SET UP CAMP FOR ADVENTURE

Ford’s new Everest model aims to cash in on Australians looking to explore their own backyard in comfort and style

IT HAS A PERMANENT PLACE IN THE EVEREST FAMILY

Ford’s Basecamp started as an accessories pack for the Everest back in 2019.

Nowadays it’s a limited-edition model, picking up decals and unique dark grey design highlights on its wheels and grille. The premise is the same: a bunch of features thrown in for not much more money. The numbers add up, though. The Basecamp is $2200 more than the Everest Trend it’s based on, but adds a snorkel, tow kit, nudge bar, Lumen LED light bar, Sunseeker awning and Rhino Rack Pioneer roof platform, as well as those design tweaks.

Ford claims about $6000 of value and while you might be able to crunch deals to bring that down a bit, there’s no way you could package the lot for $2200 – a total of $64,690 drive-away.

IT’S BUILT FOR ADVENTURE

If you’re the type of person who wants an SUV for tooling around the suburbs, then the Basecamp isn’t for you. Those extras are designed to be used and some build on the impressive off-road capability of the Everest, which shares underpinnings with the Ranger ute. The Basecamp is all about getting out and about, camping and adventuring.

There are rear-drive versions of the

Everest available for those more likely to stick to the bitumen, but the Basecamp is four-wheel drive only.

THE ACCESSORIES ARE COVERED BY WARRANTY

All the accessories that are part of the Basecamp model get the same five-year unlimited kilometre warranty that comes with

the car. That means a longer warranty than you may otherwise have had on some of those items if you bought them independently, as well as the convenience of only having to return to a Ford dealer should something go wrong.

YOU CAN ADD MORE GRUNT RELATIVELY CHEAPLY

The Basecamp comes standard with the Everest’s 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo diesel but for another $1500 you can step up to the more powerful and more efficient 2.0-litre twinturbo four-cylinder. The smaller engine also steps the towing capacity up from 3000kg to 3100kg, although in both instances you’ll have to leave most of the family at home if you’ve loaded up the trailer. Those accessories add about 60kg, in turn reducing the payload on the 3.2 to about 300kg once you’ve got the trailer weight maxed out.

There are no issues with performance for either motor. The 3.2-litre we tested makes 143kw and a thoroughly useful 470Nm, the latter coming on very quickly after pressing the accelerator. It makes city driving easy and country road cruising relaxed.

IT DRIVES WELL FOR A GENUINE 4WD

The Everest may not have quite as much space as the rival Toyota Prado but it has a better blend of on- and off-road prowess. Much of the development work for the Everest was performed in Australia and it shows in the way it deals with bumps and corners.

While it’s not as sharp in the city as a carbased SUV, it’s towards the upper end among its proper off-road peers for composure and control. It’s also extremely capable on tough tracks and trails while dealing well with corrugations and gravel roads. It’s a solid allrounder with an eye on the bush.

I have a 210,000km 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee, but two years ago it had a new engine fitted that’s done 15,000km. It’s a daily driver but also does a lot of heavy horse float towing. Should I sell it now to avoid higher maintenance costs of an older vehicle, or hold on to it as it has the newer engine? If I sell, would you recommend a new Isuzu MU-X LS-T or new Grand Cherokee Night Eagle? The features and price are similar. Sidney Hoffman, email

The fact you’re entertaining the idea of selling and looking at replacements tells me you’re motivated. The new-ish engine is reassuring, but your Grand Cherokee is getting a bit leggy at more than 200,000km. If it’s serving you well I’d stick with it, but used prices are so high right now. Add a few grand over what you think it’s worth and list it for sale privately. You may do well. If so, go the MU-X LS-T. It’s a brand-new model, rich with tech and safety, tows 3500kg, is on $63,990 drive-away special and there’s stock available. A new Grand Cherokee also tows 3500kg and has decent specification, but a new-generation model is imminent, and there’ll be no diesel engine, just, it seems, a 3.6-litre petrol V6 and then probably a plug-in hybrid.

FLAT CHAT I’ve been caught out a few times over the years with car batteries going flat. With modern technology, surely manufacturers could have a warning system when your battery is low, as they do for oil? Rosalind Maskiell, email

There is a way. You can fit a monitor that tracks battery health, and it sends a warning to your smartphone if you have low battery voltage. You can buy one from auto stores for about $50. It’s rare for a car battery to die without telltales: a “check engine” light or the engine being slow to start for example. Battery life is about three to five years. It only takes ten minutes to get a free battery test at an auto store or car battery specialist.

Other Aurion/camry owners have reported the same as you. Owner forums suggest upgrading your headlight globes to LEDS works well. Auto stores sell a pair for your car for about $150. Not cheap, but far safer. You could try adjusting the direction of your current lights first. The owner’s manual will give instructions: a directional screw should be on the back of your lights.

FITTING IN

Re Weighty Issue, I agree with Peter Penglis, weight should be included with car reviews. It makes such a difference to fuel consumption and acceleration. The weight of ugly mega utes and SUVS must hurt the pocket at the bowser. You could easily fit Weight after Thirst and Fuel Tank Litres after Cargo. No extra room is required.

Hannes Jürmann, email

We’d still need two extra lines. The design would be way too confusing otherwise. As previously mentioned, if a car’s weight is particularly high (like the “ugly mega utes” you mention) or impressively light, it’ll be covered in the story. You do make a good point, though. The mass of certain modern cars has a negative impact on driving enjoyment and the environment.

GRAND DESIGNS We’re planning a post-covid road trip in our Toyota Camry. I wondered could I legally attach a two-way car fridge to the towbar to save on boot space? The fridge would be 400x500x500mm and I can fabricate a suitable frame with lights and number plate lights. Your thoughts?

Roland Brain, email

You must really want those beers cold on your road trip, Roland! Such a modification would probably need an engineer’s approval to ensure design rules and vehicle standards weren’t compromised. Save yourself the headache. Mount the fridge in your boot and buy a roof box for your Camry for extra cargo space.