Ford steps up the pressure with the all-new Everest

A REFRESHING new premium interior gives the Everest an enhanced SUV patina.

FORD is raising the bar in the SUV market with the release of the all-new Everest. And in all aspects.

Price points, technology features and riding comfort are all covered in another model release that can only fan the fire in a very intense competition for the growing number of SUV users locally.

Watching the Everest strut its stuff, albeit briefly in a makeshift offroad track in Alabang, Inquirer Motoring staff came up with these observations:

BOTCHI SANTOS: THERE’S AN EVEREST TO SUIT ALMOST ALL BUDGETS

THE ALL-NEW Ford Everest looks impressive with many class-leading features: biggest in class, best fording depth, a choice of two excellent diesel engines, and a six-speed ratio for both manual and automatic.

Its pretty much déjà vu, similar to Ford’s unveiling of the Ranger pickup a few years back, which shares the Everest’s primary architecture and raised the stakes for the pickup segment, thus leaving all others madly scrambling to catch up.

BIGGEST and roomiest in-car cabin space for a seven-seater, pickup-based SUV

Ford wisely partnered with Volvo several years back for the excellent 3.2-liter, five-cylinder diesel engine, and Land Rover for arguably the best offroad electronic aid, and the Terrain Response Management System—which should theoretically give the all-new Everest the very best in sheer offroad prowess for even the most unskilled and inexperienced of drivers.

Ford raises the bar yet again in the SUV segment with the Everest. The new Everest also boasts the biggest and roomiest in-car cabin space for a seven-seat, pickup-based SUV, with a promise of excellent refinement despite its tough and mach appeal.

Is it the best? Specs-wise, yes. A proper road test in comparison with key rivals will cement its status as the new king of the SUV hill.

With a very wide model variant range, there’s an Everest to suit almost any budget.

CHARLES BUBAN: EVEREST RAISES THE BAR FOR MIDSIZE SUV

THE CONTROL knob adjusts throttle, transmission, the four-wheel-drive system and traction control.

WITH an impressive 225 mm of ground clearance, 800-mm water-wading ability and a terrain-specific driving system that tweaks the SUV’s throttle response, transmission, intelligent four-wheel-drive system and traction control for specific road condition, what’s not to love about the all-new Ford Everest?

Safety-conscious buyers would be delighted to learn that this SUV also features roll stability control, electronic stability control, curve control (torque vectoring by braking), blind spot information system and cross traffic alert.

It also has semi-automatic parking that is is designed to help owners of the all-new Everest deal with tight parking space.

Indeed, with the all-new Everest, Ford has truly raised the bar for this type of vehicle (midsize SUV) in design and capability.

FORD dares to challenge its competitors with the all-new Everest.

This time, Ford engineers and designers focused on what the global market wanted, and then asked themselves how they would deliver these requirements. The outcome is just awesome.

Jason Ang: SETTING NEW STANDARDS

THE FORD Everest was the first pickup-based SUV to be launched in Asean this millennium. It made then competitors look downright primitive, and set the standard for this class of vehicle. For the all-new Everest, previewed this year at MIAS and with deliveries starting in September, Ford moved the goalposts much farther.

The new Everest is not just for the Asean market but suitable for a global audience, with launch countries to include Australia and China.

The looks are in line with the Ford truck family, an upscale that would compare well even to the Explorer.

Still built with a body-on-frame construction, the Everest seems fit to tackle both Metro Manila’s decrepit roads and, if it takes your fancy, your favorite offroad trail.

The 20-inch alloys with relatively short-profile tires may not seem the best for heavy offroading, but the Everest has a tall 225-mm ground clearance.

DEMONSTRATING sheer offroad prowess

Where the Everest will distance itself from its competitors is its use of advanced electronics to improve performance and safety. Ford’s Terrain Management System, pinched from former subsidiary Land Rover, enables the four-wheel-drive system to tackle different types of terrain, including tarmac (normal), gravel/grass, sand, and rock. The control knob adjusts throttle, transmission, four-wheel drive system and traction control.

There’s hill descent control for easy downhill runs, and electronically locking rear differential, with low-range gearbox.

Safety electronics include curve control, designed to maintain control when approaching turns too quickly. There’s also a blind spot warning with cross traffic alert when backing out of parking spaces.

Roll stability control and electronic stability program help keep the Everest right side up and pointed in the correct direction. Parking assist also allows hands-free parallel parking.

All the features plus a truckload of comfort and convenience options come in at a maximum price of just under P2 million for the 3.2-liter 4×4 model.

It has a first-mover advantage against the upcoming Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Montero Sport and Nissan’s contender. With pricing starting about P1.3 million, there’s quite a lot of value in the new Everest.

Tessa Salazar: EXCITING RIDE BUT WITH SOME CONCERNS

WHAT would Filipino SUV buyers want to see in and of the Ford Everest this year? Expectations have been high, as one of Ford’s more popular brands has been on top of auto enthusiasts’ wish list of SUVs when Inquirer Motoring circulated an informal survey at the start of 2015. That wish seems to have been granted last May 19 when Ford Philippines brought in the all-new Everest.

And now we have an Everest loaded with features inside and out—in five variants ranging from P1.339 million to P1.899 million (plus a premium package for the high-end 3.2-liter Everest Titanium 4×4 AT for just an additional P100,000). Pinoys who are tired of seeing the same SUVs with lackluster designs, performance and amenities, are in for an exciting ride.

Here’s just a couple of concerns:

1) Buyers have to endure the agonizing wait until September to get their orders of the all-new Everest.

2) This SUV is loaded with high-tech electronics and computer-controlled programs and features. I really wonder how the designers and tech-heads at Ford married the seemingly incompatible worlds of the rugged outdoors with the sensitive precision of computers, while keeping the retail prices down.

3) I hope the Ford service crews in all dealerships are fully equipped and thoroughly trained to handle the nitty-gritties of the electronics, computer programs, and all the other innovative features of the all-new Everest.

FORD dealers share the adrenaline rush with key officers of Ford, led by its country president Kay Hart, after the test run of the all-new Everest at a makeshift offroad track in Alabang. Photos courtesy of Ford Philippines

Alvin Uy: getting Ready for some torque and play

WHEN Ford Philippines unveiled the all-new Everest at the 2015 Manila International Auto Show in April, it whetted the appetites of its visitors. Judging from the initial crowd reaction, Ford seems to have hit the gold mine on this model.

The stylishly new model for Ford’s most popular SUV offered a number of first-in-segment features, promising a better off-road capability and a refreshing new premium interior.

Among its first-in-segment features include Ford’s latest generation of in-car connectivity solution, the Sync 2, which allows drivers to use their voice to control the onboard infotainment system, climate settings and connectivity to mobile devices, making it one of the smartest SUVs on and off the road in the market today.

While this writer wasn’t able to test the car on the road, it seems like a very capable on- and offroader. Its winning combination of attractive sheet metal and intelligent drive system, mated with an alchemy of onboard electronics and a reliable and powerful, torquey engine leaves new car buyers impatiently queueing in Ford dealerships.