KUALA LUMPUR: The next generation Ford Everest has been launched here, with prices starting from RM263,888 (excluding insurance) all the way to RM308,888 to tempt buyers with three versions called Sport, Trend, and Titanium.
Featuring a single turbo 2.0-litre diesel engine, the Sport, as the entry level model of what is billed as a luxury seven-seater SUV built on a ladder frame chassis, does away with the 4WD mode as well as the electronic rear differential lock, but keeps most of the modern safety features and driving aids that customers expect.
With a six-speed transmission, its driver assistance features includes cruise control, manual speed limiter, electronic stability control, traction control, parking sensors.
It still comes with a seven-airbag configuration.
Stopping power for all three models are the same, as they are provided by all-round disc brakes, which naturally makes everything looks good too.
Moving on one step higher gives you the Trend, the intermediate offering costing RM281,888.
This comes with 2.0-litre twin turbo (or what Ford calls biturbo), 10-speed transmission, and slightly higher compression ratio (at 16 versus the 15.8 found in the Sport).
With the twin turbo, engine output is bumped up to 154.5kW (210PS) at 3,750rpm, versus the 125kW (170PS) at 3,500rpm of the single turbo found in the Sport.
Traction-wise, the Trend comes with electronic shift-on-the-fly to activate drive to all four wheels, just like the top-end Titanium.
The only anomaly is here that while the Sport comes with Ford's renowned tailgate that opens with the kick gesture, the Trend omits this feature.
The talking point of the day was the Titanium, which comes with a sun-moon roof combo (or what Ford calls dual-panel sunroof), underbody protection bash as standard, as well as auto headlamp levelling.
The Titanium also has the largest cabin touchscreen, a big 12-inch display, while the Sport and Trend both feature very respectable 10-inch displays, respectively.
A very thoughtful feature is the USB port provided at the rear-view mirror housing, which facilitates the powering of dashcams, which is a device that most car owners install nowadays.
In all, the cabin of the new Everest will have a total of four USB ports, with the Titanium even offering a 240V socket in the cabin that is good enough to power devices that take up to 400W.
The asking price of the Titanium is also justified by the provision of adaptive cruise control, which comes with the stop-and-go mode and lane centring to keep things on the right track.
Other feature found only in the Titanium are tyre pressure monitoring system, land departure warning, blind spot information system, rear cross traffic alert, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, reverse-brake assist, and 360-degree camera for helping drivers manoeuvre the vehicle that is 50mm longer in the wheelbase, and 50mm wider at the track, compared to the previous generation Everest.
The icing on the cake is the Active Park Assist 2.0 to help drivers ease the vehicle in and out of tight spots - all by just pressing a button.
All three variants were unveiled at the KLGCC here, with the event attended by Turse Zuhair, managing director of Sime Darby Auto ConneXion-Ford (SDAC), and DJ Simpson, managing director of Ford Asia Pacific Distributor Markets.
Head of product planning for SDAC-Ford Farhan Lim said users could immediately appreciate the range of functionality put into place to make this seven-seater a very comfortable place to be in.
"With the superb noise reduction measures put in place, you will notice how quiet the cabin is. Those seated on the third row will not need to raise their voice to talk to those in the front. It is that quiet, in line with a more refined and comfortable interior," he said, adding that the lift gate door is also 35mm wider and opens 11mm higher to make load and unload.
Other goodies include second row air cond blowers, generously distributed USB sockets, the latest in connectivity via Ford's SYNC 4A, and wireless phone charging.
The new Everest is also future proofed as the engine can take biodiesel blends of up to B20, he added.
Colour choices for this SUV are Absolute Black, Aluminium Metallic, Arctic White, Equinox Bronze, Lightning Blue (for Sport), Meteor Grey, and Sedona Orange.
"The Everest has been celebrated over the world as the perfect companion for those who love adventure, recreation, and going out with family and friends.
"With amazing capability at its core, a quiet and refined sanctuary on the inside, class-leading technologies and safety standards, we believe the next-gen Everest will widen its appeal in the market," said Simpson.
For Turse, the Everest is the answer to those trying to juggle various challenges in life.
"Their aspirations and adventurous spirits drive them to push the limits always. And they appreciate the utility, capability and spaciousness of an SUV.
"The next-gen Everest is the ideal companion to help them master very milestone, while striking a perfect balance in life," he said.
For more information, go to https://www.sdacford.com.my/models/suv/next-gen-everest
