Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, gather round and listen to the story of a mountain biker, (it’s me) a who needed a car that could keep up with his adventurous lifestyle. But also, his wife’s needs ie. navigating the treacherous suburbs and the N1 to work and back. Also it needed to satisfy their three boys’ demands. That man found his solution in the form of the New Ford Everest. Well, he did for a week.
It’s sort of the ultimate family car, isnt it? With its powerful Turbo V6 diesel engine, it can easily tow and carry all manners of things, and smoothly too thanks to Ford’s 10-speed auto box. It’s especially at ease towing the outdoors accoutrements an adventure family requires. And you’ll still have plenty of space to spare. The cabin is vast, the interior comfortable and well-designed, as perfect for a long road trip as it is the school run, or a visit to the hardware store. Its brimming with in-car entertainment technology, as well as safety.
Just like its Ranger stablemate, It’s got an impressive 4×4 system, so you can take on even the steepest hills with ease – even wearinf these massive 21″ inch alloy hoops. And, with its rugged design and sturdy construction, you know that your precious mountain bike is in safe hands. I mean family. Your precious family. In fact you’ll encounter a full suite of advanced driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning.
I like this new squared off aesthetic, it really conjures up American truck vibes. My test unit is a Platinum model, and retails for R1.12mil. Yes, for a bakkie-based SUV – that’s a small fortune. But if you view this new Everest, it’s certainly transcended its original position. Think more Prado and less Fortuner, with seven cozy pews, all the curbside presence you could ask for and then there’s the 184kW/600Nm it brandishes to match. Make no mistake, the Everest is a luxury car, that is also a family car, that is also an adventure car. I reckon it adds up.
