On the back of the release of the Next-Gen Ford Ranger, the most anticipated SUV of 2022 has finally hit our streets. The Next Gen Ford Everest is an incredible family adventure vehicle that ticks all the boxes.
While on par in size and price with the Toyota Prado, the Everest is a worthy contender to the 300 Series LandCruiser. We spent some time in the top-of-the-range Platinum edition and were genuinely impressed with the result.
Initial Impression
First impressions are everything and this Next Generation Everest hits the mark. Featuring the same boxy nose, front grille and C-Clamp headlights as the new Ranger, the Everest looks tough and capable on the first glimpse. As your gaze moves down the car, these aggressive looks transform into a large but sleek and refined body, finishing with beautiful styling across the rear end. The Platinum model sits on massive 21-inch rims that are probably the biggest wheel you could install before it starts looking out of place.
Stepping inside (a big step might we add) you’re greeted with a wonderfully spacious interior and the same huge infotainment screen as the Ranger. You’re also welcomed with an exceptional field of view from the driver’s seat as you sit high above the road with huge side mirrors that provide an excellent view of your surroundings. We also enjoyed the sunroof in the Platinum – it opens up the interior space to provide great, natural light.
Driveability
The Platinum model features Ford’s 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel engine married to a ten-speed automatic transmission with full-time 4WD. With 184kW of power and 600Nm of torque, this is a powerful vehicle yet you would not guess it by the noise it generates, or more accurately, the lack of noise. We were pleasantly surprised with how quiet the Everest cruised along, especially considering its diesel engine. It did not labour under acceleration and this, coupled with great stability, meant we picked up speed quite subtly.
The transmission was also pleasantly smooth with the ten-speed gearbox switching gears quite unnoticeably as we brought the car up to speed. Across all variants, you have the luxury of four on-road drive modes plus another two for off-road use for all variants apart from the base model.
Despite the Everest’s size, we had no issues navigating suburban streets and tight corners due to the impressive turning circle. We found we could turn the steering wheel another full rotation than expected which enabled us to perform some tight turns with ease. Speaking of steering, the Everest feels more like a passenger car than its size suggests as the steering is notably light. While this makes it easy to maneuver, some owners may wish for a little more feedback, especially when heading offroad.
When nightfall came we were able to appreciate the technology built into the LED headlights – notably, the extra light that illuminates in the direction that you’re indicating which allows you better visibility around the next turn that you may be taking.
Liveability
The Platinum model is appointed with leather seats featuring heating and cooling options for the front two, and heating for the second row as well. Comfort was top-notch in these seats with plenty of adjustment options and memory positioning available for the driver.
The huge 12-inch infotainment screen is the perfect central hub for all the onboard tech, including the super convenient set-up of high-definition cameras located around the vehicle. We can’t go past how good these cameras are. They’re touted as an off-road feature to help you see where to place your wheels on rough terrain, however, they also make reversing, parking, and navigating shopping centre car parks an absolute breeze.
The Bang & Olufsen sound system included in the Platinum provided an exceptional audio range and experience for all your favourite beats. We also loved that the Everest featured a wireless charging station and Wireless Apple CarPlay. We believe this user-friendly combination should be the standard in all cars these days which bodes well for the Everest as it’s available as standard across all variants.
The ambient strip lighting around the dashboard looks great in the evening, although we’d love to be able to change the colour.
Passengers in the second row have loads of legroom, a USB-C charging outlet and dedicated switches for climate control with roof-mounted vents.
Everything in the rear end of the Platinum is high-tech with a hands-free powered tailgate that you can open by waving your foot under the sensor below the rear bumper. The third row can also be conveniently tucked away at the push of a button leaving you with a boot volume of 898 litres in its five-seat configuration. Under the boot floor is a neat little plastic storage space perfect for tools or dirty boots after a hike.
Cost
The Next Gen Everest is available in four variants with the base model 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel, ten-speed automatic five-seater starting at $57,526. The Trend is an extra $7,500 on top of this and also features the bi-turbo engine and ten-speed automatic, however, this model (and all those above) seats seven. The Ambiente and Trend come standard with rear-wheel drive but both can be upgraded to full-time 4WD. They both produce 154kW of power and 500Nm of torque which puts them only second to the larger-engined Everest and Ranger variants and the 300 Series LandCruiser.
The biggest jump in price occurs between the Trend and the Sport where you get the upgraded 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel and full-time 4WD as standard. The Sport will set you back a respectable $74,658 which we believe is exceptional value for what is included.
The Platinum tops out the range at $83,389. This gets you a few halo features including the 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster (as opposed to the 8-inch version), Bang & Olufsen twelve-speaker sound system, dual panel power panoramic sunroof, Ford’s Active Park Assist 2.0 and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
Conclusion
Overall, we believe the new Everest lives up to the hype despite the expectations set by its competitors and the previous generation of Everest. We predict that you will find many of these beasts crawling all over Australia in no time. A new engine, loads of interior space, plenty of new technology and an all-around great drive means that it can handle whatever family adventure you wish you throw at it. Despite the extended waiting times, this tough and capable SUV is expected to be a real hit with its target audience.
If you are in the market for a value-packed SUV but don’t want to pay the price for a new 300 Series, the new Ford Everest will be your ultimate choice. Book a test drive with Motorama Ford to experience it for yourself.
Keen for a test drive?
Contact Motorama Ford to book a test drive or place your order today.
Next Gen Ranger
If a Ute is better suited to your lifestyle, make sure to read our review of the Everest’s brother, the Ford Ranger.
Keyword: Review: 2022 Next Gen Ford Everest