I’ve been reviewing a lot of SUVs this year, but I must say the Ford Everest was one of the few cars that made an impact on my family especially my daughter. She still asks me about this car and the main reason is… because it is just so spacious!
Honestly, I’ve never been a big fan of huge vehicles, but I guess now with 3 kids, I have no choice. I need a big vehicle, a 7-seater would be ideal but currently, a 5-seater is working for us.
If you love travelling long distance with the family, the Ford Everest might just be the answer for you.
It’s an affordable car that offers a comfortable driving experience with loads of space inside! You don’t have to worry about feeling cramped inside the car with the kids in their car seats, their toys all over the place and the luggage. There’s space for everyone even your pet!
Features you need to know about in the Ford Everest:
Ford has upped their game in the industry introducing technology that will give you a comfortable safe drive. The best part is you can see what features the Everest is using at any time easily on your dashboard right in front of you.
Here are some features that stand out for me:
- Active noise cancellation
Inspired by the popular noise cancellation headphones, Everest’s Active Noise Cancellation uses three highly sensitive microphones to detect and measure engine noise, then cancels it using opposing sound waves.
- SYNC®3
A voice activation system that lets you use your favourite devices while your hands stay on the wheel and your eyes stay on the road. Seamless integration via programs like Apple CarPlay™2 and Android Auto™3 allow you a choice on how to remain connected to your world, equipped with a customisable 8” Colour LCD capacities Touch Screen.
- Parallel Parking assist
At the press of a button, Active Park Assist not only helps you find the right size parking spot, it steers itself in. Simply take your hands off the wheel and watch as it parks perfectly. All you have to do is control the gears, accelerator and brake.
- BLIS and Cross Traffic Alert
The Everest’s Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) is your second set of eyes. When changing lanes, indicator lights in your side mirrors let you know if there’s a vehicle in your blind spot. So, you can see what you can’t see. It also alerts you to traffic coming from either direction when reversing out of a parking spot or driveway.
- Lane Keeping System
Sometimes it can be easy to drift into the next lane without realising it. If your indicator isn’t on, the Lane Departure Warning alerts you by vibrating your steering wheel. If you continue to drift, it applies torque to guide you back into your lane.
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning
Forget about having to turn your cruise control on and off as traffic changes. Instead, the Ford Everest adapts. If it senses slow moving traffic, it slows down. When the traffic clears, it goes back to your pre-set speed. It can even detect the potential for an accident to occur and alerts you with a brake light warning on your windscreen and pre-charges your brakes.
- Rear View Camera (Absolutely love this feature in any car)
Reverse with confidence with a full and clear vision of what’s behind you on screen, and the sound of the rear parking sensors helping to alert you to any obstacles.
- Auto High Beam Control and LED Lighting
Never dazzle oncoming drivers with your high beams again. The All-New Everest uses a camera mounted on the rear-view mirror to detect oncoming traffic and turns your high beams on and off, as needed. Signature LED lighting sleekly wraps around the headlamps, giving the Everest a continuous glow and added visibility.
There’re seven seats as standard in the Ford Everest with the ability to fit five child seats as well as the inclusion of two ISOFIX 1 anchor points. How amazing is this for big families?
- Seven airbags
The airbags in the Everest provide a network of protection with front seat driver and passenger airbags and seat-mounted side airbags. Side-curtain airbags protect everyone in the front and back. There’s even an airbag for the driver’s knee!
About the drive:
Ford Everest’s advanced 3.2L TDCi Turbo Diesel engine delivers 147kW of power and 470Nm of peak torque, all without compromising fuel efficiency. The Ford Everest also offers a 2.2L TDCi engine which delivers 118kW of power and 385Nm of torque.
- Smoother ride
Unlike rigid suspension systems, the All-New Everest’s Watt’s Linkage Suspension delivers improved stability and handling with maximum comfort.
- Torque on Demand
Automatically transfers torque between the front and rear wheels with the most grip to provide maximum traction on and off-road. It will even send all the torque to a single wheel, if the system detects the other three wheels have no traction at all.
- Aerodynamic Design
Advanced aerodynamics mean less drag and more fuel savings.
- Big load capacity
Payload – Maximum750kg
Roof Load – Maximum100kg
Towing Capability – Up to3000kg
- Electronic Stability Programme
This helps ensure grip and control, especially around corners and when overtaking. This includes Roll Stability Control, which uses a gyroscopic sensor to detect the potential for the vehicle to roll and intervenes to restore stability.
- EPAS with Pull-Drift Compensation
Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) with Pull-Drift Compensation technology measures the driver’s steering input, adapts to changing road conditions and helps compensate for slight directional shifts caused by factors such as crowned road surfaces or steady crosswinds.
The Everest could be your everyday vehicle but for me, it is more practical for families who travel a lot – I feel like that is when you will get the most out of the vehicle.
The Ford Everest biggest competitor is the Toyota Fortuner which I’m yet to review. If you are looking at pricing, the top of the range Ford Everest will cost you around R716 600. It is a bit steep but if you think about the features the SUV now offers, it might be a good buy especially since many other SUVs start at that price! For more information, visit www.ford.co.za
