I just had a quick experience of the new generation Ford Everest 2023 and felt really impressed. In this incarnation, the American brand’s 7-seat SUV model has received many notable upgrades, promising to make other models in the same segment such as Toyota Fortuner or Hyundai Santa Fe wary.

With that amount of money, we have many other 7-seat SUV options such as Fortuner, Pajero Sport (body on frame platform), Sorento, Santa Fe, Mazda CX-8… (Unibody platform)… but Ford Everest 2023 still easily conquers customers who are passionate about muscular SUVs because of a series of unique competitive advantages.

Strong improvements in design and equipment

It’s easy to see that with this new Everest model, Ford has adapted the design of the legendary F150 line very successfully. Therefore, the new Everest really looks much better than the old version, stronger and more American. Car lights with C-shaped daylight most clearly represent Ford’s global design. The Titanium + version will have LED matrix lights with smart functions to adjust lift, glance angle, intensity and cut off the projection area to the front and oncoming vehicles… The equipment on the Titanium version is very complete, 8 sensors. variable distance, 360 degree camera.

The grille, bumper and front end look quite aggressive, very suitable for those who like muscle cars. For those of you who prefer a softer design, you should switch to the Unibody line like Santa Fe, Sorento or Mazda CX-8. 

The car’s side has the addition of a chrome-plated border under the glass (the old version did not have it), and the adjusted foot steps look quite eye-catching. The raised D-pillar makes the rear look stronger and more traditional than an SUV.

The highest version Titanium + uses 255 tires instead of 265 tires like the previous generation. In my opinion, this factor in the combination of solving the traction problem is more suitable to solve the problem of old gearbox gears that occurs in some vehicles.

The highest version Titanium + uses 255 tires instead of 265 tires like the previous generation. In my opinion, this factor in the combination of solving the traction problem is more suitable to solve the problem of old gearbox gears that occurs in some vehicles.

The interior is too good

Not only does it attract users with a new, more flattering appearance, the interior is where the Everest 223 scores extremely high, especially the high-end Titanium and Titanium + versions with 2 large and super sharp digital screens. with beautiful graphics and a very smooth experience.

Behind the steering wheel is a 12.4-inch screen that can change the interface according to the driver’s preferences. The 12-inch central screen is placed vertically, the wireless Carplay connection is very “worth the money” and the interface is impeccably beautiful. Touch-sensitive air conditioning and of course still have physical controls. In case the curtain lights need to be reset, the air conditioner can still be used at normal volume. Two-zone independent air conditioning, 3-level auto, max cool.

Experience a very sharp 360-degree camera with a reasonable layout, the front/rear cam angle is placed above and the top shot is placed vertically, and there is a mode to guide the wheel angle when going off-road. Shows the vehicle’s horizontal and vertical tilt angles… in general, it looks a lot like a Land Rover or Land Cruiser luxury car. 

The screen uses Ford’s latest SYNC4 operating system, which is extremely beautiful and supports voice control. It’s a pity that there are no voice commands in Vietnamese yet. The experience of using the screen is identical to that of a smartphone, so it’s easy, quick and doesn’t leave many fingerprints. Overall, I feel ecstatic with this central screen. Lower versions than Sport and Ambiente will use a smaller 10-inch screen.

Mechanical gear lever, takes a while to get used to. Still press M and use +/- to use manual. Personally, I prefer having steering wheel shift levers and putting them aside to use manual.

In addition, the car is also equipped with Autohold, Electronic Brake, and downhill assist features like other models in the same segment. However, the beauty of the Everest Titanium 4×4 is the 3 bridge formulas 2H – 4H – 4L (removing 4A) and the very impressive drive mode combination from on road to off-road. I can describe it as follows:

NORMAL: normal driving mode, flat road 

ECO (ECONOMIC): changing gear shift points helps optimize fuel efficiency

TOW/HAUL: delivers plenty of torque in low gears for towing or heavy loads

SLIPPERY: helps control and reduce wheel slippage on slippery terrain

MUD & RUTS: maximum control in extreme off-road situations 

SAND: optimizes force to the wheels

The car has 8 standard speakers that sound good, personally I find it the best in its segment and price range. Most likely, Ford will also return to the Platinum version with B&O speakers and better leather interior. 

The Titanium and Titanium + versions have a large panoramic sunroof with automatic 4-panel windows. You should apply quality heat-insulating film to the sunroof. That’s the secret. The air conditioner can be lowered up to 15 degrees, in 0.5 degree steps. The initial experience is deeply cool. The material of the dashboard and door panels is soft to the touch. The door handle has a new design that opens the door quite well. The leather seats are normal but the seat design is beautiful. A few small amenities I quite like are: the water tray located under the air conditioning vents on both driver and passenger sides and the sophisticated interior lighting system. 

However, the car lacks heated steering wheel, seats, seat cooling and does not have seat position memory or HUD. There is a high possibility that these features will be available in the upgraded version. The car has wireless charging, and a USB slot on the mirror helps you install the dash cam yourself.

Experience performance

I test drove the Titanium + 4×4 version, 2.0L Bi-turbo engine, 10-speed gearbox. I have the following impressions:

The sound of the engine is extremely smooth, without a strong oil smell. A few test drivers sitting in the car compartment didn’t even realize this was a diesel version.

Soundproofing is something I find very impressive. The machine is quiet, has excellent underbody soundproofing and reduces wind noise with two mirrors. Ford said they focus on handling these three issues effectively. Some people ask how the soundproofing ability is compared to Santa Fe, Sorento, CX-8, and I confirm that it is much better. Even compared to models in the body on frame SUV group.

Test drive route from Cam Ranh to Vinh Hy. The car carries 4 people, in general I feel the gear changes smoothly, with a 10-speed transmission, this transmission can probably go up to 6-7. The 2.0 turbo engine has 210PS (~207 horsepower) but the maximum torque is 500Nm and the tire size is smaller than 255 instead of 265 so the car feels like it accelerates well. However, don’t expect it to be too hot. If I were to pick it up, I would think it would be around 3.0, but it would be too difficult because if I brought it back to Vietnam, the price would be quite high. In general, I still want this line to have a strong machine of about 280 codes, which is great.

Regarding the suspension system, it is still quite soft, going straight is smooth, but when cornering, the slope still tilts much differently. 

Everest is equipped with a unique suspension system in the segment: independent front suspension, using cylindrical springs and stabilizer bars. The rear suspension system uses cylindrical springs, large shock absorbers and Watts-type stabilizer bars. 

When entering light off-road, Everest shows its SUV quality and high ground clearance advantage with 4×4 formula and drive mode 4H and 4L. In general, for rainy days in Hanoi, Everest will be extremely advantageous, because of its water wading ability of up to 800mm. Furthermore, high torque, high intake… are the advantages of Everest. 

The Titanium + version I test drove is fully equipped with safe driving technology, Adaptive Cruise Control across the full speed range, Stop and Go follows the car in front at even low speed ranges quite smoothly. The car has active steering support and lane departure control support. Some situations clearly warn and assist with braking to avoid collisions. Blind spot warning and automatic parking assistance are standard on Ford high-end models. 

Overall, in terms of technology and utilities, Everest Titanium + is at the top of its segment. The remaining problem is whether you like American muscle design and whether the house has a large enough garage or not?