the new Everest is the first SUV made available locally which finally feels like a truly global Ford product. And, for those who have yearned to own a butch Ford SUV in the traditional 'Merican style, your ship has finally come in.
New looks aside, the new Everest is new in every aspect. Body-on-frame construction, intelligent four-wheel drive and an advanced Terrain Management System, spacious (seven seat), interior with a massive jump in ergonomics, material quality and equipment, and with a powerful 3.2-litre 5-cylinder diesel engine good for 147kW and 470Nm, 'worried' is how you might expect Toyota SA to be feeling right about now.
Initially only available in top-spec 3.2-litre 6-speed automatic 4X4 guise, early Everest adopters who sign on the dotted line, best be sitting as the starting price of the new Everest is buttock-clenching R593 900.00 in XLT trim, with the Limited spec model costing R646 900.00. To put that into perspective, the current (soon to be old) top-of-the-range Fortuner 3.0-litre D-4D 4x4 Limited costs R548 300.00.
Let's delve a little deeper into what bang you get for your bucks. Gone are the days of simply bolting an SUV body onto a bakkie chassis. Yes, new Everest features a body-on-frame design, which aids in the torsional strength needed for true 4x4 applications, however, coil sprung suspension is applied at each corner, with the rear benefitting of a Watt’s linkage-type rear axle, said to provide a comfortable, stable ride with agile and predictable handling on the road.
Ford's advanced new Terrain Management System gives drivers four settings – Normal, Snow/Gravel/Grass, Sand and Rock– that alter the vehicle’s throttle response, transmission, intelligent four-wheel drive system and traction control to confidently tackle any situation. Combine that with 225mm of ground clearance and nearly a metre (800mm) of water-wading capability and you R580k is starting to look a little more digestible.
New Everest is safe too, seven seats, in this case, means seven airbags, as well as Roll Stability Control and an Electronic Stability Program. Curve Control aims to help drivers maintain control when approaching turns too quickly. Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert is included on the top-spec Limited model as well as Active Park Assist which enables drivers to parallel park hands-freeStandard equipment includes cruise control, as well as rear park assist with rearview camera, 18-inch alloy wheels and running boards as standard.
Upgrade to the Limited and you gain an extensive set of premium features including power folding third row seats and powered tailgate, plus innovative driver aids such as Active Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Auto High Beam Control, Blind Spot Monitoring with Cross Traffic Alert, Tyre Pressure Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist, 20-inch alloy wheels, high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps and LED daytime running lights.
