Everest could be tough to beat

Ruggedly handsome and with a full house of impressive features, plus a muscular 3,0-litre diesel engine, the new Ford Everest has enough reason to step into the ring with the likes of Toyota Fortuner and Mitsubishi Pajero with a fair amount of cocky confidence.

In fact, when it comes to straight comparisons, the Everest outshines them in a number of departments.

The Everest has a five-speed transmission in auto and manual and the two competitors only have four-speed boxes; the Everest has more torque punch, offers a better warranty, has the widest and tallest luggage area, brags with a third row of seats that can be completely removed and it has a side-hinged rear door which is much more practical and easier to operate than the high-lifting rear doors of its competitors.

Three models

There are three Everest models from which to choose: The 3.0 TDCi XLT 4x2 Manual (R324 990), the 3.0 TDCi XLT 4x4 Manual (R364 990) and the 3.0 TDCi LTD 4x4 Automatic (R382 990).

The high-tech three-litre benefits from an intercooler and variable-geometry turbo-charging which reduces turbo lag to where it's hardly noticeable. With 380 Nm on tap, torque punches in from as low as 1800rpm so the Everest is quick off the mark. And with 115 kW on call it cruises with more than a modicum of enthusiasm on gravel and tar.

Ruggedly elegant anywhere, any time - with or without mud.

I drove the top of the range auto model and the 4x4 manual on a lovely route from Cape Town via Hermanus to Arniston and particularly liked the upmarket look and the comfort of the leather seats, the spaciousness of the living quarters and the insulation of the cabin which kept most of the intrusive road, wine and engine noises at bay.

It's an automatic choice

On tar and gravel the Everest is totally at ease and even at a fair lick it never felt twitchy on loose surfaces. Through fast corners on the tar there is some body roll, but that is fairly common with most SUV's.

Sadly we were not given an opportunity to see if the Everest's walk matched its talk in tough off-road conditions, but being based on the underpinnings of the Territory and with double wishbones up front and leaf springs at the back, stabiliser bars, a limited slip differential and a 32 degree approach angle and 26 degree departure angle, it should prove to be more than competent in the rough.

The spare wheel which is mounted on the tailgate is easy to access and a feature in its own right.

When it comes to choosing between the two manuals and the auto model my choice would be the auto. The shifts work quickly and smoothly and the automatic transmission has even been tweaked to allow the driver to shift the driving mode from 2WD to 4WD at high driving speeds of up to 100 km/h.

Eye candy

The Everest is geared at fun-loving families and as such the seven-seater would, in any case, probably seldom be required to do tougher off-road duties than travelling on gravel tracks, farm roads and through game parks.

With the back two seats removed (they are OK for adults for short distances, but are really only for young children) the Everest is an ideal conveyor of adventure toys and camping gear.

Versatile seating combined with ample load space is a strong point .

Like most SUV's it is also ruggedly elegant enough to look quite at home in corporate car parks, at golf clubs or curb-crawling along the Camps Bay beachfront - with or without dust or mud decorations.

Nice eye candy on the Everest is the spare wheel which is mounted on the tailgate, chrome grill, alloy wheels, flared wheel arches, fog lights and roof rails. (In addition Ford offers a long list of optional extras for those who enjoy personalizing their vehicles).

Cool air - even for those in the back

Versatile seating is a standard feature on most SUV's nowadays and the Everest offers a number of different configurations, all of them relatively easy to execute.

Leather upholstery is standard across the range as well an audio system which features a digital display and incorporates MP3 capability and auxiliary input connection for popular MP3 players, such as the Apple iPod.

The driver's position puts everything comfortably within reach.click to enlarge

Power windows and an air conditioning system that provides dedicated overhead air vents to both the second row (with its own control mechanisms) and the third row of seats are also standard.

In the safety arsenal of all three Everest variants you will find dual front air bags as well as side airbags, three-point safety belts equipped with pretensioners, door intrusions beams and reinforced A,B and C-pillars, anti-lock braking (ABS) and electronic brake force distribution (EBD).

Foiling the felons

The Everest also has the protection of Ford's Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS) which features a specially coded computer chip embedded in the vehicle's ignition key to ensure the vehicle will not start without the correct key. PATS works in tandem with a perimeter alarm.

Clear instruments mean you can't fool the traffic cops into believing you didn't know you were over the limit.click to enlarge

Peace of minders included in the purchase price of any of the three Everest models include a five-year/90 000 km Service Plan, a four-year/120 000 km warranty, service intervals of 10 000 km, a three-year Roadside Assistance programme and a five-year corrosion warranty - and buyers of the full 4x4 version have the additional benefit of free off-road driver training through the Scorpion Off-Road College.

So where's the cover?

Two things about the Everest niggled: the amount of play on the steering wheel and the lack of a luggage cover. The grooves and the fittings are there, but no cover. Apparently that is how the vehicles arrived from the factory and Ford is looking into it.

But despite these two minor irritations and even after only spending a couple of hours in the company of the Everest I am convinced it is going to do well. It is as good-looking as any other SUV can be, it has quite a few extras the others don't have and it is priced right (about R27 000 less expensive than the Fortuner) to have wide appeal.

Ford reckons they are going to sell about 1600 new Everests in 2010 and maybe even more if the Ford factory in Thailand can churn them out at a faster rate.

Internationally Ford is on a strong financial recovery track and its vehicles are selling steadily in this country. The Everest will no doubt add extra oomph to the company's South African sales graph.

Specifications

Not quite room for a pony and a jacuzzi, but ample for the family.