Say hello to the R1-million Ford Everest

Standard features
Ford Everest Sport
Ford Everest Platinum

At long last, Ford has revealed the South African pricing and specifications for the new Everest, the SUV now starting at R965,400 and going all the way up to R1,113,100.

Two trim levels are on offer for the seven-seater at launch comprising the Sport and Platinum, seeing a big jump in standard specifications and technologies.

Additionally, two powertrains are equipped in the line-up comprising the familiar 2.0-litre, bi-turbo diesel as well as the new 3.0-litre, V6.

Standard features

For the next-gen Everest, analogue gauge clusters are forgone in favour of an 8-inch digital instrument cluster on the Sport and a 12.4-inch version on the Platinum, though both models are treated to a new 12-inch portrait touchscreen in the centre.

The new infotainment unit runs the latest Sync 4A software, which supports voice control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and standard wireless charging.

Also fitted across the entire range are keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, automatic LED lights, rain-sensing wipers, all-round parking sensors, electric front seats, a reverse monitor, a power-lift tailgate, 20-inch wheels or larger, and a 400W inverter that can power laptops.

On top of this, there’s an embedded modem allowing customers to connect to their vehicle through the FordPass App for abilities such as remote start, vehicle status check and health alerts, vehicle locator, and remote lock and unlock functions via their mobile device.

For the top-spec model, the centre screen is further plugged into a 360-degree camera system with split-view designed to make parking easier, it features heated and ventilated front seats, it gets four extra speakers for a total of 12, and it boasts full leather upholstery rather than the partial leather of the more affordable variant.

As far as new-age driver assistance programmes are concerned, each new Everest gets lane-keeping alert and assistance, road edge detection and warning, pre-collision assist with dynamic brake support, forward collision warning, automated emergency braking, and reverse brake assist.

Stepping up to the Platinum brings adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane centering, and Active Park Assist 2.0.

This system “takes care of the steering, gearshifts, acceleration, and braking to navigate into parallel or perpendicular parking spaces with ease. It will also steer itself out of a parallel parking spot when prompted,” said Ford.

Performance

The base model in the new Everest range generates 154kW and 500Nm from its 2.0-litre powerplant achieving a combined fuel consumption of 7.5l/100km, whereas the flagship has a generous 184kW and 600Nm on tap at a slightly higher 8.5l/100km.

Both motors are paired with Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission with the Sport sitting on a shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system and the Platinum an advanced permanent four-wheel-drive system.

Drive modes for the adventure SUV come in the form of Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, and Sand, and 2H, 4H, and 4L gear ratios are included, and on the the Platinum, also a 4A (Auto) mode that can be used on and off-road which “constantly adjusts the flow of drive between the front and rear axles for enhanced traction,” said Ford.

It gets a dedicated off-road screen in the range-topper, too, which uses a front camera view of the terrain ahead with predictive guidelines designed to help the driver negotiate obstacles.

“With a single button press, the driver can view their driveline and diff-lock indicators, steering angle and guides, along with vehicle roll and pitch angles,” said the manufacturer.

Finally, the maximum braked towing capacity has been upped by 400kg to 3,500kg, the maximum payload comes in at 759kg for the Sport and 663kg for the Platinum, the rooftop now carries a static 350kg or 100kg while on the go, and the maximum water wading depth is rated at 800mm.