Top 5: Best-selling Bush Wagons - 5. Ford Everest
Ford Everest – 4473 sales Year To Date, October 2018
Despite its humble Ranger-ute-based origins, Ford pitches the Everest 4x4 wagon at the Toyota Prado rather than the HiLux-based Fortuner… and while sales of Everest may fall well short of Prado, they have gained momentum of late and are up 20.1 per cent compared with the same time last year.
The Everest has undergone a recent revamp which sees the introduction of a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder bi-turbo-diesel engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission, as well as the retention (for the time being) of the 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel engine and its six-speed auto.
The new smaller-capacity high-tech donk pumps out a claimed 157kW of power at 3750rpm and 500Nm of torque at 1750-2000rpm, which compares favourably with the five-pot’s still-more-than-adequate 143kW of power at 3000rpm and 470Nm of torque from 1750-2500rpm. Regardless of the powertrain chosen, the Everest offers strong on-road performance and arguably class-leading off-road capability thanks to its effective traction control system that remains active when the rear diff lock is engaged. It also offers good ground clearance, good off-road angles and an impressive 800mm wading depth, and is well supported by the 4x4 aftermarket.
The base-spec Everest Ambiente 4x4 comes standard with the 3.2L engine and costs $54,190. Standard equipment includes including 17-inch alloy wheels, side steps, auto headlights, fog lights, LED taillights, roof rails, keyless entry and start, six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, instrumentation cluster with dual 4.2-inch TFT screens, eight-inch colour touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, rear-view camera, rear parking sensors, cruise control with adjustable speed limiter and steering-wheel mounted controls, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, rear HVAC controls, laminated acoustic windscreen, active noise cancellation system, 10-speaker audio with DAB+, alarm system, and numerous power outlets including two USB ports, three 12V sockets and a 230V outlet.
The mid-spec Trend 4x4 costs $59,990 with the 3.2L engine and $61,190 with the new 2.0L engine. In addition to features on the Ambiente, the Trend adds HID headlights, LED daytime running lamps, hands-free power tailgate, 18-inch alloy wheels, auto high beam, rain-sensing wipers, heated power-fold exterior mirrors with puddle lamps, leather accented seat trim (excluding the third row), eight-way power driver’s seat, rear privacy glass, front parking sensors, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control with forward collision alert and heads-up display warning, lane keeping system and Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection (Autonomous Emergency Braking).
The top-spec Titanium costs $73,990 and is only available with the 2.0L engine/10-speed auto combination. As well as equipment fitted to Trend, the Titanium scores 20-inch alloy wheels, a standard tow bar, semi-auto parallel park assist (Active Park Assist), dual glass panel power sunroof with power blind, eight-way power front passenger’s seat with manual lumbar, heated front seats, power fold third-row seat, ambient lighting and illuminated stainless steel front scuff plates. For those who want to travel to the bush in style, Ford offers 18-inch wheels as a no-cost option on the Everest Titanium, allowing for the fitment of more off-road suitable tyres.
The Everest has a long way to go to catch up to Prado in the sales stakes, but it trumps its nemesis in many respects, including its superior engine and transmission combination, more dynamic handling and better interior packaging. Ford is certainly on a roll with Everest sales and it will be interesting to see the numbers 12 months down the track.
