In Brief...
When you have a highly popular ute ringing in the sales, it might be hard to conceive how to build on that success? But for Ford, the Ranger serves as the perfect base from which to develop its range-topping SUV, the Ford Everest. With a bold and aerodynamic design, it’s a dazzling car to look at, with even more charisma than its predecessors. There’s seating for up to seven people, immense storage space and as much as 3100kg towing capacity, more than any other Ford SUV. The availability of full-time, dual-range 4WD operation is one perk that makes this an outstanding off-road choice, but its on-road performance is also likely to raise a few eyebrows for all the right reasons. That said, if budget is a concern or you’re more likely to stick to suburban roads, an assortment of RWD variants without dual-range gearing cost less. The 4-cylinder 2L bi-turbo engine is the pick of the choices on offer, delivering exceptional acceleration for getting ahead and it’s frugal too. That said, the alternative five-cylinder 3.2L turbo motor puts in a strong workload as well, with smoothness evident from its mating to a ten-speed auto transmission. A sharp, receptive and firm-riding SUV, the Ford Everest is safe, spacious and a strong substitute to the Toyota Fortuner and Isuzu MU-X.
