The Everest and Ranger have always been Ford’s most iconic vehicles in the Philippine market. It has always given a strong fight against other midsize body-on-frame SUVs, and in some cases, even pushing the boundaries of what to expect from a truck-based SUV.
Numerous improvements have led to an SUV that’s cutting-edge in terms of technology, as well as offering one of the most polished and refined driving experiences in this segment. The current 2024 Ford Everest has already been in the market for two years, yet within that time frame, we still think it’s the benchmark among midsize SUVs. If you want to find out why, you can check out all our reviews, of the Everest Sport, the Everest Titanium 4×4, and even its mechanical cousins, the Ranger Raptor and Ranger Wildtrak. But to summarize it all, here are five reasons why the 2024 Ford Everest is still our midsize SUV benchmark.
1. Class Leading Tech
Your relationship with the vehicle begins with the 10- or 12-inch touchscreen, which is powered by Ford’s SYNC4 operating system. It’s not just the size that wows you, but it’s also the sheer functionality it provides. It’s also the first in its segment to feature telematics in the Philippines through the FordPass app, which I used the most for remote vehicle controls. As someone who often worries if I left my car locked, I felt relieved knowing I could just check and lock this car through my phone.
Additionally, if you’ve left the Everest in an open parking lot on a hot day, you could remotely start it through the app. Not only that, but you could also conveniently schedule a start for those lazy work mornings when you’re just in a rush to leave sometimes. Through this app, you can also access your vehicle health and maintenance alerts. And there’s so much more! What makes all these features even better is the big infotainment screen on the dash. This 10-inch or 12-inch screen makes it easy for you to access all this tech has to offer. Adding to the convenience, you can easily connect your Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, either wired or wirelessly. Plus, with the included wireless charger, you can keep your device powered up while staying connected.
Finally, it also has digital gauges that are easy to customize. Trip information and other vehicle information are effortlessly accessible on this screen through the navigation buttons on the wheel.
2. Best-In-Class-Driving Experience
While packing a 2.0 turbo, the Everest’s transmission is very well calibrated so that you won’t experience a lack of power or lags on any road condition. When you drive the Ford Everest, you can tell it’s a tall vehicle. But surprisingly, it doesn’t feel wobbly like you might expect from a big SUV. Instead, it feels stable and easy to handle on the road.
Comfort is exquisite on the Everest. The wind and road noise suppression is excellent, and the suspension does an excellent job with absorbing bumps, feeling crossover-like as opposed to ponderous like a usual body-on-frame SUV would. It’s got power-adjustable seats that include lumbar support (which I love). Plus a well-wrapped leather steering wheel that is telescopically adjustable. Again, the good balance in comfort and handling in suspension, the infotainment system, and the digital gauges put all together a top-notch driving experience and a comfortable journey for passengers as well.
3. Handsome, Timeless Design
Without a doubt, the Ford Everest’s look is one we would call “handsome.” I’m extremely in love with the Blue Lightning colorway on the Sport variant. While this variant has a black grille and 20-inch wheels, the Trend and Titanium+ Variants are still good-looking, possessing a more boxy look compared to the previous Everest. The curves and lines are well-placed, making it distinctly masculine and somewhat minimalistic. Compared to other SUVs out there, I wish most SUVs would have this boxy look to them.
4. Premium Interior
You are definitely getting your money’s worth on the 2024 Ford Everest. The details not only look like they’re built with good quality, but they’re premium to the touch and experience. Primarily, the space you get in this SUV is generous. I’m not only talking about the first and second rows, but even the third row is spacious. Plus this third row folds down flat into the floor making more space for cargo and other utility use.
Other SUVs in this segment tend to have hard, plasticky interior materials. In the Everest, this feels like a posh and premium product, with its leatherette on the dash and the interior door panels, while the seats are soft and comfortable. Ditto the creature comforts you get, too, as stepping up to the Titanium variants add a panoramic sunroof, power-folding third-row seats, and even the Ford CoPilot360 suite of advanced driver-assistance systems in the Titanium 4×4, which adds automatic emergency braking, full-speed adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, a 360-degree camera, and lane centering functions, just to name a few.
5. Comprehensive Aftersales
Ford has been spending enormous time and resources beefing up its aftersales quality. Just recently, the Blue Oval brand opened up a logistics facility in Calamba, Laguna, with a total area of more than 13,000 square meters. It can hold more than 100,000 parts, and therefore shorten wait times for key preventive maintenance parts and other items. Not only that, but there are comprehensive Scheduled Service Plans (SSPs) available for the Everest, which is a prepaid maintenance package that is more affordable than paying up front preventive maintenance for your vehicle. It also protects you from price increases and inflation in parts in the long term.
Furthermore, the aftersales services of its dealers in general are also being improved as part of the brand’s robust commitment to aftersales, an integral part of Filipino car ownership. The Ford Everest, therefore, isn’t just going to be pleasant to own but to also maintain and take care of in the years to come.
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