Ford Everest UB Platinum (2022-2026)

Best in class off-road SUV – In a segment that’s flooded with slowly evolving models, it’s refreshing to see Ford take such a massive step forward in creating an off-road capable family car that punches up against brands like Land Rover. Headlining the assault on this segment is this Platinum trim. I wanted to see if Ford could successfully take a badge from the F-150 line-up and successfully transplant it in a global model.

*Built Ford Tough*. That’s what’s laser-etched under the bonnet to reassure you that the Everest will be able to cope with day-to-day rough handling.

Is that true? For the most part, it is! The new Everest has tight tolerances and feels like an SUV you could beat on without it falling apart.

There were minimal squeaks inside the cabin, even when off-roading. There are some cheaper plastics used throughout the interior, but it doesn’t detract from the overall construction of this Ford. And I found the button to release the dashboard storage cubby to stick, making it frustrating at times to open it up in a rush.

Priced from $77,530 before on-road costs, the Everest Platinum comes with a price tag to match this model name.

It’s above most other 4x4 SUVs with a body-on-frame design, but the value is there against more premium rivals like the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and even the Land Rover Discovery.

The warranty is 5 years/unlimited kilometres and servicing can be prepaid for $1666 for 5 years of services. Service intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.

If you closed your eyes, you’d have no idea that the Everest shares a chassis with the Ranger. Everything from the tyre noise through to the V6 motor all sound so far in the distance. Ford has nailed the premium SUV sound experience here.

Add some Bang & Olufsen speakers and you have a genuinely pleasant sound stage to enjoy your music and podcasts with clarity and punch.

For all the comfort and off-road capability the Everest brings, it does suffer from a dramatic amount of body pitch when braking.

These brakes can be operated extremely smoothly, and autonomous emergency braking and rear cross traffic alert are great additions to help safely stop.

You’ll just need to watch your speed and judge your braking distance a little more in this SUV due to its massive weight.

The automatic brake hold was far too intrusive at times.

The Everest Platinum packs the ultra desirable twin-turbo diesel V6 that headlines the new model range. A superior motor compared to the old diesels, this 3.0L unit pushes out 184kW (246hp) and 600Nm!

Power is always sent to all four wheels via an automatic 4x4 system, unless you purposefully engage rear-wheel drive only.

There’s lots of grip here both on and off-road as the automatic four-wheel drive system does an impressive job of shuffling that torque where it needs to go.

Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission is one of the best in this segment. After travelling over 3,000km in three separate Ford products using this transmission, I found it to be free of faults.

You can manually select a gear via the selector, but it’s not a rewarding process. Nor would you want to engage a gear for driving fun, seeing as Everest manages to be in the right gear pretty much all of the time.

You’re not getting anything remotely like the Ranger Raptor when it comes to handling and performance, but instead you’re getting possibly the best 4x4 SUV experience for the money.

Rear coil suspension really helps soften up the ride against the leaf springs used on the Everest’s ute sibling.

This SUV lives up to the Platinum name when it comes to ride quality. It resists shuddering and quaking over bumps and cracks in the road. Although, there is plenty of body roll to complement that high ride height.

The steering feels pretty vague, but that’s not why you’re buying this luxury trim Everest.

The Everest is one of the most comfortable 4x4 SUVs I’ve tested, especially considering this is a body-on-frame family car. Against the likes of the Land Rover Discovery (which has a unibody design), it’s uncharacteristically smooth.

Up against other body-on-frame SUVs like the Isuzu MU-X, the Everest offered a more composed ride that made it almost effortless to traverse our off-road test track.

An array of off-road driving modes help take the guesswork out of wondering how to set up your Everest depending on the terrain too.

Looking to do more of the off-road stuff? Opt for this off-road wheel and tyre package, otherwise you’ll be stuck with some large 21-inch alloys.

The claimed fuel efficiency is 8.5L per 100km, whereas I saw figures around the 9-11L per 100km mark during my combined tests.

From the B-pillar forwards, the new Everest is a lot like the Ranger. However, to distinguish this as Everest Platinum, you’ll find Platinum badges on the seats, dashboard and carpets.

The quilted leather and stitching elevates the cabin look and feel, and complements the large vertical touch screen and digital driver display ripped out of the Ranger Raptor.

There's a logical placement of buttons, controls and storage, which helps you get comfortable pretty quickly here. I particularly loved the amount of light that flooded into the cabin through the large panoramic sunroof.

There’s a full size spare underneath the boot floor, with a handy diagram that’ll show you exactly where to find the jack points too.

The third row comfort is decent, but leg room is a bit cramped for adults. Second row comfort is superior, complete with your own climate controls and heated seats. However, the rear floor seems to be a little on the high side.

The Everest is seriously one of the most comfortable SUVs for the price you pay. It has the space, radar cruise with lane-keep assist and a refined suspension set-up to make road trips feel a whole lot less tiring.

If you want a luxury off-roader, the Ford Everest Platinum brings a massive presence into this space. It's extremely capable, regardless of the surface you’re driving on.

If you love the idea of an American SUV without the import price tag, the Everest is the closest thing to a Ford Expedition here in Australia. Sure, you can’t beat the unibody off-roaders in overall comfort, but you’ll need to fork out more cash for that.

The Everest easily takes the crown for a best in class for the body-on-frame seven seater 4x4 SUVs for its features, power and prowess on the dirt.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.