We've had our reservations about calling Ford's upcoming Everest a true sport utility vehicle after seeing so
many decked out Toyota Revos, Mitsubishi Adventures and Isuzu Crosswinds that purport to be the same.
Sure, they all have variable seating configurations, leather seats, CD and even VCD players/LCD monitors,
state-of-the-art multi-valve EFI gasoline engines (Adventure), direct injection diesel engines (Crosswind),
big wheels and all-terrain tires, spare tires hung on the tailgate and plastic lower body cladding with 2-tone
treatment. Still, these vehicles are more AUV than SUV when the going gets really tough.
So what does the Everest have going for it to make it a bonafide SUV? Seek and ye shall find: decent
approach and departure angles for at least medium-duty off-roading, a limited slip differential, huge
265/70R-15 all-terrain tires, fuel tank guards, 4-wheel ABS with 2-piston front brake calipers, a high-torque
2.5-liter 12-valve intercooled turbodiesel 4-cylinder engine and, last but definitely not the least, honest-to-goodness
high- and low-range four-wheel-drive. Pretty serious SUV stuff.
Inside you'll find more evidence of high-end SUV-ness: multiple aircon vents on the ceiling, dual airbags, available
automatic transmissions, an easy-to-use "flip-and-fold" 2nd-row seat, flat-folding front-facing 3rd-row seats for a
seven-passenger capacity (instead of the ridiculously uncomfortable jeepney-type 10-seat configuration of the other
AUVs), auxiliary power points for the front and cargo areas, an overhead storage console, and, on closer inspection,
lots of sound insulation for that hushed cabin effect.
Ford has endeavoured to boldly take the AUV where no AUV has gone before: genuine off-roading. Truth be told, the
4x4 Everest will go farther than any 4x2 Expedition, come hell or high water. It will redefine the AUV cum SUV crossover
better than its more established local rivals. The Everest is a genuine sport utility vehicle, make no mistake about it.
