Next Gen Everest has a road presence
4X4: A TOTAL UTILITY VEHICLE Like a hungry monster, the boot just consumes whatever is thrown at it.
They call it the next Gen Everest, but in reality, it has skipped a few Gens in my opinion. Some of the features on even the XLT was mind blowing as well as the cosmetic features like the grille which is nestled by their C-clamp LED headlights – whose DNA design elements is carried to other parts of the vehicle like the interior vents.
One of my biggest likes is the sound system on the Everest. It is totally out of this world. The full exterior LED lighting as well as the full blackout on the rear windows makes you think this is the top of the range Everest when it is only the entry level – with electric powered seats and full leather.
The XLT comes standard with a 12-inch vertical touchscreen infotainment system, which connects seamlessly with apple and android devices. The biggest hit was the X and O game that kept us entertained when we needed to do a stop or filling up.
The XLT comes standard with its own embedded modem so you can be connected to the digital world and has wireless charging.
The Everest has a road presence that can easily be compared to other staple names in the SUV market, and could possibly create an entirely new brand given what they are doing with the new Everest.
My son called it the “tank” and he and his cousins used it as a SWAT vehicle when we reached our destination in Port Edward.
The Everest was packed for a full three-week December holiday to Durban, without a flinch or worry about where we were going to fit everything.
Like a hungry monster, the boot just consumed whatever we threw at it.
You would think a vehicle of this size would be hard to drive, park or control, but it is so advanced with its lane assist and parking sensors that you don’t have much to worry about except steer the thing.
The power given off by the 2.0-litre, twin-turbocharged-diesel XLT, which is the only option on this derivative, leaves no slack on power or acceleration. It hauls any load and don’t think an issue would arise if a caravan was hitched as well.
I managed to get a range of over 2 000km in total for my entire trip from Joburg to Port Edward and stayed a week in Durban, and it consumed only 10.7l/km which – given the size and the load I carried – was not too shabby.
All fear falls away when you enter the cockpit as it gives nice ground clearance. So no worry for potholes or any other road hazards which we have become used to in South Africa due to its 18-inch wheels.
It is a total utility vehicle and can be scaled up or down for whatever your needs. It carried the fishing rods and all the hopeful fisherman (x5) (one of them a BMW X5 driver and the other a Ford Ranger driver) including cooler boxes and tackle boxes with ease. The BMW guy is set in his ways but the argument of versatility doesn’t really sit well with them as they think the X5 is versatile – I beg to differ.
I see any outdoor enthusiast or family enjoying its versatility for any occasion. I also see that Ford offers free 4x4 training when buying a new Everest which is a great move to bring new buyers into the market.