Ford Everest wait list lengthens

Ford’s plan to pitch the new 2022 Ford Everest family SUV head-to-head with the Toyota Prado are being hit by the same supply dramas as the Ranger it is based on.

The new-generation Australian-developed Ford Everest launches within weeks, but the top-spec Platinum is suffering waiting times on orders blowing out to 10 months or more, while the second-tier premium-spec Sport is also affected.

Priced from $77,690 plus on-road costs, the Everest Platinum replaces the old Titanium and comes exclusively with the new 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine.

It’s also the only model to get Matrix LED headlights standard, which are in short supply because of the microchip shortage.

We had a brief drive of a prototype Platinum, which you can read here.

The Sport, priced at $69,090 plus ORCs, also comes only with the 3.0-litre ‘Lion’ V6.

The lower-spec Trend and Ambiente models only offer the carryover 2.0-litre four-cylinder and are not afflicted in any serious way by supply challenges.

Ford Australia and New Zealand boss Andrew Birkic admitted that like the Ford Ranger Wildtrak V6 and the incoming Ford Ranger Raptor, forecast demand for the new Everest Platinum and Sport had been under-called.

He said the Platinum waiting list was six to nine months, dependent on the dealer.

“Sport [waiting time is] not as high, Platinum is the highest level of demand,” said Birkic.

“It’s also driven by mix. Again, we make these decisions some time ago and then we get the customer feedback and then we will later – based on how it’s going, what the media say about it, what our customers say and what our dealers say – take all that and if we need to adjust the mixes we will.”

The Everest has been on a steady sales climb since its 2015 introduction. Ford touted it as a rival to the top-selling Prado back then but sales figures failed to back that up.

Now, with a significant tech overhaul that includes the powerful Lion V6, a boost in towing capacity to 3500kg and the addition of a significant amount of comfort and safety gear, Ford is ready to return to battle.

“We think there is upside on Everest,” said Birkic. “We really think with a couple of models, Sport as well as Platinum, we have some strong plays in that segment.

“We look forward to getting that vehicle … and we are very excited by its potential.

“I think the towing upgrade to 3500kg makes a difference. A lot of customers tow with that vehicle and that was an important investment by us to make sure we were in that market.

“The Everest trajectory has been going up for some time and Sport took it to a new level last year.”

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