The Ford Everest range recently welcomed four new additions to the family, bringing it up to a total of six entries.
Among the new faces are the more affordable XLT specification, as well as 4×2 versions of both the XLT and the Sport, but the most intriguing one by far is the new Wildtrak – a nameplate that has never before made an appearance on the SUV.
Interestingly, the Wildtrak is not the range-topping model, as it is actually R62,500 cheaper than the Platinum that was launched at the end of last year.
Here’s what you can expect when purchasing the new Ford Everest Wildtrak, which starts at R1,084,000.
What you get
Just like the Ranger bakkie of the same name, the Everest Wildtrak is fitted with a 3.0-litre, turbocharged, V6 diesel engine, giving it a substantial power ceiling of 184kW and 600Nm.
It features a permanent all-wheel-drive system, too, which combined with its considerable torque, lets it tow a maximum of 3,500kg.
Connecting the drivetrain to the wheels is a 10-speed automatic gearbox, operated via a special “E-shifter” gearstick, which helps to provide a fuel consumption of 8.5l/100km on an average cycle.
If off-roading is your passion, the SUV offers quite an impressive rap sheet with a ground clearance of 226mm, a wading depth of 800mm, an approach angle of 30.4 degrees, a break-over angle of 22.3 degrees, and a departure angle of 23.3 degrees.
Other off-road-aligned fittings include a lockable rear differential, hill descent control, and six terrain and driving modes encompassing Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, and Sand.
As a premium model in the Everest family, the Wildtrak comes with an appreciably large list of features, starting with the fact that it has seven seats all wrapped in leather with an exclusive yellow contrast stitching pattern.
Also included are LED headlights, C-clamp LED daytime running lights, steel underbody protection, chrome styling elements, eight-way electronically adjustable front seats, an 8-inch digital driver display, dual-zone climate control, a wireless phone charger, keyless entry and start, a stop-start function, eight speakers, and a 12-inch portrait infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto.
This is on top of assistance items like pre-collision assist, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, hill assist, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, and adaptive cruise control.
Buyers can also replace the default 20-inch alloy wheels with 18-inch rims and all-terrain tyres for an additional cost, as well as fit the automaker’s Park Assist 2.0 programme for automated parking.
Each purchase of the new Everest Wildtrak comes with a 4-year/120,000km warranty and a 4-year/unlimited kilometre roadside assistance plan. Customers can purchase a service or maintenance plan for up to 8 years or 165,000km.
Keyword: New Ford Everest Wildtrak – What you get for R1 million