2020 Ford Everest: First impression

It was back in 2003 when Ford first launched the Everest in the Philippines. And after so many years, the Everest is still on sale. This clearly tells us two things - first, the love and admiration of the Filipinos towards this SUV, and second, the capabilities and features that helped it to survive such a long time in a competitive market.

Today, the Ford Everest is available in its 2020 model. This latest avatar made its global debut last year in Thailand and we just got it now. Yes, it has been a long wait but at least it did make to our shores. So what is the new 2020 Ford Everest all about? Here is our first impression.

Exterior

There are not a lot of changes done on the outside of the new 2020 Ford Everest. Our first look at it made us wonder whether it is the new model or the previous one. You would have to be a keen observant to notice the changes. For most people, the new Everest would not be any different than the model it has replaced.

So at the front, the chrome grille now features three horizontal slats with the brand logo place at the centre. The design of the grille remains the same. Then we have the LED daytime running lights that have now been made as a standard feature on both the variants. They do enhance the look of the SUV by adding a pinch of aggressiveness. Another slight change at the front has been made to the bumper. It somehow looks a bit sportier and aggressive than before. The rest of the elements remain untouched.

There are no other changes made at the exterior of the new Everest. However, if you go through the 2020 Ford Everest specs carefully you would notice that it is available in 6 colour options - Arctic White, Absolute Black, Meteor Gray, Sunset Red, Diffused Silver, and Aluminum Metallic.

Interior

Just as on the outside, the interior of the new 2020 Everest has not been fiddle with. It offers the same set of features, space, comfort, and luxury. Some of the features that are worth mentioning include large touch screen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, Ford’s SYNC 3 system, black leather upholstery including a leather-wrapped steering wheel, etc.

Engine and transmission

Till now, you must be wondering what exactly is new in the new 2020 Ford Everest. Well, now we are in the right section. The new Everest has borrowed the engine and transmission from the Raptor. It is available in two engine options - a 2.0-litre turbo diesel which produces 178 bhp of max power and 420 Nm of peak torque and is available in 4x2 configuration.

The other engine option is a 2.0-litre Bi-turbo diesel engine that churns out 210 hp and 500 Nm and is available in the 4x4 configuration. Ford has also replaced the old 6-speed transmission with the new 10-speed automatic gearbox which is the same unit that we have seen in the Ford Raptor. All this means that the new Ford should be much more engaging to drive and much more capable than before.

Safety features

The safety features that come as standard in both variants of the new Everest include 7 SRS airbags, electronic stability control, ABS, traction control, rollover mitigation and brake assist, hill launch assist, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, and blind-spot information with cross-traffic alert.

The safety features that are limited to the higher-end model include pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection (autonomous emergency braking), adaptive cruise control with forward collision alert, lane-keeping assist, a driver alert system, auto high beam control, and active park assist.

For us, the new Everest is a silent upgrade. It is indeed very similar to the previous model but you are going to notice the difference once you drive it around. So do take a test drive to experience the all-new Everest. Available in only two variants, 2.0 Bi-Turbo Everest Titanium 4x2 and 2.0 Bi-Turbo Everest Titanium 4x4, the 2020 Ford Everest price is Php 1,995,000 and Php 2,299,000 respectively.

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