The current generation Ford Everest Wildtrak is definitely out for the Fortuner. Ford has upped the ante in many aspects, and South Africans have received this generation quite well. My colleague Sean Nurse had the Wildtrak on test, and you can read his thoughts here.
Related: Ford Everest Wildtrak & XLT (2023) First Drive Review - Everest range expands offering more choice
The Wildtrak has been slotted in just below the Everest Platinum but still uses the same V6 Turbodiesel engine and the same four-wheel drive system. At this point, Wildtrak is a pretty much a household name, and there's that expectation of something great, which the Everest Wildtrak delivers upon. It's muscular, it's sporty and loaded with kit. The cabin with robust materials has luxury in mind but is also bespoke to the Wildtrak touches. The Everest Wildtrak takes the crown in many respects. In amongst the kit is also a heap of safety features. With this in mind, is the Everest Wildtrak a safe car?
Safety Equipment
You'll find the following safety equipment in the Ford Everest Wildtrak.
Standard Safety Items
- ABS
- Childproof rear locks
- Airbags - Front, side and curtain
- ESP
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Traffic Jam Assist, Stop and Go, Lane Centering
- BLIS with Cross Traffic Alert & Trailer Coverage
- HDC (Hill Descent Control)
- HLA (Hill Launch Assist)
- Pre-collision assist with Dynamic Brake Support, Forward Collision Warning, Automated Emergency Braking, Distance Alert and Indication, Evasive Steer Assist and Intersection
- Lane Keeping System incl. Lane Keeping Alert, Lane Keeping Aid, Road Edge Detection & Driver Warning
- Park Distance Sensors Front and Rear
- Rear View Parking Camera
- Off-Road Screen
- TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System)
Optional Safety Items
- 360-degree camera
- Active Park Assist 2.0 with full autonomous parallel and perpendicular parking
ANCAP Rating
The Ford Everest achieved a 5-star ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) rating across its range. Regarding assessment scores, the Everest achieved 86% Adult Occupant Protection, 93% Child Occupant Protection, 74% Vulnerable Road User Protection and 86% Safety Assistance Systems. If you want to read the full safety assessment report, it's all here.
Verdict
From the safety items and ANCAP rating, we can confidently say that the Ford Everest in Wildtrak guise is a safe car. Ford has even gone to the extent of including offroad safety systems as well, so rest assured, you're safe on and offroad in an Everest Wildtrak. If you're sold on an Everest Wildtrak after reading this, you can search AutoTrader for the latest used and new offerings and sell your car, too.
