The Ford Everest, despite having lived in the shadow cast by the mighty Toyota Fortuner in the local market for many years, has always been a solid offering for those looking for an off-road-ready family SUV. Now though, the Everest has moved up a segment in terms of pricing, power and in-car technologies. We had a chance to sample the Everest in Platinum guise recently.
Related: Everything you need to know about the Ford Everest
Styling
The exterior styling of any vehicle is an entirely subjective matter, however, from our admittedly anecdotal evidence, the looks of the latest Everest, particularly in Platinum guise, appear to please co-workers, fellow motorists and friends and family. We are not convinced by the large "Platinum" badging everywhere, but that aesthetic niggle aside, we feel that Ford has done a great job with the newcomer.
Related: 10 things we love about the 2023 Ford Everest Platinum
Interior and space
Being the flagship Everest model, the interior of the Platinum has just about every conceivable creature comfort with USB Type A and C ports up front, a wireless smartphone charger, climate control, keyless entry/start, a 400-Watt inverter that can power larger devices, a dual sunroof, heated/ventilated electrically operated front leather seats, heated rear seats, LED head and taillights, ambient lighting and an electrically operated tailgate. There is also a host of semi-autonomous driving aids including Active Park 2.0, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, Pre-Collision Assist, Forward Collision Warning and a blind spot monitor. In terms of fit and finish, the material quality is an improvement over the previous model, but the finish in our press unit was not ideal, with some fitment issues that will likely be fixed as the Thailand-based production facility builds more and more of these models.
The Infotainment system is class-leading in the Platinum, with a customisable 12.4-inch digitised instrument cluster and a portrait-mounted 12.0-inch central screen that uses the SYNC4 operating system. In addition to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, there is also a 360-degree surround view camera and a built-in modem that allows the user to make use of the FordPass application which allows you to have remote access to various details surrounding your vehicle. There is also a Bang & Olufsen sound system in this model.
Looking at the Everest from a practical perspective, there is seating for seven occupants across three rows, with the third row proving suitable for shorter occupants. The boot varies in size, depending on the configuration, with 259-litres with the seats up, 898-litres with the third row stowed and 1 818-litres with the second and third row stowed. The product boasts a 3 500kg braked towing capacity, 226mm of ground clearance and a wading depth of 800mm.
Performance and driving impression
Powering the Platinum-spec Everest is a 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 that produces 184kW and 600Nm of torque. The engine is mated to the brand's 10-speed automatic gearbox that sends the power and torque through all four wheels via a permanent four-wheel drive system. There are several driving modes available, including Eco, Normal, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud & Ruts as well as Sand. Despite all of the off-road systems, the Platinum's road-bias 21-inch wheels and tyres mean that head off-road should be done sparingly in this model, which is a pity.
In terms of ride and handling, the latest Everest is wonderfully refined, with a supple ride quality that matches the effortless progress that the torquey V6 mill up front provides. It's a wafty experience, and despite the fact that you are aware of its immense mass, and that it does not turn or brake particularly well, the suspension and powertrain perfectly complement each other and produce an impressive large SUV driving experience.
Safety
The Everest range was crash-tested in 2022 by the ANCAP programme and achieved a 5-Star rating with 86% for adult occupant safety, 93% for child occupant safety, 74% for pedestrian safety and 86% for its safety assistance systems.
Fuel consumption
Ford claims that the Platinum will consume diesel at a rate of 8.5 L/100km, however, our week with the model yielded a figure of 12.3 L/100km, which is relatively heavy when looking at what we have achieved in admittedly less powerful rivals such as the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and the Hyundai Palisade.
Pricing
The Everest, in Platinum guise, was priced at R1 113 100 at the time of writing, making it similar to the recently updated Hyundai Palisade and the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado.
Verdict
Despite its lofty price tag, the latest flagship Everest is deeply impressive. Those looking to head off of the beaten path in a Platinum will find the 21-inch wheels irksome, but other than that, this is an incredibly complete lifestyle SUV package for those who can afford it.
