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Test Drive: Ford Everest, a smooth family ride

JOVIAL RANTAO

BUYING a car is a major decision.

Accordingly, there are key questions that we ask ourselves before settling on the purchase of a vehicle. 

The first of these questions is, what attracts you to the car? The second question is the functionality of the car, from the way it drives to its interface with new technology. The third question to be answered is the important and monumental issue of safety. What are the safety features that will make you buy this car.

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The last, and perhaps the most important question, is how the vehicle fits into your lifestyle and how that  makes you feel?

The second generation Ford Everest scores extremely well  in providing answers to these questions. The vehicle is the quintessential family car that has answers to questions from every member of the family, from the youngest to the oldest.

The Ford Everest is more than just a car with space for an average family. It’s a car that makes you want to go places. This new addition to the Ford family goes deep inside your soul and finds the adventurer in you and makes you want to hit the road. Not that any road. It makes you want to hit the long and scenic road. 

The long and scenic road is where you will get closer to the vehicle as an additional member of your family. This is where you will get to appreciate its unique features of this spacious number. Yes, the architects of the Ford Everest managed to provide more space without leaving you with a feeling of being squeezed into the car. Actually, the opposite is true.

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While I enjoyed the ride along the quiet suburban roads, the truth is that it made me want to head to the game reserve to bond with nature and my favourite animal – the elephant. The elevated ride height will make game viewing an amazing experience. It will also be a chance to experience the car’s off-road abilities.

A stunning drive, long or short, can be therapeutic or loads of fun. For it to serve this purpose, you need a killer entertainment system, that will allow you to enjoy every note and every lyric. In the Ford Everest, the entertainment system makes you feel like you have your favourite band or orchestra on board. The sublime functionality of the latest generation SYNC® 3 makes it a hit with everyone in the family. 

Ford’s latest-generation SYNC® 3 with Navigation, fitted as standard on all XLT and Limited models, is integrated communication and entertainment system which keeps you connected while you’re on the move.

Supported by a stylish integrated 8-inch colour touchscreen which can be operated with pinch and swipe gestures, SYNC®3 is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto enabled, allowing you to tune into your favourite radio station, or play your favourite music or podcast.

For the ever-busy professionals, Bluetooth and voice control allows you to use voice commands to make hands-free calls, listen to text messages through the speakers, the system understands emoticons and popular abbreviations. You can also send quick replies by selecting from a list of pre-set text responses, listen to voicemail, and adjust your climate control settings.

Ford has, with this locally manufactured Everest, gone an extra mile to make you and your family feel safe. They have deployed Ford’s extensive range of smart and safe driving technologies to provide a peace of mind.

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Fitted as standard on all New Everest models are: Electronic Stability Control with Traction Control, Trailer Sway Control, Load Adaptive Control, Roll Over Mitigation, and Hill Start Assist, with Hill Descent Control on the 4×4 models.

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Additional standard features on the Limited model include:

  •  Semi-Automatic Parallel Park Assist
  • Active Park Assist
  • Adaptive Cruise Control with Heads Up Display
  • Forward Collision Alert, which detects pedestrians, as well as other vehicles
  • Collision Mitigation, Distance Alert, Lane Keeping Aid
  • Lane Departure Warning
  • Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert
  • Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
  • Auto High Beam Control.

All models come with dual front, side, and full-length curtain airbags. A driver’s knee airbag is also standard across the range.

Rear parking sensors are paired with a full-colour rear view parking camera. The XLT and Limited models also feature front parking sensors as well.

Under the hood, you will find one of the main defining features of the second generation Ford Everest line-up. It is the all-new, range-topping 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo engine, and the all-new 2.0-litre Single Turbo engine.

The Bi-Turbo engine employs an innovative twin turbocharger set-up to improve both low-end torque and high-end power, while reducing fuel consumption and emissions. A maximum power output of 157kW is matched to a peak torque of 500Nm. The Single Turbo engine delivers 132kW and 420Nm.

The existing 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi engine, which delivers 118kW and 385Nm, and 3.2-litre five-cylinder TDCi engine, delivering 147kW and 470Nm, complete the range.

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The new-generation 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo and 2.0 Single Turbo engines are exclusively available with Ford’s sophisticated, all-new 10-speed automatic transmission. The 10-speed architecture reduces the gaps in available power and acceleration between gears, providing smoother acceleration response, and enabling improved performance at lower engine speeds.

Both the 2.2 and 3.2 Duratorq TDCi engines are matched to the existing six-speed automatic transmission.

According to Ford, its engineering data, based on real-world driving cycles, indicates an improvement in fuel-efficiency of up to nine per cent in the Bi-Turbo engine mated to the 10-speed automatic transmission, compared to the previous range-topping model.

The Bi-Turbo engine is rated to tow a maximum of 3,100 kg with a braked trailer, while the Single Turbo and both the 2.2 and 3.2 Duratorq TDCi engines have a maximum towing capacity of 3,000 kg.

The Terrain Management System, available in the 4×4 derivatives, boasts four driving modes: Normal, Mud, Sand, and Rock Crawl. With an approach angle of 29 degrees, a departure angle of 25 degrees, and the ability to drive through water up to 800 mm deep, you can navigate even the most challenging lay of the land with confidence.

The Ford Everest is not just a vehicle. It’s an experience. A beautiful family experience. 

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By The African Mirror

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