The heavily revised Ford Ranger recently made its debut and now it’s the Everest’s turn.
The facelift includes a range of styling, suspension and feature upgrades, complemented by the introduction of the advanced new 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo and Single Turbo engines that recently debuted on the Ranger.
The existing 2.2 and 3.2-litre engines continue to do duty in certain models, paired with the current six-speed automatic transmission.
As was the case with the Ranger, the exterior upgrades aren’t that noticeable. There’s a refreshed grille and new 20-inch alloy wheel on the top-of-the-line model.
On the inside there are new colour options, contrast stitching and some new soft-touch materials.
The big news, as is the case with the Ranger, is the engine line-up.
The maximum power output for the 2.0 Bi-Turbo engine is 157kW, matched to a peak torque figure of 500Nm – improvements of 10kW and 30Nm respectively compared to the existing 3.2-litre TDCi engine. The new engine also offers exceptional refinement, with low levels of noise, vibration and harshness. It is available in the Everest XLT 4×2 and 4×4 models, as well as the top-spec Everest Limited.
Along with the range-topping Bi-Turbo engine, a new 2.0-litre Single Turbo unit has been added to the line-up, offered in XLT 4×2 specification. It delivers a peak power output of 132kW, matched to 420Nm of torque – with up to 340Nm available from just 1 250 r/min.
The current 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi engine, with 118kW and 385Nm, is available in the Everest XLS 4×2 model, while the 3.2-litre five-cylinder TDCi engine, with 147kW and 470Nm, is still offered in XLT 4×4 guise.
Ford also tuned the suspension for a more refined ride.
The infotainment system depends on the model selection, but in the top-spec models you get a host of connectivity and features.
All models come standard with Ford Protect, comprising a four-year/120 000km comprehensive warranty, three-year/unlimited distance roadside assistance and five-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty. A six-year/90 000km service plan is included, with 15 000km service intervals.
Model Range and Recommended Retail Prices:
2.2 TDCi XLS 6AT 4×2 R499 900
2.0 SiT XLT 10AT 4×2 R584 900
2.0 BiT XLT 10AT 4×2 R607 600
3.2 TDCi XLT 6AT 4×4 R626 900
2.0 BiT XLT 10AT 4×4 R669 500
2.0 BiT Limited 10AT 4×4 R741 100