Ford Everest Ambiente 2016 Review

Ford Everest Ambiente
Road Test

The Ford Everest appears to meet every need for modern Australian families. It offers the convenience of seven seats and a truly cavernous load space, commendable fuel economy, plus the flexibility of being both a tough off-road vehicle and an everyday run-around. However, the entry model Ambiente is no bargain buster at $54,000 (plus on-road costs). But is it a lot of car for the money?
The Everest was one of the most highly anticipated vehicle launches locally last year, and for good reason. Its introduction represents a significant stage in the evolution of a brand which is midway through a transition as it exits local manufacturing for a focus on imported vehicles and retained engineering capability.

Ford has been hammered in the domestic sales stakes in recent years, which is unfortunate as its portfolio consists largely of very capable cars. Some of the most popular cars in overseas markets, such as Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo, have failed to garner similar success here in Australia.

Yet Ford is poised on the cusp of revitalisation, with vehicles that are perhaps better aligned with the Australian market and our unique requirements.

Ford's line up for 2016 and beyond is exciting. It's the brand to watch this year for good reason, and it is just possible that vehicles such as the Everest, the new Mustang and Focus RS will wind up winning the lion's share of new car awards this year.

Each is shaping up to be a segment winner, and that's just what Ford needs to turn around its sales decline. You see as Australia's car market continues to fragment – car companies will need to offer more cars across more segments and sub segments in order to succeed.

What one family needs from their vehicle will be completely different from their neighbour's needs and car companies know this. The Everest for instance, will be just one SUV model in a market where 105 other SUV models are on sale – and they all offer something slightly different.  It needs to own its niche, as a large fully-capable SUV – and thankfully for Ford, Everest is fast emerging as the best in its class.

Created from the Adam's Rib of the Ford Ranger, the Everest has serious off road credentials that are matched by a superb on-road driving experience.  It is exactly what you'd expect from an SUV based on Carsales.com.au's own Offroad 4X4 Car of the Year  and Tradie Vehicle of the Year winner.

As a large vehicle, handling is not as car-like as smaller SUVs and four-wheel-drives. But the Everest's suspension is commendable, riding bumps in country roads with minimum fuss. It is also entirely at home on the open freeway where it is a very pleasant cruiser.

While the design and engineering is refined, nothing feels overdone. The 3.2-litre turbo-diesel engine is paired with a very agreeable six-speed automatic transmission, which does exactly what you expect it to do. It is distinctly preferable to the eight and nine-speed transmissions which have been finding their way into vehicles of late, some of which hunt for gears, the result being a less than satisfactory driving experience.

The Everest is a gigantic car that's designed for a specific segment of Australia – those families with a big, bold, fit-as-much-in-to-life-as-you-can lifestyle. That doesn't exactly sum up our own family, but it was great to have so much space to play with on our own annual Christmas beach pilgrimage.

The Everest offers seven seats, and while the last row seats are still not really full-size, they are at least more accommodating than those in smaller SUVs such as the Land Rover Discovery Sport or outgoing Ford Territory. The second-row seats can be moved fore and aft to give additional legroom to third-row passengers.

With the third-row folded, Everest has 1050 litres of packing space and its boot is remarkably well designed with wide access. Packing up for four nights at the beach over Christmas was fairly straightforward. Thankfully our two kids are teenagers (or as near as dammit for the younger one), so we didn't need to tote prams, pushers or cots with us. That said we still had a fair amount to squeeze into the Everest's welcoming interior.

Our final count for the four of us was two suitcases, one large Esky containing Christmas lunch, sundry bags and bits and pieces, fishing rods and gear, one dog and his bed and a modest pile of presents. Clever packing with the third-row folded flat provided enough accommodation for all of our goods and chattels for a long weekend away.

Had the Everest been equipped with a tow kit, a trailer would have given us more flexibility but as it was – the space was just right for our family.

One note on the boot... like many SUVs on the market today boot entry on the Everest is very high, meaning our energetic dog still needed a leg up to get into the boot. A folding tailgate or adjustable suspension as favoured by Range Rover would be a welcome addition to many vehicles, not just the Everest. Large SUVs are also more challenging for kids who cannot reach to close the tailgate – it's ironic really as in other ways, they are so family-friendly.

Take the Everest's air-conditioning as an example. The Everest offers vents to all rows of the vehicle with rear controls giving second-row passengers the ability to set their own temperature and fan speed. Vents above the third-row give excellent ventilation to backseat passengers, and our dog as he travelled in the rear. On 40 degree days, and with the Ambiente's entry-level cloth seats, the Everest cabin is a very comfortable place to be indeed.

Family gadgets are also catered for with multiple charging options in the rear including a 240-volt socket that takes a standard plug.

The entry model Ambiente tested lacks the bells and whistles of the mid-range Trend or range-topping Titanium, but still includes a good range of features; even if it lacks the technology features now available on smaller, lower cost vehicles...

It doesn't have a long option list either, so if leather seats are a requirement, then you need to step right up to the range topping Titanium which tips the scales at $76,990 (plus ORCs).

The Ambiente is well finished, and certainly doesn't feel like an entry level model, as you'd expect with a starting price of just under $55k. But for that cost you do at least get a lot of car.

And I think that "lot of car" statement sums up my time with the Everest. I borrowed our test Everest over a busy Christmas period, covering over 2500 kilometres in a fortnight. Yet despite undertaking our four-hour holiday drive and the running around that the festive period entails, I came away with the feeling that I hadn't quite done it justice.

It's a vehicle built for big adventures – it wants to tow things and see the world. If you're one of those families that lives for long weekends, or you are retirees about to tackle the great Aussie road trip, then the Everest is the perfect car for you.

If, however, you're more like our family where 80 per cent of the time the driver is the only person in the car, then the Everest may be too much car for you. That's not to worry though, as there's another 105 SUVs out there ready and waiting, including the Territory and Kuga.

2016 Ford Everest Ambiente pricing and specifications:
Price: $54,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 143kW/470Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 224g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

Also consider:
>> Isuzu MU-X (from $45,600 plus ORCs)
>> Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (from $45,000 plus ORCs)
>> Toyota Fortuner (from $47,990 plus ORCs)