Ford’s Everest SUV has enjoyed tremendous popularity and with good reason. Now in its second generation, it offers ample space, refined dynamics, a long feature list and rugged capability.
The latter is owed to a chassis which is largely shared with its stablemate, the Ranger. That’s no bad thing, remembering that it’s the best-selling vehicle in the country. This shared DNA means the Everest is ready to accept a vast array of aftermarket mods too.
Australia has a burgeoning off-road market, driven by the vast but remote beauty our land has to offer. Whether it be towing, getting away for a weekend or more, this mid-to-large SUV has become a fan favourite.
It spans a model range catered to the needs and tastes of a broad cross section, from the base Ambiente, right through to the range-topping Platinum. With the recent axing of 2WD variants, every Everest model is now equipped with off road capability.
A good chunk of them will go there too, once having either a few, or the whole catalogue of aftermarket goodies thrown at them. While the process of modifying is exciting, it can be daunting for some.
Warranty becomes a concern, followed by legality and ensuring that what you’re adding doesn’t have you falling at the feet of local constabulary, or perhaps worse, your insurer. Enter the latest permanent fixture to the Everest line-up, the Tremor.
Designed with the adventurous in mind, it provides the basics that help improve off road capability, taking one that little bit further off the beaten track. Based on the popular mid-range Sport variant, it possesses a long list of features and amenities.
Importantly, the silky smooth 184kW and 600Nm 3.0-litre turbo diesel 6-cylinder is present as standard, backed by a 10-speed gearbox. We loved this drivetrain combination in the Ranger Sport, and it doesn’t disappoint in Everest.
In fact, it feels right at home in the wagon, with is comfort-focused rear suspension. The combination makes for a supremely composed, quiet and comfortable vehicle to move up to seven people in.
Inside, the Tremor gets a black interior with uniquely embroidered seating, along with a steering wheel and armrests that sports Urban Grey stitching, and a smattering of Precision Grey accents across the dash and trims.
A premium Tremor seat pack is available at a cost of $1,100, which includes 10-way power adjustment for the driver and 8-way for the passenger, along with heating and ventilation. The latter was an appreciated addition during the two-day launch.
Rear seat passengers aren’t poor cousins either, with plenty of space and a 400W inverter to boot. But it’s outside and underneath where the magic happens. The Everest Tremor rides on proper all-terrain rubber; in the form of 275/65/17 General Grabber AT3 tyres.
These are wrapped around 17×8-inch Asphalt Matt Black alloy wheels. The extra width and lower offset furnish the chassis with 30mm of extra track, aiding stability and providing a more aggressive look.
Down the side you find unique composite side steps which look the part, but we question how much protection they’d offer. Command Grey comes across from the Raptor range as a Tremor-only option, and is the pick in our eyes.
It works well against blacked out Ford badges and bright yellow Tremor insignia. Up front is a bespoke grille which houses auxiliary driving lights and Bolder Grey accents. Below this sit two recovery hooks, although we aren’t sure if they’re rated.
Clearance is critical when off-roading, with suspension lift being high on the priority list when modifying. To this end, Ford have fitted Bilstein position sensitive dampers with external reservoirs at each corner.
They provide 29mm of extra ground clearance, which translates into roughly 2-degrees of extra approach, ramp over and departure angle over the Sport model. The towing capacity remains unchanged at 3500kg.
What surprised this writer most though was the composure this suspension setup had on road. Driving to Toolangi State Forest included a particularly windy bit of road, better suited to something much lower and wider.
The Everest felt well planted, with far less pitch and roll than expected of a lifted vehicle, exhibiting an almost playful feel through switchbacks. More importantly, once we did hit the dirt, bump absorption through fire trails at speed was confidence inspiring.
Only the largest of bumps unsettled the chassis. We suspect a little load, a normal part of touring off road, would help settle things down even further. Through rougher terrain, back-to-back testing with other variants demonstrated some clear advantages for the Tremor.
Obstacle clearance was an obvious plus, as was the ARB steel underbody protection underneath. Part of the $3,500 rough terrain pack, they were certainly given a thorough workout when traversing rutty and rocky conditions.
Damage free driving was also aided by the optional $2,500 touring pack that includes an excellent 360-degree camera. We found this to be useful when picking lines on some of the tougher tracks.
It also comes with a tow bar, brake controller and backup assist for hitching up. The aforementioned rough terrain pack also adds frontal protection in the form of an ARB-designed composite front bar, which we are told is also winch compatible.
There’s no doubting the quality of the item, but thought should be given to usage, as a steel bar will often be a better option for remote driving. Aesthetics are down to personal tastes.
We also enjoyed the addition of rock crawl mode, the first time this has been present in an Everest. It takes some getting used to, but driving a new four-wheel drive is quite different to finding the gear, locking a diff and using momentum to get things done.
Say what you will, but in combination with solid suspension articulation and quality rubber, the wizardry available in these modes is amazing and came in handy during our test routes. Safety remains unchanged, with the full gamut of features available.
Thankfully none were intrusive during off road driving, including hill descent control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring and autonomous emergency braking. Launching with a strong price point, the Tremor can be had for $76,590 plus on-roads.
One would argue the refinement of the drivetrain, space and increased off road capability puts it in a league of its own. It’s backed by Ford’s 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty, and comes without the headache of basic accessorising post-delivery.
You can find out more on the Ford Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership. To see a great range of vehicles, check out OnlyCars.com.au. If you’re keen on one, and need finance, visit CreditOne.
Our test vehicles were provided by Ford Australia as part of a two-day Australian media launch event.
