SOME animals are compared to cars because of their behavior, power, style and speed. In Thailand, the elephant was chosen as the country’s national animal because of its long life, its symbolism for livelihood and its historic role as transportation for the Thai people.
I learned that elephants were harnessed in many ways during the old days, when they were a valuable ally in labor and warfare, as well as the primary means of traversing Thailand’s rivers and highways.
Upon experiencing the all-new Ford Everest during the recent All-New Ford Everest International Media Drive, it reminded me of the beautiful, enormous and friendly elephants that we saw on the roads of Chiang Rai in Thailand. Much like the pachyderm, the Ford Everest is big, tough, intelligent but gentle.
The new seven-seater Everest has a well-trimmed and modern exterior. It looks bolder and stronger with a sculptural design that communicates its rugged capabilities and refinement. One can’t help but notice the robust front end with muscular hood, including the signature LED daytime running lights and trapezoidal grille. The 3D-formed front undershield, which is cleverly designed to maximize aerodynamic performance, gives it a powerful presence on the road. It features a first-in-class powered liftgate, which conveniently opens and closes automatically at a touch of a button when loading and unloading. And with the 20-inch alloy wheels and high ground clearance of 225 mm, this sport-utility vehicle (SUV) is ready for the long haul.
Although its American competitor, the Chevrolet Trailblazer, has a more sophisticated interior styling, the Everest is just as spacious but quieter. Ford equipped its new SUV with sound-deadening materials along with three interior microphones for exceptional cabin quietness and Active Noise Cancellation technology that significantly reduces the levels of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). It also features a dual-panel moon roof over the first and second rows, which allows more natural light into the cabin and increases the sense of spaciousness inside the vehicle. One of my favorites is the flexible seating and fold-flat second row with 60/40 split and first-in-class power-fold third-row seating with 50/50 split—which make it faster and easier to pack stuff inside the vehicle. With all the rear seats folded, this SUV can hold up to 2,010 liters of cargo. Also, I’ve never seen so much stowage spaces inside a vehicle. The Everest has more than 30 clever storage holders and multiple power outlets.
“Early on in the development of the Everest, we set very aggressive targets for vehicle refinement,” said Ian Foston, chief program engineer for the Ford Everest. “Through extensive computer modeling, smart engineering and real-world testing, we’ve been able to achieve dramatic reductions in interior NVH levels for a truly refined driving experience.”
After days of anticipation including a connecting flight from Bangkok, my co-driver Patrick Tadeo of Top Gear and other team members—Ron de los Reyes of Auto Review and Bess Zamora of AQ Magazine—put the Everest to the test on busy local roads and the most extreme off-road environment.
The Everest variants we tested were the 2.2-liter 4×2 manual, automatic and Titanium, as well as the 3.2-liter 4×4 automatic and Titanium with premium package on a 420-kilometer drive around the Canary Natural Resort in Doi Hang and Baan Pang Klang Hill Tribe Village, which is in the northeast part of Chiang Rai.
The Everest’s 3.2-liter Duratorq five-cylinder TDCi diesel engine that produces 147 kw of power and 470 Nm of torque engine is mated to a six-speed tranny, while the 2.2-liter Duratorq four-cylinder TDCi diesel with six-speed transmission puts out 118 kw of power and 385 Nm of torque. Both engines boast of improved fuel efficiency and deliver excellent performance.
The automatic transmission on the new Everest features advanced driver recognition software, which analyzes acceleration and deceleration rates, brake and throttle applications, and cornering speed. By “learning” the driver’s style and adjusting transmission settings according to whether he or she has an economical or sporty style, the software helps to deliver on Ford’s commitment to flatter the novice driver and reward the expert.
Like having an expert off-road driver available on demand, the Everest’s smart Terrain Management System fine-tunes the vehicle’s throttle response, transmission, traction control and intelligent four-wheel drive system. So, whatever the conditions, the driver stays in command. The Everest can be set up for four different terrain conditions. “Normal” provides the best on-road driving experience. On tricky terrain, the system sends torque to the front wheels when needed based on steering and throttle to minimize wheel slip. Selecting “Snow, Mud, Grass” prioritizes maintaining traction on slippery or loose surfaces. “Sand,” meanwhile, helps the vehicle maintain momentum through sand with aggressive torque transfer and higher throttle sensitivity. “Rock,” on the other hand, works in conjunction with low-range four-wheel drive to provide maximum traction and precise low-speed control to help the driver navigate extreme off-road terrain.
During our first two hours of driving on local and winding roads, we used Normal. In this setting, we were able to test the Everest’s handing, agility and dynamics, as well as steering performance, which was quite impressive. The gear shifting was smooth, the engine was responsive, the steering was stable and tight, the ride was comfortable and the cabin was quiet.
In off-road conditions, which included driving on mud and gravel, going up and down hills, as well as braving water crossings, the Everest was very much in its element. With Ford’s advanced and purposeful technologies, including a best-in-class water-wading capability of 800 mm and 225 mm of ground clearance, we felt safe, stayed confident and in control.
One of the best safety features that comes standard on the Everest is the Hill Launch Assist, which lets you confidently start on even the steepest hills by holding the vehicle for up to two seconds, while you move your foot from the brake to the accelerator.
“The Everest offers unmatched capability and versatility to meet our customers’ most demanding requirements both on and off the road,” Foston said. “Whether you’re fording a stream, climbing a sand dune, taking on slippery mud, or climbing over rocks, the Everest can do it all with true 4×4 capability.”
With the Terrain Management System, SYNC 2, Active Park Assist, Roll Stability Control and an Electronic Stability Program and segment-first Curve Control and Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert, the new Ford Everest is one of the smartest SUVs in its segment.
SYNC 2 natural voice command lets you control the car’s entertainment system, climate controls and connected mobile devices easier than ever before. SYNC 2 features an 8-inch touchscreen with color-coded corners. The entertainment system includes a first-in-class 10-speaker sound system with an integrated subwoofer.
For the price of P1.339 million to 1.899 million, one can own one of these smart, easy to navigate, versatile and, most of all, fun to drive SUVs, which is scheduled to hit Ford showrooms in the Philippines by September.