Ford Everest Wildtrak / XLT (2023) Launch Review
Ford has bolstered its local Everest range with the introduction of the Everest XLT and Everest Wildtrak. Our adventure journalist, Gero Lilleike, sampled the newcomers in the Pilansberg this week.
We tested the range-topping Ford Everest Platinum earlier this year and came away mightily impressed with what the 3rd-generation Everest has to offer. Make sure to watch our video in case you missed it!
Now though, Ford has introduced 3 new derivatives to the local Everest range: the Everest Wildtrak 4×4, Everest XLT (4×2 and 4×4) and the Everest Sport 4×2, bringing the total Everest derivative count to 6!
By giving consumers a wider choice across a broader price range, Ford has bolstered the prospects of the Everest, which has moved upmarket, but has never matched the Toyota Fortuner in terms of sales.
The launch of the Everest Wildtrak and Everest XLT took place this week and we had the chance to sample both derivatives on tar and gravel in the Pilanesberg, North West Province.
Also see: Ford Everest Wildtrak / XLT (2023) Price & Specs
What engines power the new Ford Everest?
The Everest Wildtrak uses the same 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engine as the Everest Platinum. It produces a heady 184 kW and 600 Nm and is paired with Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission. Ford claims fuel consumption at 8.5 L/100km. Note that the Everest Wildtrak is only offered in 4-wheel-drive guise.
As for the Everest Sport and new entry-level Everest XLT, they are powered by the Blue Oval’s familiar 2.0-litre bi-turbodiesel engine with 154 kW and 500 Nm and, as is the case with the 3.0-litre V6, the 4-cylinder is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Ford claims an average fuel consumption of 7.5 L/100 km. Buyers can now choose between 4×2 or 4×4 derivatives in both XLT and Sport trim.
What makes the Everest Wildtrak and XLT special?
This is the first time that the Wildtrak treatment has been applied to the Everest SUV and Luxe Yellow is available exclusively for this derivative. We love this hue – it looks particularly striking in bright sunshine!
The Everest Wildtrak adopts a more rugged persona with “WILDTRAK” lettering seen on the bonnet, while also adopting a “Bolder Grey” grille and silver bash plate. The Everest Wildtrak rides on two-tone 20-inch alloy wheels as standard, but for those who intend on venturing into the wild with the range-topper, Ford also offers smaller 18-inch wheels shod with all-terrain tyres that are fit for purpose.
Moving inside, the Everest Wildtrak gains yellow stitching seen on the steering wheel, dashboard and seats, the latter of which also gain embossed Wildtrak lettering. All Everest derivatives are equipped with a portrait-style 12-inch infotainment touchscreen (powered by Ford’s latest SYNC 4A operating system), as well as an 8-inch digital instrument display that can be configured to your preference.
The Everest Wildtrak further gains a dual-panel Moon Roof, which adds to the upmarket feel of the cabin and other nice-to-have features include an 8-way adjustable driver’s seat, 8-speaker premium audio system, USB-A and USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad and a built-in 400W/240V inverter.
See full specification for the Ford Everest Wildtrak
As for the Everest XLT, you may recognise the derivative by its chrome horizontal grille bars. While it may not feature the Wildtrak’s sunroof, it comes particularly well-equipped with standard features. In fact, it too has an 8-way adjustable driver’s seat and the same infotainment screen and instrument cluster as found on the Wildtrak. USB-A and USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad are also offered as standard. Adaptive cruise control and tyre pressure monitoring, however, aren’t offered on the Everest XLT.
See full specification for the Ford Everest XLT
How much does the new Ford Everest cost in South Africa?
The new Ford Everest is sold with a 4-year/120 000 km warranty, 4-year/unlimited distance Roadside Assistance and 5-year/unlimited distance corrosion warranty. The recommended service interval is 15 000 km or annually, whichever occurs first.
In line with the Right to Repair legislation, customers can choose to purchase service or maintenance plans of up to 8 years or 165 000 km, and the warranty can be extended to 7 years/200 000 km.
| Everest XLT 2.0L BiT 4×2 10AT | R832 400 |
| Everest XLT 2.0L BiT 4×4 10AT | R896 300 |
| Everest Sport 2.0L BiT 4×2 10AT | R918 500 |
| Everest Sport 2.0L BiT 4×4 10AT | R984 800 |
| Everest Wildtrak 3.0L V6 4WD 10AT | R1 084 000 |
| Everest Platinum 3.0L V6 4WD 10AT | R1 146 500 |
Buy a new Ford Everest on Cars.co.za
Buy a used Ford Everest on Cars.co.za
What’s the Ford Everest Wildtrak like to drive?
The launch route started at the Culinary Table at Lanseria airport where several Everest Wildtraks and Everest XLTs were waiting for us. Naturally, I made a beeline for the V6-powered Everest Wildtrak (you see, the author of this article is an amateur apiarist, otherwise known as a beekeeper – true story).
I needed to load an oversized bag (filled with beekeeping paraphernalia?) in the back of the Everest, but the claimed 259 litres of luggage space behind the 3rd row of seats was more than big enough to fit my hefty bag. Of course, unless the Ford needs to accommodate 7 occupants, the 3rd row can be folded down, which increases load capacity to a generous 898 litres. What’s more, when the Everest is tasked with hauling a big load, you can free up 1 823 litres of utility space when the 2nd and 3rd rows are folded.
Upon sliding into the driver’s seat, I immediately noticed that the Everest Wildtrak’s seat cushions were quite firm, but they offered adequate side bolstering and thigh support nonetheless. I proceeded to wirelessly connect Android Auto, a process which I found quick and seamless.
I pressed the engine start button and the Everest Wildtrak’s 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel came to life, with only the faintest engine whirr making its way into the cabin. In fact, cabin refinement is one of the major highlights of the new-generation Everest, even out on the road. Not only is engine noise adequately suppressed (even under hard acceleration), but the cabin is well-insulated from wind and road noise.
The long convoy of Ford Everests set off in the direction of Rustenburg for the Pilansberg mountains and, if you’ve driven in this part of the world recently, you’ll know that much of the road network is in a poor and, sadly, deteriorating state, which is perfect for testing the composure of the Everest’s suspension.
We drove at least 300 km on this launch and I was duly impressed by the high levels of ride comfort that the Everest delivered! Its suspension soaked up all but the worst of the pockmarked and rutted sections of tar on our route with aplomb. However, I found the steering feel to be a bit “sleepy” and would have preferred for the steering feel to be a tad sharper/more direct. Still, it’s a niggle that most buyers are unlikely to be bothered by and, overall, the Everest deserves praise for its refined on-road demeanour.
It’s also well worth mentioning that the Everest is no lightweight. In fact, the Blue Oval’s adventure SUV has a kerb weight of 2 341 kg, which means that the 184 kW/600 Nm engine has “a lot of vehicle” to haul around! But the performance of the turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine is, in a word, sublime! With all that power and torque, acceleration is swift and effortless and the Everest Wildtrak made light work of overtaking the countless heavy-duty trucks on that mining route. It’s an absolute pleasure to drive!
What’s more, the 10-speed automatic transmission is fantastically calibrated with the V6 powerplant. It changes up and down smoothly, almost imperceptibly, which further highlights the vast improvement in the refinement of this new Everest. With a 3 500 kg braked tow rating, the Everest Wildtrak has more than enough grunt on tap to tow boats, caravans, campers, horse boxes and so forth. Plus, with its adventure bent, it’s perfectly poised to serve those who seek to explore the outdoors with confidence.
I must add that I was pleasantly surprised to see a real-world fuel consumption figure of around 10.3 L/100 km, which isn’t too shabby for this V6 powerplant (Ford claims an average of 8.5 L/100 km).
The driver can choose from a range of drive modes to suit various conditions, including Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud & Ruts, and Sand. Furthermore, the Everest Wildtrak’s on-demand electromechanical 2-speed transfer case offers 2H (rear-wheel drive), 4A (automatic 4-wheel drive), 4H (for loose surfaces, such as gravel roads) and 4L (for negotiating off-road routes at low speeds).
It’s worth mentioning here that the Everest is extensively equipped with active and passive safety features and these include no fewer than 7 airbags, ABS with EBD, emergency braking stability control with traction control, hill descent control. In addition, the Everest Wildtrak features driver assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control with stop & go function, as well as lane centring, blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage, cross-traffic alert, evasive steer assist, a lane-keeping system with road-edge detection, pre-collision assist, reverse brake assist and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
Park Assist 2.0 and a 360-degree camera are optionally available for the Everest Wildtrak.
What is the Ford Everest XLT like to drive?
I initially thought that driving the V6-engined Everest Wildtrak first would set me up for disappointment when I stepped into the Everest XLT, which is powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder bi-turbodiesel engine.
But, boy, was I wrong. The Everest XLT is, in many ways, the pick of the range – and here’s why.
Firstly, with 2 fewer cylinders, it produces only 30 kW and 100 Nm less than what’s offered in the Everest V6 Wildtrak and Platinum offerings, but it’s far from lacking in terms of performance. While acceleration is perhaps not as urgent as what we experienced in the Everest Wildtrak, the Everest XLT doesn’t skip a beat when it comes to overtaking – there’s more than enough shove to keep the hefty SUV barreling along at a rapid rate. Most urban-based buyers will find the Everest XLT offers surfeit performance.
Importantly, based on what we witnessed during the launch (when the Everest XLT we drove indicated an average fuel economy figure of 9.2 L/100 km), the entry-level version should strike a better balance between performance and fuel economy than its V6 brethren. Moreover, the aforementioned levels of refinement and ride comfort we experienced in the Everest Wildtrak are also traits of its XLT brother.
Secondly, the Everest XLT’s cabin is generously equipped with standard equipment – this is by no means a poverty-spec derivative. The Everest XLT offers A LOT of 7-seat adventure SUV for under R900k.
And that leads me to the 3rd reason why the Everest XLT makes a strong case for itself — value for money! If you don’t need the sheer muscle of the V6 engine (to tow heavy toys) and care little for the attention-grabbing or ego-stroking design elements offered by the Everest Sport, Wildtrak and Platinum derivatives, then the blend of simple practicality and versatility offered by the Everest XLT is very difficult to ignore. Note that both the 4×2 and 4×4 versions of the Everest XLT are currently priced below R900k!
I’d say that the Everest XLT gives the rivalling Toyota Fortuner 2.8-GD-6 a good run for its money! See how they stack up against each other by using our handy Car Comparison Tool!