Two Worlds. One Philosophy: Ford Escape and Ford Everest (2003)

December 16,2003

SUVs. They come in all shapes and sizes from microscopic to the gargantuan. They’re powered by anything from petrol to electric. In any case, they have but one goal: to move the world and the rising popularity is a testament to this. Family men consider them to haul the clan, rappers are ‘in’ when seen in them and Greenpeace just wants to smash them.

Still, for all its perceived advantages, SUVs have just begun to pick up steam here. For once, thank the government for growing a brain; but most of all thank the manufacturers for actually bringing the vehicles here. Main proponent and first to take advantage is Ford Philippines. Luckily, we’ve managed to take two new Fords—vehicles that will surely shape the company, and perhaps the industry, for years to come.

Ford Everest

If there’s a vehicle destined to end up in the garage of every Filipino, it’s this one. Sadly, with its stratospheric P1.21 million price tag, it’s probably ending up as bodyguard transport. Coupled with its looks and reputation, there’s no wondering why.

From the outside, it’s a cross between three perennial bodyguard favorites. The Everest has the Toyota Revo’s overall proportions (including the large headlamps); the Mitsu Adventure’s tail lamps (which are already derivative); and the Isuzu Crosswind’s body cladding, exposed spare tire and roof rails.

It doesn’t win any daring design contest awards. In fact, personally, it’s the blandest vehicle to come out since the Nissan Bluebird. It’s got fat tires and four-wheel drive—but but it doesn’t look it—the Isuzu Crosswind looks more like an SUV.

No one’s buying the Everest for its looks, that’s for sure. However, one big plus factor is its practicality. The story starts with the interior. Though it looks and feels like the Ranger, it has technology so clever it will make the Revo feel prehistoric.

Most obvious is the third row seating, which is forward facing. Coupled with their own 3-point ELR seatbelts, it’s the safest place to leave your five year old. Look up and you’ll notice another plus: dual air conditioning with seven separate vents. That’s a departure from having some passengers freeze and others boil to death. Climb over to the second row and you’ll notice a leg room that’s not out of place in a Mercedes S-class. Flip a lever and it folds and tumbles easily. Ford calls it Quick-Release, but you can call it magic.

Twist the ignition and a very diesel-like shudder comes on. Not a very good start. Press the clutch, shift to first and feel the rubbery linkage. Not a very good start indeed. Still, zoom off and you’ll change your opinion. The Everest has 110-bhp and 268 Nm, the most powerful for an AUV-cum-SUV. It may be down on the Ranger’s 117-bhp, but it delivers the power more smoothly.

Twist the steering and you’ll realize what the fuss is all about. It doesn’t feel like a flimsy AUV. Sure, its got body roll, but it turns like how a man with hair on his chest would: with masculine determination and poise. It’s controllable and easy to get used too. Steering’s a bit vague, but have you met an AUV that isn’t.

The Everest’s ride is well sorted out too, despite its not-so comfortable origins. Gone is the dental-filling shaking ride and in come a well-balanced, but still a bit bouncy ride. The second-row theatre seating also lessen the chances of having motion sick passengers.

The rest of the package is well rounded with your usual safety features and creature comforts. Sadly, I didn’t get to try the four-wheel drive system. Still, if its Ranger floor pan can conquer Mt. Pinatubo, it can surely deliver.

Spending 15 minutes with the Everest isn’t enough for a full evaluation. Is it a vehicle that’s uniquely new to our market? Yes, definitely. It offers a brand-new segment where robust pick-ups are converted to ferry people. Its absolutely perfect, especially for Asian roads with large ruts and potholes the size of Nebraska. Is it worth the P1.21 million asking price? Errr…no.

Sadly, it doesn’t feel like a million bucks behind the wheel. Probably it’s because of the rather bare trim. It probably needs some leather, a CD changer and perhaps some video entertainment, just don’t add a mic.

Ford Escape

The bright banana yellow is probably the least subtle color you can get your Escape with. Still, the extrovert behavior is perfect to show off its new found heart: a 3.0-liter V6 with 206 bhp and 276 Nm of torque. Forget the Nissan X-TRAIL; this one’s the SUV to beat.

It’s like giving the car-based Escape a new lease in life. The lethargic 13.5 second 0-100 km/h time is reduced by 5 seconds—a time that puts it well into Honda Civic SiR territory. The 4-speed automatic easily finding useable torque, shifting as low as 2000 rpm during normal acceleration.

In my short spin, I just grinned from the power, the force, and the sound. Almost immediately, you’ll feel that the Escape’s designed with the V6 largely in mind. It’s no surprise to find out that 70 percent of US sales all come with the V6.

The brakes too were taken into account. Despite the Vented Disc / Drum set-up, the Escape recently topped Car and Driver’s braking distance test of compact SUVs.

Chassis-wise nothing has changed, and there’s no need to, since it’s already one of the best out there especially when it comes to overall comfort and corner chuckability. Unlike the RAV4, CR-V, Outlander and X-TRAIL, the Escape’s not based on a compact sedan, rather it’s based on the Contour / Mondeo—a car that’s already known for its Euro handling.

Sadly, the ControlTrac II all-wheel drive system doesn’t get any upgrades either, meaning the Escape V6 can still easily get upset when shifting from pavement to gravel to mud. The only solution is to switch to permanent 4×4 mode—careful though, leave it too long and it can overheat.

Inside it gets the usual improvements to justify the P1.345 million tag: leather seats and a segment-unique power moon roof. Still, go beyond the obvious and you’ll appreciate the detail changes such as the gain of front map lights with a sunglass holder.

Outside the changes are less that subtle, they’re absent. Sure, it’s got a nifty ‘winged V6’ badge, but colored bumpers or revised alloys would have gone a long way. Right now though, it looks bog similar to the 2.0-liter 4×4 XLT.

Unfortunately, like the Ford Everest drive, 15 minutes is not enough with the Escape. It’s screaming for the open road. At P1.345 million, it’s a bit pricey for a 5-seater SUV. Still, there’s a price to pay to surprise the hell out of those pesky road racers. Seeing their bewildered faces is already a justification of its list price.

Two different philosophies, two different markets. In this emerging SUV market, Ford has already started to offer more choices to the consumer. I can’t wait to see what the market would be like. Until then, make mine Escape V6.

By Ulysses Ang | Photos By Ulysses Ang

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