7

LOCAL HERO

THE CURRENT 4X4OTY MAKES THIS LIST OFF THE BACK OF GREAT

VALUE FOR MONEY AND A BROAD SPECTRUM OF CAPABILITIES.

J

UST in case you didn’t know, the Everest is

essentially a wagon version of Ford’s highly

successful Australian-developed Ranger ute.

Aside from the obvious body change, there

are coil springs in place of leaf springs for the

rear axle, disc brakes instead of drums at the rear,

and an active full-time 4x4 system rather than

the Ranger’s part-time system. The wheelbase

has also been reduced from the Ranger’s

extraordinarily long 3220mm.

Our pick of the three-model, all-automatic

range is the mid-spec Trend, which is the 4X4 Of

The Year winner.

For an extra $6000 over the still well-equipped,

base-spec Ambiente, the Trend gains adaptive

cruise control, forward-crash mitigation, lane-

keeping assistance, projector headlights with

auto high-beam on/off, daytime running lamps,

auto wipers, front parking sensors and a power

tailgate. You also get a premium audio system,

a much bigger touchscreen (eight-inch instead

of 4.2) and sat-nav as a $600 option, which is not

available on the base spec at all. That’s plenty of

kit for just $6K.

Mind you, you also get 18s instead of 17s.

The Everest runs Prado tyre spec in 17- and

18-inch sizes, so tyre availability is good.

Meanwhile, the jump to the top-spec Titanium

is a significant $16K, but for that you get 20s,

which you definitely don’t want if you are

planning to take your Everest to the bush.

The Everest shares the 2015 face-lifted Ranger’s

3.2-litre inline five-cylinder diesel engine, but

with AdBlue pollutant-reducing technology and

a touch less power. The five-cylinder design is

a little lumpy at idle but smooths out nicely at

highway speeds, where it has a relaxed gait quite

different to competitor four-cylinder designs. It’s

strong at low revs and doesn’t need to be revved

hard to give its best.

Despite the Everest’s hefty weight and live-

axle rear suspension it feels quite sporty through

corners, and the electric power steering, which is

exceptionally light at parking speeds and when

off-road, firms up nicely at higher road speeds.

Active full-time 4x4 is also a major benefit on all-

road, all-weather driving.

The Everest could do with a tad more clearance

and wheel travel when driving off-road, but it

does have the benefit of a driver-switched rear

locker, which doesn’t cancel the traction control

across the front axle when engaged.

The Everest offers a spacious and comfortable

seven-seat cabin thanks in part to a wheelbase –

while shortened from the Ranger – that matches

a Land Cruiser 200. The amount of luggage

space behind the rear seats when the third row is

deployed is impressive. Not so good is the vision

from the driver’s seat or the lack of tilt-and-reach

steering wheel adjustment.

PRICE $60,990 ENGINE 3.2-litre 5-cyl turbo-diesel

FORD EVEREST TREND

ENGINE: 3.2-litre 5-cyl turbo-diesel
POWER: 143kW
TORQUE: 470Nm
GEARBOX: six-speed automatic
4X4 SYSTEM: dual-range full-time
FRONT SUSPENSION: independent/coil
springs
REAR SUSPENSION: live axle/coil springs
KERB WEIGHT: 2407kg
GVM: 3100kg
TOWING CAPACITY: 3000kg
FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 80 litres
ADR FUEL CLAIM: 8.5L/100km

544 http://www.4X4australia.com.au

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