Ford hopes to grab a slice of the pick-up-based SUV pie that has been long been the preserve of the Toyota Fortuna with the introduction of the Everest. Based on the company's Ranger pick-up, the Everest offers seven seats and the rugged practicality expected of the marque.
The Everest carries many of the new Ranger's ‘kinetic' styling cues, with smoothed-out corners to the otherwise quite boxy profile and a softer ‘face' that hints at a more upmarket offering. These are, in turn, offset by more aggressive features as a prominent grille, flared wheelarches and power dome on the bonnet. The roof sports a substantial set of rails with three supports, allowing heavy loads to be accommodated there. A full-sized spare wheel is mounted on an unusual side-hinged rear door, which Ford claims is more accessible to shorter folk than a top-hinged door.
Visually, XLT and LTD models are differentiated by body side cladding in the more upmarket LTD model, which also gets puddle lamps in the exterior mirrors. All models run on Ford design 16-inch alloy wheels shod with 245/70 R16 tyres.
Three models are offered, all of which are powered by Ford's 3,0-litre Duratorq TDCI engine. This turbodiesel unit delivers 115 kW and 380 N.m of torque and can be mated with a 4x2 drivetrain featuring a 5-speed manual gearbox or full 4x4 drivetrain with a choice of 5-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The automatic model features ‘shift on the fly' functionality, allowing the driver to shift from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive through the Borg-Warner transfer case at speeds of up to 100 km/h.
All Everests feature High-Trail suspension with double wishbones up front and leaf springs at the back optimised for the combination of rugged off-road work and urban use the Everest is designed for. Front and rear stabiliser bars are standard, ensuring safe handling characteristics on the road. In addition, the Everest has a limited slip differential as standard across the range.
Everest has substantial ground clearance and river-fording capability. Its vehicle approach angle (32 degrees) and departure angle (26 degrees) are designed for optimal off-road clearance. Everest overhangs measure 895mm at the front and 1264mm at the rear (length includes spare wheel cover).The interior plays host to such practical features as a removable third row of folding seats and a 50:50 split-folding second row that can be dropped at the tug of a lever. Much of the Ranger's facia architecture finds its way into the Everest, but features red instrument illumination for clarity and silver-effect finishes that give the cabin a more upmarket ambience. Leather upholstery is standard across the Everest range, as are such features as power windows and air conditioning. Both XLT and LTD models feature a front-loading MP3-compatible CD player with auxiliary input, with the latter adding a six-CD shuttle and two additional speakers over the four in the XLT model.
Safety features include dual front airbags, side airbags, three-point safety belts with pretensioners, ABS with EBD and a load-sensing proportioning valve that enhances vehicle stability when heavily-laden. The Everest also features Ford's Passive Anti-theft System - a uniquely microchipped ignition key mapped to each vehicle and a perimeter alarm.
The Ford Everest comes with a 5 year/90 000 km Service Plan and a 4 year/120 000 km warranty with service intervals of every 10 000 km. Customers will also benefit from 3 years of Roadside Assistance and a 5 year corrosion warranty as part of the Ford Everest package. Free off-road driver training through the Scorpion Off-Road College is offered on all 4x4 derivatives.
Pricing:
Ford Everest 3,0 TDCi XLT 4x2 Manual R 324 990
Ford Everest 3,0 TDCi XLT 4x4 Manual R 364 990
Ford Everest 3,0 TDCi LTD 4x4 Automatic R 382 990
No, No, No, Ford!!! Is this a Chinese GWM with a Ford badge? The Pajero Sport seems to be the pick of the bunch in this catagory, although Toyota's name and resale value should see the Fortuner remain on top of the sales charts.
