When we first got word of the revamped Ford Everest last year, we knew that it would be something special. We got to see it in the metal as well during a trip to the Bangkok International Motor Show, but still, there was no final word about what engine we would be getting in the Philippines—until now. If you haven’t already heard, the new Everest now packs the same engine and transmission as the Ranger Raptor, and that’s just so darn cool. You can check out the variants and prices in our report here.
How does the top-of-the-line, P2.299-million 2.0L Bi-Turbo Titanium+ 4x4 AT variant drive compared with its predecessor? We find out during day one of the Ford Island Conquest held at the Megatent in Libis. The weather was less than ideal, but that made for a much more interesting test drive. The event is ongoing this weekend, by the way. Do drop by if you want to experience what I did. Now, let’s talk about the good stuff:
How does it ride?
The new Everest sits about half an inch higher than the older one. This doesn’t sound like much, but ride quality is vastly improved because of that slight adjustment. The ride is much softer. That extra bit of clearance is also good news for folks who like to fit bigger rubber on their SUVs. There’s more room for suspension articulation should you decide to go off-road, too.
How does the 10-speed transmission of the Ranger Raptor feel on the Everest?
Shifting gears manually can be done via the buttons on the side of the shift knob, because new transmission. You toggle the buttons with your thumb. Having all these gears is a boon because the Everest can find the right gear all the time, in any given situation. Plus, gears 8, 9, and 10 are all overdrive gears, so the tranny drops into them as soon as you get cruising. This is great for fuel economy. Acceleration also feels much improved over the old six-speed slushbox when putting the pedal to the floor.
How is the power delivery?
It comes in almost instantly when you want to unleash all the horses at your displosal. On the flip side, you can crawl up super-steep grades without going beyond 2,000rpm. That’s the more impressive part, thanks to the 500Nm of torque. Equally impressive is the fact that you can boast to your buddies about how your new Everest shares the same powerplant as the Ranger Raptor—the ‘it’ pickup right now.
Anything else that’s new?
Ford says that with the new engine and transmission combo, there will be lower service costs because you need to bring the Everest in for maintenance only once a year. And then there’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, push-start ignition, and the hands-free tailgate that opens with a swipe of the foot below the rear bumper.
How about the safety stuff?
The new Everest is fitted with pre-collision assist with autonomous braking. The system is triggered when sensors detect other vehicles and pedestrians. We didn’t get a chance to test this during the event.
Anyway, we can’t wait to get our hands on the new Everest for an extended test drive. Stay tuned for that. In the meantime, if you want to experience this SUV, drop by the Ford Island Conquest at Megatent in Libis this weekend. If you decide to buy a Ford during the event, freebies and discounts await. You have one day to go.
