Ford has realised that the previous Everest struggled with sales and decided to completely overhaul the mid-sized SUV to better perform in a highly-contested market segment.
The new Everest looks to be a stunner and will be available in Namibia sooner rather than later.
The seven-seat four-wheel drive was torture-tested in Ford’s top secret test track a stone’s throw from Geelong, where Ford’s engine and stamping plant is situated. This isn’t just a seven-seater wagon body plonked on top of the Ranger’s ladder-frame, though. While it shares its base architecture with Ford’s popular 4×4 bakkie, there’s much to the Everest’s underpinnings that’s entirely bespoke. Everything aft of the gearbox cross member, in fact. It’s a unique chassis that’s designed with carrying people in mind, not cargo.
The wagon is markedly more refined than its pickup sibling, keeping interior noise, vibration and harshness to a minimum by way of some fancy engineering. The well-finished interior has more than 30 storage spaces along with rear air conditioning controls, four 12-volt power outlets spread throughout the front, middle and rear of the car and a household power outlet in the back seat.
When it comes to off-road capability, the 2016 model will come with the same 29 degree approach and 25 degree departure angle as the outgoing model with more than nine inches of ground clearance, more than most of its competitors.
The interior receives a massive overhaul with a more luxurious and elegant cabin than ever before. It comes with three seating rows and an ability to fold down the two back rows to create more cargo room. The new model will come with the Sync2 infotainment system which incorporates a massive eight inch touch screen display.
The Everest will be available with a 3.2l Dura Torque five cylinder turbo diesel providing 147kw of power and 470Nm of torque. Only one transmission will be available in the form of a six-speed automatic box.
The new Ford Everest seems to be a big step up from the outgoing model, improving on all aspects. It remains to be seen how it will fair against the brand new Toyota Fortuner (to be launched sometime in 2016), but on paper the Everest appears to be a worthy competitor.
The new Ford Everest will be on Novel Motors showroom floors fairly soon.
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