2024 Ford Everest Trend 4×4 review

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2024 Ford Everest Trend

Ford Australia was formerly a powerhouse in terms of family-friendly offerings with the likes of the Falcon and Territory, and then the Escape (nee Kuga) and Endura.

But in recent years, all aforementioned vehicles have been discontinued, some due to slow sales, leaving the Everest as the only blue-badged choice for families with two or more kids.

I’ve got the keys to the second most affordable Everest Trend for a week to find out if families are better off heading to a Mazda, Toyota or Hyundai dealership for their needs, or if Ford still has what it takes to keep the rugrats happy.

How much does the Ford Everest cost in Australia?

The Everest is offered in four flavours in Australia: the entry-level Ambiente, mid-spec Trend, stylish Sport and top-spec Platinum.

Pricing starts at $53,990 before on-road costs in Ambiente rear-wheel-drive (RWD) guise, rising to $58,990 for the four-wheel-drive (4WD) layout.

The Trend is also offered in RWD and 4WD form, priced at $63,490 and $66,790 respectively, while the Sport is also split by drivetrain layout priced at $63,490 and $72,490 each.

Keep in mind, though, the $9000 price difference between the two Sport variants is also due to the 4WD also scoring a more potent 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine as opposed to the 2.0-litre twin-turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine used in all Everests up to this point.

The Platinum tops the range at $79,490 and is available exclusively with the V6 engine.

Late last year, Ford also offered a limited-edition Wildtrak version of the Everest, slotting between the Sport and Platinum at $74,704. Its popularity sees only a single-digit number remaining on dealer lots around the country.

I’m behind the wheel of the Ford Everest Trend 4WD for a week, which promises to balance performance, practicality and paraphernalia at a (relatively) paltry purchase price.

Sharing its underpinnings with the latest T6.2 Ranger means the Everest features a strong Aussie influence with design and engineering work carried out on local soil, but Thailand handles production alongside its ute counterpart.

As a ladder-frame chassis large seven-seater SUV based on a ute, the Everest competes directly against the ageing Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Isuzu MU-X, budget-friendly LDV D90, Korea’s SsangYong Rexton and Toyota’s Fortuner.

Against this competitive set, the Everest is one of the more expensive options, especially stacked up against the Chinese LDV D90 (priced from $50,095 drive-away for the top-spec Executive 4WD diesel) and SsangYong Rexton, available as a 4×4 only (priced from $50,000 to $58,000 drive-away).

The Everest also sits above the Isuzu MU-X (from $48,900 before on-road costs to $65,990 drive-away), Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (from $44,940 to $62,440 plus on-road costs) and Toyota Fortuner, which is also only available as a 4×4 (from $53,775 to $66,755).

But justifying its price is a strong list of standard equipment and a newer, more refined platform compared to competitors.

Starting with the Ambiente, equipment extends to 17-inch alloy wheels, LED head- and tail-lights, electronic park brake, and automatic power-folding mirrors.

However, one oversight in the base-grade Everest is having seven seats as an option – which adds $1200 to the asking price – whereas rivals like the Isuzu MU-X, SsangYong Rexton, LDV D90 and Toyota Fortuner feature three-row seating as standard.

Stepping up the Everest Trend, like I have here, adds the third row as standard, 18-inch wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and selectable drive modes. As new MY24 stock rolls out, the Trend also adds exterior zone lighting and ‘stand-off’ roof rails, slightly taller than that shown here.

Moving up the Everest hierarchy, the Sport adds blacked-out exterior accents, 20-inch wheels and ‘Sport’-accented interior.

From here, the Everest line-up splits between the more rugged Wildtrak and premium-aspiring Platinum.

The former features wheel-arch flares, tyre pressure monitoring, sunroof, a surround-view monitor and 18-inch wheels clad in all-terrain tyres in lieu of 20-inch wheels with all-season rubber.

Meanwhile, the Platinum has matrix LED headlights, automatic parking, power-folding third row, heated steering wheel, heated second-row outboard seats, satin chrome exterior highlights and 21-inch wheels.

How much space does the Ford Everest have inside?

As a large SUV, you should fully expect the Everest Trend to deliver on practicality, and boy does it.

Measuring 4940mm long, 1923mm wide, 1841mm tall and with a 2900mm wheelbase, the interior of the Everest Trend is as cavernous as they come in this class.

Two child seats are no problem for the Everest’s second row to swallow and leave plenty of room for front passengers to stretch out and get comfortable.

Open the boot, and with all seats up, the Everest Trend offers 259 litres of volume – or enough space for a few grocery bags or an overnight suitcase – but fold down the third row and capacity swells to 898L.

This means, if you’re like me and have two kids, the full-sized pram, balance bike, picnic paraphernalia, nappy bag and more will easily be accommodated.

Keep in mind, though, this does make the boot quite long, so it can be a stretch to reach those few items that have rolled to the back of the second-row seat backs.

And if you are so inclined, folding down the second row (split 60:40) liberates a gargantuan 1823L of volume, making those weekend trips to Bunnings or Ikea an absolute cinch – without the kids.

So, the Everest has plenty of space to make you and your family comfortable, but its ace is the long list of interior features that will also keep everyone happy.

As standard, every new Everest features an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, and 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto (Google Pixel users rejoice!), satellite navigation and digital radio.

Complementing the wireless smartphone mirroring is a wireless smartphone charger, which means there are no messy wires floating around the centre stack.

There’s also dual-zone climate control to keep drivers and passengers happy, as well as keyless entry and push-button start to make these a little easier when your hands are full.

However, family buyers might take note of the additions you get in the Trend grade, which include leather-accented seats (making cleaning much easier) or optional full-leather, rear privacy glass and a powered tailgate – all of which are essential when juggling young kids and a large pram.

The Trend also upgrades the driver’s seat to be electronically adjustable and the infotainment touchscreen expands to 12 inches.

I will point out that some of the climate controls are buried in the touchscreen menu, such as turning off the air conditioning, which can be tricky to navigate while on the go, and the software is prone to the occasional stutter and slow down.

Really, though, the Trend offers the right mix of equipment you will need for your family, with more expensive grades like the Sport and Platinum really only adding nice-to-have features like heated and cooled front seats, and a kick-to-open tailgate.

Does the Ford Everest have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

The Ford Everest Trend is equipped with a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless capability for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The system also features satellite navigation and digital radio – both of which are snappy and responsive to inputs. AM and FM radio bands are also on hand for areas outside the urban fringe.

Complementing the 12-inch infotainment touchscreen is an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, and while the former feels cutting-edge and high-tech, the latter leaves a lot to be desired.

It’s just a basic screen that displays basic functions with limited customisability, and I would have liked to see Ford adopt a more sci-fi approach to its instrument cluster in the same way Volkswagen Group does.

Every new Ford Everest also has an in-built modem to allow connection to the FordPass Connect smartphone app, allowing monitoring, location and remote start features.

Is the Ford Everest a safe car?

The entire second-generation Ford Everest line-up was awarded a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating on 2022 testing standards.

For the adult and child occupant protection tests, the Everest received 86 and 93 per cent results, respectively – the latter a high score in the large SUV segment matched only by the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Nissan Pathfinder.

The vulnerable road user protection test yielded a 74 per cent score, while the safety assist category netted an 86 per cent grade.

Of note, however, the Everest’s scores are based on crash-testing a Ranger Wildtrak, and the large SUV does not offer side and chest airbags for the second or third rows, though curtain airbag coverage spans all three rows.

The current Everest’s ANCAP rating is set to expire in December 2028.

What safety technology does the Ford Everest have?

Each Ford Everest comes equipped with an impressive list of safety features, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, a reversing camera, hill-start assist, and rear cross-traffic alert.

However, only by stepping up to the Wildtrak or Platinum do buyers unlock a surround-view monitor as standard, which is a handy addition to a large SUV like the Everest.

Buyers of the 4WD versions of the Trend and Sport can add a surround-view monitor by optioning the $2500 Touring Pack, which also throws in a trailer backup assist, tow bar and integrated trailer brake controller.

The Everest’s AEB can also spot pedestrians and cyclists, though the latter only during the day.

In my time with the car, I found the front AEB function to be a little too cautious and would trigger for objects still quite far away.

Likewise, the rear AEB did not like my steep driveway and would slam on the brakes every time I reversed out from the garage.

Regardless, an annoying active safety system is better than no safety system at all.

In terms of airbags, the Everest’s cabin is littered with inflatable protection totalling nine airbags encompassing dual front, front seat side, driver and passenger knee, and full-length curtain airbags, plus a front seat centre airbag between occupants to reduce the risk of head clash in a side impact.

There are two ISOFIX anchoring points in the second row and none in the third row, but each of the seats features a top-tether anchorage point.

How much does the Ford Everest cost to maintain?

Across the Ford range, all models are available with five-year warranty and capped-price servicing.

Scheduled service intervals are every 15,000km or 12 months, whichever occurs first, with services one to four coming in at $379 each, while the fifth service is $350. Capped service pricing changes for MY24 vehicles, rising to $379 for the first four scheduled services.

With a total cost over five years of $1866, the Everest is considerably more affordable to maintain than the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport ($2895) and the Toyota Fortuner ($3886.67) – the latter’s cost ballooning out due to a shorter six-month/10,000km service schedule and only the first six services falling under the brand’s capped-price scheme.

However, Ford also offers a loan car during servicing, ensuring you can stay mobile while maintenance work is being carried out – a huge boon for families that need to keep moving.

An insurance estimate came out to $1986 per year based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

With insurance premiums on the rise, this is a significant outlay; however, the Everest Trend is comparable to a Toyota Kluger and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport for coverage that are quoted at $1860 and $1790 respectively.

Is the Ford Everest fuel-efficient?

Officially, the Ford Everest Trend returns a fuel economy figure of 7.2 litres per 100 kilometres. However, in my week with the car I saw an average of 12.0L/100km.

This is mainly due to my commute being stop-start inner-city traffic, but the Everest’s claimed 6.6L/100km highway consumption is a respectable number for a vehicle of this size.

With an 80-litre fuel tank, the Everest has a theoretical average driving range of 1111km.

In terms of efficiency, the Ford Everest is easier on the wallet at the bowser compared to the Toyota Fortuner (7.6L/100km), Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (8.0L/100km), SsangYong Rexton (8.7L/100km), Isuzu MU-X (8.3L/100km) and LDV D90 (9.1L/100km).

This makes the Everest the most fuel-efficient choice in the ladder-frame chassis, seven-seat large SUV space.

What is the Ford Everest like to drive?

Powering the Ford Everest Trend is a 2.0-litre bi-turbo-diesel engine producing 154kW/500Nm.

While the engine size might seem small for a vehicle of this class, this is the same powertrain that motivated the much-lauded previous-generation Ford Ranger Raptor.

This means performance is peppy, if not mindboggling, but – in my opinion – the 2.0-litre engine is much better suited to a family SUV like the Everest rather than the workhorse Ranger ute range.

Off the line, the Everest comes away with enough zest, largely thanks to that peak torque being available from 1750rpm.

The transmission also shifts smoothly and largely fades into the background to keep things moving along.

Keep in mind, though, with 10 ratios, it can still be caught out in situations when it thinks you are slowing to a stop, but then suddenly accelerate, such as when traffic lights change. It’s not a deal-breaker by any stretch, but the transmission does need a beat to figure out what you want it to do.

Luckily, riding on 18-inch wheels, with all-terrain tyres in my case, the Everest Trend is a supremely comfortable experience.

This is helped by the chunky sidewalls (the tyres measure 255/65 at all four corners), and having tested the Everest Platinum with 21-inch wheels in the past (275/45), I can easily say the Trend is definitely the right choice for those looking for a smoother ride.  

Behind the wheel, the Everest also surprises with excellent and communicative steering.

Sitting in the Goldilocks zone, steering effort isn’t too heavy nor too light, and is easy to manoeuvre into tight car park spaces or change lanes on the freeway.

In fact, I’d go so far as to say the Everest is the best handling ladder-frame chassis SUV on the market, and feels closer to the likes of the Toyota Kluger or Hyundai Santa Fe rather than a dual-cab ute, despite its underpinnings.

However, with the aerodynamic profile of a brick, wind noise does get loud when travelling at freeway speeds, but all in all, passengers will be happy on the move inside the Everest Trend.

Also a boon to the Everest is its four-wheel-drive auto mode that adjusts drive between the front and rear axle depending on conditions, which means you can set and forget when travelling from the blacktop to the dirt path.

Aiding in its off-road capabilities are various off-road driving modes, including settings for mud, sand and tow situations, which are great options for the adventurous types.

Should I buy a Ford Everest?

If you are in the market for a large, three-row SUV that can handle it when the road gets rough, the Ford Everest Trend is an easy recommendation.

It is class-leading in terms of handling and is the most ‘car-like’ behind the wheel, rather than feeling like a ute with extra seating.

The Ford Everest Trend also has the right mix of equipment and features that will keep drivers and families happy on the road.

However, those who will never head off the beaten path, and are strictly looking for a family hauler to do school runs and grab groceries, might be better off looking at a monocoque seven-seater like the Hyundai Santa Fe or Toyota Kluger, as you won’t be paying for features or capabilities you will never need.

Plus, those two models also come with the option of a petrol-hybrid powertrain, saving you more at the bowser.

As a do-it-all, go-anywhere family car, though, the Ford Everest cannot be beat.

How do I buy a Ford Everest – next steps?

After a week with the Ford Everest Trend, it is obvious it is the best ladder-frame chassis SUV on the market.

The Trend is a sweet spot in the Everest line-up, especially as you can option in some niceties like a surround-view monitor, and heated and cooled front seats.

As a go-anywhere, do-anything family car, the Everest Trend ticks all the boxes, so I don’t think you need to spend more on higher grades, especially as the price really does start to creep up.

Luckily, stock of the 2.0-litre Ford Everests, like the Trend, seems to be plentiful, but demand for the V6-equipped models is high and incurs “extended wait times”, according to Ford.

You can find Fords for sale at Drive.com.au/cars-for-sale, or locate your nearest dealer here.

If you want to read more about the latest Ford Everest news visit this link.

The post 2024 Ford Everest Trend 4×4 review appeared first on Drive.

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