By Otsile Kadiege

The wait is finally over. Ford South Africa’s much-awaited new Everest has officially touched down in SA.  The blue oval’s seven-seater SUV, which is based on the new Ranger bakkie, boasts a bold new look, new and carried over powertrains, a plethora of new technologies as well as safety and driver assistance systems. Thus far, the new Everest range will only be sold in Sport and Platinum grades.

Exterior design

Ford’s global design DNA is filtered down to the new Everest as it boasts an American-like exterior design thanks to some design cues sourced from Ford’s F-Series trucks and a boxy shape. Up front, the new Everest boasts C-Clamp matrix LED headlights and strong horizontal upper grille bar. Sitting on the edge of the new Everest’s bonnet is, depending on grade, ‘Everest’ or ‘Platinum’ inscription. The front end also has a mix of horizontal and vertical elements.

The sides of the new Everest feature a strong shoulder line front to back, while the wider track (increased by 50mm) results in a more dramatic swell over the wheels. Ford is yet to confirm the wheel sizes of the new Everest range but we should expect the sizes to range between 18- to 20-inches. The front end theme is continued at the rear as it features C-Clamp-like LED tail lights and ‘Everest’ lettering on the tailgate.

Interior design and technology

Ford says they have worked extensively on the new Everest’s interior to create a spacious “sanctuary” inspired by modern homes. Like its outgoing predecessor, the new Everest has an interior that’s highly influenced by the Ranger. It also has an almost identical cockpit design featuring a large portrait 10.1- or 12-inch touchscreens running on Ford’s new SYNC4A infotainment system with voice-activated communications, FordPass as well as Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The large screens are also linked to the 360-degree camera with split view.

Other interior highlights include 8- or 12.4-inch digital instrument, ambient lighting, a new leather trimmed e-Shifter, drive mode selector, an electric park brake (EPB), heated and ventilated 10-way power adjustable memory function seats are available for the driver and 8-way for the passenger (variant dependent), 60:40 and 50:50 split second, and third row seats respectively.

Driver assistance systems

The Everest comes loaded with new and enhanced driver assist technologies and safety features that are designed to take the stress out of driving. These include intelligent adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane centering, lane-keeping system with road-edge detection, evasive steer assist, reverse brake assist, blind spot information system with trailer coverage and enhanced –Pre-collision assist with intersection functionality to name a few.

New Everest grades

Two grades of the Next-Gen Everest are available at launch, headlined by a new flagship grade: the Everest Platinum which takes luxury and performance to new heights. Customers also have the choice of the Everest Sport.

Performance

Spearheading the new engine line-up is a new (to the range) 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine followed by Ford’s tried and tested 2.0-litre 4-cylinder bi-turbo engine. The new 3.0L turbodiesel V6 makes 184kW of power and a hefty 600Nm of torque while the  2.0-litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine that produces 154kW and 500Nm. Both engines are mated to Ford’s advanced 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission.

According to Ford, the new Everest has a wider track which is said to help deliver a more controlled ride on-road, while tweaks to damper settings allowed the team to inject more fun and control into the Everest’s ride, both on- and off-road.

Adventurous customers will be pleased to learn that the new Everest will be equipped with a choice of two four-wheel drive systems (two-speed electronic shift-on-the-fly transfer case, also known as a part-time 4WD system), underbody protection and off-road selectable drive modes plus rear locking differential, two functional tow hooks upfront, and up fitter switches for accessories.

Water wading ability remains at 800mm with a maximum braked trailer towing capability of up to 3,500kg (braked). There is space in the engine bay that allows for a second battery to power aftermarket accessories.

Pricing and warranty

– Everest Sport 2.0L BiT 4WD 10AT – R965,400

– Everest Platinum 3.0L V6 AWD 10AT – R1,113,100

Included as standard is Ford Protect comprising a four-year/120 000km warranty, four-year/unlimited distance Roadside Assistance and five-year/unlimited distance corrosion warranty. The recommended service interval is 15 000km or annually, whichever occurs first.