Ford Everest Sport Review: This Luxury 4×4 is Engineered for Adventure
Whoever said a practical family car had to be boring? Thanks to the next-generation Ford Everest, buying a sensible family car doesn’t have to mean losing your sense of adventure. Bold on the outside and luxurious on the inside, with a sense of exploration under the hood; the new-look Ford Everest is something to behold.
The Next-Gen Everest lineup is headlined by a new flagship grade: the Everest Platinum which promises to take luxury and performance to new heights. It features the new 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine and Ford’s advanced 10-speed automatic gearbox, linked to a permanent all-wheel drive system.
Customers also have the choice of the Everest Sport which is powered by Ford’s 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine, matched to the 10-speed auto. It uses an electronic shift-on-the-fly part-time four-wheel drive system.
I had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the new Ford Everest Sport, the nippy and adventurous cousin of the classic Ford Everest parked in many a family garage. For this latest Ford Everest launch, the entire Everest lineup has been refreshed, with a fresh new look and improved performance. But it’s the Ford Everest Sport that will truly blow you away, especially if you have a sense of adventure.
The great thing about this adventure-loving 4×4 is that it can quite comfortably wear two hats — practical, spacious family car one day and rugged 4×4 trail-eating, thrill seeker the next. I spent a few days getting to know the Ford Everest in the driver’s seat of the Everest 2.0 BiT 4×4 Sport 10AT derivative — what a ride it was.
The best of both worlds
Blending adventure-ready capability with luxury vehicle comfort, and advanced technology the new Everest Sport is a rugged, refined and fun-to-drive SUV that is sure to leave an impression. Engineered to excite, it’s a car built for the adventurous — with capability at its core.
Whether you’re conquering sand, rocky paths, or city life, Everest drivers will love the utility, capability and spaciousness of this exciting new SUV. Ford’s next-generation Everest excels at being a do-it-all vehicle. It’s a triple threat that is tough on the outside and luxurious on the inside, while simultaneously boasting impressive off-roading capabilities under the hood and within its mechanics.
A spacious cabin with a premium feel
Inside the new Everest Sport, premium craftsmanship creates a refined interior for up to seven occupants. One of the first things I noticed getting into the Next-Gen Everest Sport is how luxurious it felt. The plush interior offers a stark contrast to the rugged-look exterior of the SUV. Jumping in, you’re immediately transported into the sanctuary of a luxury vehicle, so much so that it’s easy to forget that you’re sitting in a vehicle built to explore off-the-beaten-path.
According to Ford, the designers of the new Everest put a lot of thought into the function and feel of the interior, taking inspiration from modern homes and bringing in plush materials, premium finishes and ambient lighting all in carefully considered areas. Other features that contribute to the comfort and convenience of the plush interior cabin include integrated wireless charging, heated 10-way power-adjustable front seats, heated second-row seats, power outlets for charging devices in all three rows, and a spaciousness extra-long instrument panel and centre console.
The new Ford Everest Sport is also designed to optimise packing and loading the vehicle, whether you’re transporting your family and luggage or a load of cargo. Flexible and adjustable seating not only ensures added comfort for passengers, with the seven-seater configuration folding at the touch of a button, but both the second and third-row seats have been designed to fold flat to allow for long loads to be carried safely. The addition of underfloor storage space also helps to keep the rear of the vehicle organised.
The convenience of technology
New technology in the interior further enhances the feel of a modern, refined cabin. Traditional analogue clusters have been replaced with an 8-inch digital instrument set in the Everest Sport and a large, high-resolution portrait 12-inch touchscreen (looking more like an iPad) that allows the driver and passengers to access Ford’s latest Sync 4 infotainment system. From here you can control everything from the music to the AC and even the vehicle owner’s manual.
On the Sport model, the portrait-orientated screen also is linked to a 360-degree camera with a split-view display to make parking a breeze in tight urban spaces or to assist when negotiating particularly tricky terrain while out exploring.
Additionally, there’s an embedded factory-fitted modem, allowing customers to connect to their vehicle when linked with the FordPass App. FordPass enhances the ownership experience with features like remote start, vehicle status check and health alerts, vehicle locator and remote lock and unlock functions via your mobile device.
Performance you’ll love
The best thing about driving the Ford Everest Sport is that it feels really tough, giving you that ‘go anywhere’ feeling. Tweaks to the engine and handling have allowed the Ford team to inject more fun and control into the Everest’s options, capabilities, and general ride feel in all conditions.
Want to do some exploring? The next-Gen Everest is ready to go, with a choice of two four-wheel-drive systems, underbody protection and off-road selectable drive modes, plus a rear locking differential, two functional tow hooks upfront, and upfitter switches for accessories.
The Everest Sport relies on a part-time electronic shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive system, which includes 2H, 4H and 4L modes for tricky off-road conditions. A dedicated off-road screen displays vehicle information and a front-camera view of the terrain ahead, with predictive overlay 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.
Throw in a water-wading ability of up to 800mm and six drive modes (Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud & Ruts, and Sand) designed to improve on and off-road comfort and capability, and you’ve got a vehicle that is made for exploring.
On the road, driver assist technologies and safety features take the stress out of driving and help drivers stay focused. Ford’s adaptive cruise control system, with Stop & Go and Lane Centering, is able to detect lane markings and help keep the vehicle centred in the lane. Pre-Collision Assist with Dynamic Brake Support, Forward Collision Warning, Automated Emergency Braking and Reverse Brake Assist further up the arsenal of innovative safety features.
Is this sport number for you?
If you’re a mom who is reluctant to trade in your sporty little hatchback for a typical ‘mom car’, then the Everest Sport will make the transition an easy one. The addition of the Sport pack gives the Everest a more dynamic and athletic look, and adds to its appeal as a versatile vehicle for those with an active lifestyle.
This sporty iteration of the much-loved Everest was designed to cater to buyers who appreciate the qualities of the Everest Platinum model, but would like to set themselves further apart from the crowd through distinctive styling and feature enhancements.
If the price-tag is within your budget, the Everest Sport is the ideal car for the driver who wants to have it all, while still having a good time doing it. It’s surprisingly quick off the mark, considering its large size and at times I almost forgot I was driving a large 7-seater family-sized SUV.
Pricing
The Ford Everest Sport 2.0L BiT 4WD 10AT is priced at R965,400. Included as standard is Ford Protect comprising a four-year/120 000km warranty, four-year/unlimited distance Roadside Assistance and five-year/unlimited distance corrosion warranty.
Customers have the option of purchasing service or maintenance plans for up to eight years or 135,000km. The warranty can be extended up to seven years or 200,000km, while the Roadside Assistance can be extended for an additional one or two years.
