First Drive: Ford Everest - Out of Africa

By Lawrence Minnie

Hot on the heels of the Ford Ranger and Raptor vehicle introductions, Ford SA has just released the new Everest and we tagged along for the experience of a lifetime in Botswana to see just how capable an off-road machine it truly is.

Out of Africa

Ford has recently been on a stormer of note. Recent introductions of the new Ranger and Raptor were followed swiftly by the introduction of the newest Everest. Ford South Africa chose possibly the best way to launch the new Everest by taking the newly refreshed 7 seven-seater SUV out of the comforts of civilization and dropping it into the heart of sub-Saharan Africa.

The Everest would take on the wilds of northern Botswana visiting the expansive barrens of the Makgadigadi and then traversing the Morembi game reserve on the edge of the Okovango Delta, all the while demonstrating the capabilities of this often overlooked family SUV. 

New features

Three new model derivatives have been added to the range. an XLS with a 2.0 single turbo engine and the XLT and Limited versions with the new 2.0 Bi-Turbo setup both mated to the new 10-speed auto transmission found in Fords new offerings.

The exterior of the new Everest also sees a few cosmetic upgrades. A new grille design and lower front bumper treatment give the new Everest a clearly aggressive off-road appearance.

The addition of new 20 inch wheels on the Limited model also adds an air of aggression the exterior look

Interiors have also been given a complete makeover with new plush leathers, coloured stitching, paints and brightwork. The 10-speed transmission gets a chunky shifter arrangement that truly highlights the ruggedness of the Everest.

To top off the changes a new body colour has also been added into the mix, Diffused Silver, it highlights in a very attractive silver with champagne coloured highlights.

Engine and drivetrain

As mentioned, the new Everest range benefits from the latest technology from Ford with the new 2.0 Bi-Turbo engine and 10-speed automatic transmission. This welcome addition sees power figures of 157kW and 500Nm of torque that powers the Everest through most of its range.

The drive is phenomenal, to say the least, I was very impressed with the way it handled the off-road stretches of our journey and the smooth power delivery was very welcome while cruising at very low speed through the game reserve.

Suspension and Drive modes

Ford has reconfigured the suspension setup on the new Everest. They've been able to fettle the front spring rates, move the stabiliser bar and relocate the jounce bumper from the bottom of the lower control arm to the of top control arms. 

This has led to a massive improvement to the handling and ride. Ford offers a very intelligent terrain management system drive mode allowing you to quickly select a setting on the rotary dial in the cabin and be able to tackle multiple surfaces with confidence. Sand, Gravel, Rock and low range are all just a click away.

All this makes a for a superior driving experience with almost non-existent cabin noise, harsh surface noise or vibrations.

Safety and Technology

The Everest now sports even more safety and technology systems than ever before.

Keyless entry, Assisted Parallel Parking, Adaptive cruise control with collision alert, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Auto High Beams and Blind Spot detection are standard fitment on the Limited Edition.

A very impressive standard fitment of safety features is present with a veritable alphabet soup of systems. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system with Traction Control (TC), Trailer Sway Control (TSC), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Hill Descent Control (HDC) on the 4x4 models, Load Adaptive control (LAC) and Roll Over Mitigation (ROM) are all in operation the make sure the Everest is as safe as can be.

The best addition though will have to be the infotainment system with SYNC 3.3 complete with WiFi, Africa maps, Apple Car Play and Android Auto readiness.

Model line up and Pricing

2.2 TDCi XLS 6AT 4x2                                               R499 900

2.0 SiT XLT 10AT 4x2                                                 R584 900

2.0 BiT XLT 10AT 4x2                                                 R624 100

3.2 TDCi XLT 6AT 4x4                                                R644 000

2.0 BiT XLT 10AT 4x4                                                 R687 700

2.0 BiT Limited 10AT 4x4                                           R761 200

The previous 2.2 and 3.2 TDCi engines and transmissions will still be available for the foreseeable future for those concerned about engine size.

All models come standard with Ford Protect, comprising a four-year/120 000km comprehensive warranty, three-year/unlimited distance roadside assistance and five-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty. A six-year/90 000km service plan is included, with 15 000km service intervals.