Bucket Seat: Ford Everest Platinum

Ever since I saw the new Ford Everest Platinum edition in the metal at their assembly plant in Silverton, I was itching to get behind the wheel of this monster. With the Everest being based of the much loved Ranger bakkie platform, it was no surprise to see how sales for this 7-seater in its previous generation competed well against it's competitors in the market. This new Everest however seems to have set the bar as a complete vehicle, leaving the competition in sixes and sevens wondering what to do. It's gained popularity over the past year and ever since its launch, sales have been pretty impressive to say the least. It took a long time for me to finally get my chance to pilot this car, so read the full review to find out if that age old saying "it was worth waiting for" proves to be true for this car. 

DESIGN 

The design of the new Everest follows the main design cues from the Ranger with that big American styled chassis and the front end reminiscent of the F150. The large grille with hot foil accent mesh and silk chrome accents which gives off a premium look and is exclusive to the Platinum model. Like the Ranger, the iconic new C Clamp headlights still remain a prominent feature on this model. Everything about this car is big and bold, being the range topping model, Ford didn't spare any cent in making it known that this is the Platinum Edition with me counting 14 badges and signs in and around the vehicle, which is a fun fact about the car if needed. The striking design isn't all about the badges but like the previous model, Ford have done an exceptional job in fusing a bakkie platform and adding the addition roof and tailgate to it to make a great looking SUV so much so that it makes it look like the Ranger was the afterthought from this design. While being bigger, bolder and slightly higher than its predecessor, the boxy design makes it look bigger than it actually is, which gives off this daunting look when its in motion on the road. The rear design is neat and stands out just as much as the front with the solid rear lights housing a unique LED design. The Everest Platinum comes with 21-inch machine faced alloys which give off that premium feel to the overall look. The colour in which I had on test was Equinox Bronze which gave a bit of a violet hue in the bright sunlight, a definite head turner if you ask me. The interior see's a complete revamp with the similar styling of the outside transcending on the inside with squared edges and bold accents. The main focal point being the huge 12-inch LCD touchscreen, more about this will be discussed later on in the blog. The cabin does match the exterior in terms of presidential looks and feel, really a major step up from the previous model. 

PERFORMANCE

Powered by a 3.0-litre Power Stroke V6 diesel motor, the Everest Platinum isn't short of any power with the plant producing 184kW @ 3250rpm and a maximum torque of 600Nm @ 2500rpm. With a car of this nature aimed for family leisure, its to note that the Everest Platinum has a maximum towing capacity braked at 3500kg! The motor is linked to an all-new 10-speed automatic gearbox which works like a charm on the open road, minimizing the search for gears when required and thus keeping the average fuel consumption respectable to say the least. With the various driving modes available at the touch of a button and with the car being 4WD, it made going from freeway to off road extremely simple. The Everest is dubbed as the ultimate family SUV, it definitely lives up to that reputation on the road. With the drive quality being superb, even with the big frame it's pretty steady on the open road with minimal body roll. Admittedly it isn't that agile but you won't expect a 7-seater SUV to be agile. There are many aids to assist the driving dynamics of the Everest, namely lane departure sensing which helps keeps the Everest in the lane you're traveling, collision alert which gives a warning if the car in front brakes abruptly, adaptive cruise control, and ABS braking. It really is a pleasant drive and once you get used to the bulky size of it, it becomes quite enjoyable to drive. 

COMFORT

With a car this size, its bound to be luxurious and comfortable, the Everest Platinum boasts an elevated luxury interior that has leather seats which are heated and vented. The driver and front passenger have a 10-way electrically adjustable seats with memory settings for the driver. The seats have bespoke inserts with quality design and signature Platinum badges for the front two seats. The cabin is filled with opulent finishes framed in satin chrome accents to provide a warm and elegance to make it known you're in the flagship model. What I liked is the quality of materials used to finish the dash, normally with a model that has wide range of variants, including the bakkie line-up, you would find that certain of the "cheaper" generic elements would remain the same throughout but with the Platinum everything feels pretty much premium. All 7-seaters are finished in quality leather with the 3rd row also electrically controlled, so you can fold or open with a flick of a switch. The cabin has 3-zone climate control with vents located in the roof for the second and third row ensuring the cabins temperature is maintained throughout. The multi-function steering works well and is much easier to navigate the digital instrument cluster than the previous generation Everest. The large 12-inch center console infotainment screen is easy to use with mobile phone connectivity available via USB or wireless. It also makes for a great display for the 360 degree camera view which is operating via four cameras around the car. The climate control setting can be changed by using the dials below the screen, this also brings up the climate menu on the screen so you can adjust it accordingly. The new "e shifter" is a bit of an odd design but another cool party trick is leaving it in drive and switching off the car, it will automatically move the gear into park. The car comes with a 12-speaker B&O sound system which pumps proper and The Platinum model also comes with a Panoramic Moonroof which adds to the wide-open space and allows plenty of natural light into the cabin. Luggage space is plenty, even with all 3 rows up, there is still place for light luggage or your weekend shopping haul. 

VERDICT

We South Africans are a proud nation and while there are many brands that assemble cars locally, the fact that Ford showed so much promise in investing billions into our infrastructure to produce the Ranger on our shores just makes it that much more special. While they are a few gripes about the car, there is a lot to love love about it too. Sales of the car speaks for it self and with the different models available, there is one for every type of driver. Yes, the price is a bit off putting but once you take a look at what is on offer, it does set itself apart from the competition by a good few miles. Like I said at the beginning of this review, the Everest has moved ahead of its competition, so much so opening another segment for itself. While the increase in fuel price, especially diesel is of a concern, there is still demand for these large family SUV's so I don't see sales being affected for the near future. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	3.0L Power stroke V6 Diesel
Gear Box	10-Speed Automatic with E-Shifter
Torque	600Nm
Power	184kW
Fuel Economy	8.5L per 100km
Price	R1,180,000

 

Bucket Seat: Toyota Fortuner 2.8 GD-6

There's no real surprise as to why the Toyota Fortuner is one of South Africa's most sold SUV's. It's essentially based of one of the most loved bakkies in the country, that is the Hilux but instead of a cab and bin, it has a luxury cabin with 7-seats! This year saw Toyota reveal an update to the Fortuner that has included a host of new elements both in design and technology, while it still is powered by that famous work-horse of an engine that has expanded in its model offering, the power and economy figures have been tweaked to give the driver better results. I spent some time with the new Fortuner a while back and this is how much time went with the SUV.

DESIGN

Not much has changed in-terms of the overall appearance of the Fortuner, it has some minor design enhancements such as revised headlamps and rear lights with more LED detailing that really give the car a striking appearance. A noticeable change on the front end is the new grill which has a larger profile design and a more prominent Toyota emblem in the middle. The sides of the grill have a wide border finished in chrome to accentuate the V shape and ties into the front headlamps beautifully. The lower part of the end has a significant change with larger air-intakes which house the fog lamps but below that is also day-time running LED's which could also serve as fog lamps, so one thing is for sure, this car is very visible in bad weather conditions. The number plate is mounted on the upper part of the front skid plate which is finished in brushed aluminum and adds to the rugged nature of the cars appearance. The Fortuner comes with new designed 18" alloy wheels which are great looking and tough for going off the beaten track with. Much of the overall design in the Fortuner remains unchanged from the previous model but still is a great looking car. 

PERFORMANCE

Powered by that famous 2.8L Diesel in-line 4 cylinder,  GD6 motor, you know the Fortuner has enough power to conquer just about any terrain with is. The powertrain is mated with the 6-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shift which works brilliantly at all speeds, maximizing the power output on each gear as it makes it way up the ratios. With various driving modes selectable from a touch of a button, the gearbox adapts well to when more power is required. With the motor delivering 150kW and 500Nm of torque, you won't be running short of power anytime during your journey. Off-road performance probably surprises you more than on the road performance, with the double wishbone suspension up front and the multilink four link suspension at the back, navigating through harsh terrain has never been easier, from loose gravel to sticky mud, the Fortuner performed exquisitely in all conditions.

COMFORT

While the interior remains virtually unchanged, the technology has been upped in the Fortuner with the infotainment system offering mobile car app connectivity now with the likes of Apple Car Play and Android Auto available via USB connection. The interior still remains plush and spacious with stylish crafted black seats (not sure if other colours are available), the cabin has satin finishes and high quality leather from the dash to the doors. All very soft to the touch and has an opulent feel to it, it really enhances the luxury aspect to the car. The front passenger and driver have dual-zone climate control with heated seats, the second row and foldable 3rd row seating have single zone climate control for themselves. While the second row seating is spacious, the 3rd row when folded down is slightly tight but still enough space for an adult to squeeze in there. I'm still not a fan of the fold to the side seating for the 3rd row, I found this problematic with the previous model but I see Toyota have improved on the locking mechanism of it when folded up. Previously I had the seat unlocking itself while I was driving which can be quite a fright if driving alone in the car. Other note-worthy enhancements are the electro chromatic rear view mirror with an auto-dimming function to reduce glare during the dark, keyless entry, folding mirrors and automatic tailgate. 

VERDICT

It's hard to find faults with the Fortuner and while they might be minor ones if you nitpick. they are too minor to even argue over. The pricing point of the car might seem steep at first but when compared to what you're getting in terms of car, performance, fuel economy and technology, not many come close. The sheer size of the vehicle along with that Toyota badge which means so much more than car manufacturer, it means great service, great reliability as well as great re-sale value, all of this makes it hard to look away at this model when in the market for a large family SUV that is capable of rolling in the dirt from time to time. It's not difficult to see what its built up such a cult fan base in the country and with the recipe Toyota have for it, long will it continue. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.8L Diesel
Gear Box	6-Automatic
Torque	500Nm
Power	150kW
Fuel Economy	7.9 per 100L
Price	R789,000

 

Bucket Seat: Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2D Executive

Hyundai's Santa Fe has been around for years and has always been the brands flagship SUV in the stable, that was until recently when the ginormous Palisade was launched locally but I'm not here to talk about that one, but rather the Santa Fe. Did you know Santa Fe means "Holy Faith" in Spanish? I just Googled that now because it is an odd name to give to a car, not sure of the Korean's are deep into religion or just like the town in New Mexico? Either way the latest rendition of this model see's a drastic change in design of the front which forms part of Hyundai's new design language and boy does it look good! Even though this model has been dethroned as their biggest model, the Santa Fe still does hold presence as I will elaborate on in the design aspect of this review but after spending some time in this car, its has its fair share of niggles but what you will appreciate is the honesty about itself and if you think it photographs well, you should see it in the metal!

DESIGN

As mentioned just a few lines up, the new Santa Fe has presence, and that is thanks to the bold new styling of the front of the vehicle with that massive new grille, its finished off in a brushed aluminum like look and really is the cars most stand-out feature when looking at it dead on. From a glance it oks like a fishnet texture but upon closer inspection, it gives a metal chains look. The front headlamps are integrated with the lines of the grille that extend outwards to the sides but at split, both horizontally and vertically by the new LED daytime running lights when illuminated look like the letter T, not sure if this was a specific design aspect but it looks kinda cool. The whole design seems smooth and well though out, with just the right about of creases and folds, that make the appearance of the car rather  elegant. The wheel arches are well pronounced with an extra edging to accentuate the large rims, which are 18" alloys in a stylish 5-spoke laser cut pattern. Moving to the rear, that's where most of the old styling remains with a familiar rear lights which follow the crease of the car with a solid read piece linking the two lights. Additional reflective lights adorn the rear bumper with skidplates at the bottom to match the front. The interior of the Santa Fe has a very modern look to it, with a floating center console which is finished in leather and plastic. The patterns and styling of the cabin are very arty and easy on the eye. 

PERFORMANCE

I had with me the 2.2D Executive model, which is the bottom of the two models offered locally. Its a front wheel drive SUV with a 2.2-litre diesel engine that produces 148kW and 440Nm of torque. The motor is tied to an 8-speed DCT box which isn't a CVT but I did have some niggles with at first with gear selection but that was mainly due to my heavy foot but over time I figured how to get the best from it. When driven properly the Santa Fe can give you between 8-9L per 100km, I managed to get it down to 8.2L per 100km on a long distance trip which I mainly used the cars cruise control to regulate the speed. The drive of the car is pretty good, given the size and weight you'd think there might be times when it would struggle but the car seems to get better as it goes. There were a few grips I had with the steering when full lock is done, you get a plastic knocking noise which annoyed me but it was soon forgotten as you straighten out and be on your way. 

COMFORT

I don't think you can fault the level of comfort afforded to you in the Santa Fe, the seats are large and luxurious, with a diamond stitching upper which is also on the second row seating. It's expected to have this sort of luxury in a large SUV like this, the 3rd row seating is finished off in the same leather but are much thinner in-terms of cushioning. They're very easy to lift and fold back into space to allow for greater trunk capacity. They also feature cup holders as well as addition storage space for mobile phones or other items. Second row passengers get to enjoy two USB ports for charging, aircon vent which is controlled by the front, seat pockets for storage and electric windows and moving to the front, driver and passenger have dual climate-control aircon and a leather wrapped dash. The center console is laid out quite differently with the gear-selectors being push buttons, which are normally reserved for high-end sports cars but here are Hyundai adding them to their Santa Fe. It does get a bit tricky when you're not used to it but it's refreshing to see. The drive mode dial is large prominent with PDC and camera buttons clearly placed. The float console has additional storage below which features a USB port as well as 12V socket. The rubberised mat makes sure that items place there don't go sliding around. The cars infotainment screen is large and features pre-loaded mobile apps for ease of connectivity with a multi-function steering wheel to control all aspects of the cars communication and vehicle information. 

VERDICT

Overall the Santa Fe solidified its value in the Hyundai stable to me, its a luxury large SUV with comfort features and finishes that would normally cost you a lot of money in European rivals. The cars drive is a smooth one and leaves you refreshed rather than tired. The design of it is bold and eye-catching, it exudes presence on the roads and it gets the attention it deserves. While we know there is a bigger model available now from Hyundai, I still think this would be the ideal sized SUV for a large family, with the option of having the two extra seats in the rear, mind you much of the luggage space does get compromised with the seats being utilized. I really enjoyed my time with the Santa Fe but I'm still intrigued to see how the larger Palisade goes but I guess I have to wait for that one. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.2L Diesel
Gear Box	8-Automatic DCT
Torque	440Nm
Power	148kW
0-100km/h	7.9 seconds
Price	R769,500

 

Bucket Seat: Ford Everest Bi-Turbo Limited AWD

When it comes to SUV's in the SA market, the two heavyweights which battle for market dominance in-terms of sales figures, are the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest. While both are very similar in overall aspects, Toyota did have the upper hand with more engine variant offerings than Ford with them only having the 2.2L and 3.2L liter diesel options, but recently Ford South Africa have introduced their new 2.0L Bi-Turbo Diesel which is set to stir things up for them as the Everest is already a great offering and with this new engine variant it can only do good things for the brand. I had the opportunity to spend a week with the new Ford South Africa Everest 2.0L Bi-Turbo as well as take it on a cross country trip from the coast to Johannesburg to see how it goes, here are my thoughts on the car. 

DESIGN

To me the Everest has always been the best looking 7-seater SUV on the market and it still remains that with this new model receiving subtle styling enhancements but the overall looking remaining very much the same. It goes with the saying, don't fix something if it ain't broke and Ford reservedly did so. The car has that American charm to it, even though it features the Ranger front end but sporting a different grille, the way the car is sculptured with added bulk on the wheel arches, flowing lines along the side to give the side profile a very professional look before tying in perfectly at the back with the longitudinal lamps. The car is very classy and even more so in this Frozen White paint work. The model specification I had was the top of the range Limited which has 18" rims, a lot of chrome accents, ventilated brake discs up front and a whole lot of safety features. The inside also remains very similar to the previous model, pretty much the same set-up as the Ranger but more softer materials to give it that family/ luxury feel rather than that of a bakkie. 

PERFORMANCE

As mentioned, this is Ford's all-new 2.0L Bi-Turbo Diesel engine, it's teamed up with a new 10-speed automatic gearbox which combined with the performance from the engine make it a dream to drive. The old 6-speed automatic wasn't too bad and performed well with the 3.2L diesel engine but with the 2.2L it had it searched for that perfect medium but now with the 10-speed box it knows the ratios to produce the optimal performance when needed and it helps with the fuel economy. The 2.0L Bi-Turbo diesel engine produces 157kW with 500Nm of torque, with the Limited being all-wheel-drive, this torque is transferred to all four wheels and makes the car quite quick off the start on tar roads. Ford say the claimed fuel consumption to be 7.6L to the 100km, a figure that I didn't get close to on my long distance trip but then again with all the road-works on the N3 it would have been difficult to achieve this but still, keeping that figure to under 10L per 100km in a big vehicle like this, with a full load was pretty pretty impressive. 

COMFORT

So with this being the Limited model, it comes kitted out with all the nice stuff, leather seats for ALL 7 seats, my favourite party trick from this model is the automatic folding third row seating which you can control from the luggage compartment. The third row folds flat to give you even more luggage space if required. Upfront you have seat heating for driver and front passenger, the large infotainment screen with Ford's SYNC 3, this model did not have Apple Car Play or Android Auto preloaded as per  normal but there is an option for you to do that via Wi-Fi, yes you can make a Wi-Fi hotspot via the car for the entire cabin which is also pretty cool. The second row seats is as luxurious if not more than the front, they get their own zone climate control with controls at the back. Being a big vehicle you're going to need some assistance getting around so it comes with front and rear PDC's as well as a rear view parking camera. The cruise control took me a while to figure out, but once it was activated it was smooth sailing from there as it has active cruise control which slows down if it sensors the car in front of you slowing down. It has blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning as well should you stray across and not notice, which is easy to do in a big car like this. 

OFF-ROAD

Being a fully fledged off-roader, I was hoping to take it out off the beaten track but unfortunately didn't get the time to do so but you'll be pleased to know it comes with all the bells and whistles for this application.  From Hill Descent Control, Hill Launch Assist, Roll-Over Mitigation, EBD and ESP. The jog shuttle dial system for selection of road conditions make it easy for anyone to use. The front suspension is independent with coil spring and anti roll bar, while the rear being coil spring with Watt Links. The transmission is 4WD with electronic locking rear differential, with final drive 3.31. 

VERDICT

Overall this new offering from Ford which becomes the range topping model did no wrong while I had it. It's honestly still one of the best 7-seater SUV offerings on the market and while it does have stiff competition, there will be key differences which the Ford has that will win it over from the opposition. It offers a great ride, fantastic build quality and the equipment that comes as standard is great. While being a sizable car, it doesn't take you very long to get used to the size of the car when driving it around. The cabin is spacious and with the panoramic sunroof, it just gives you that illusion of it being much bigger. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2L, Bi-Turbo Diesel
Gear Box	10-Speed Auto
Torque	500Nm
Power	157kW
Consumption	7.6L/100km
Price	R819,400