2023 Ford Everest Sport Review | Philkotse Philippines

Opting for the base or mid variants has this impression of settling for less. It’s like taking a compromise just to finally get a car you can drive to work or school without granting true satisfaction. Well, to be fair, top-of-the-line models do come with the best an automaker has to offer.

2023 Ford Everest

But Ford Philippines isn’t having any of that with the introduction of the next-gen Everest Sport. Despite being a mid-spec variant, this Everest model appears to be geared to be a crowd favorite over the more expensive variants.  

Read on to know what the 2023 Ford Everest Sport can offer for your hard-earned pesos.

The Ford Everest in the Sport package is, without a doubt, the most distinct in the range. To back up the “Sport” moniker, the SUV is finished with black exterior pieces and accents as opposed to chrome that normally exudes luxury. You can find these in the grille, front bumper, side mirrors, and roof rails.

C-shaped headlight design

With the next-gen Everest’s boxier and more rugged design, the Sport variant complements the changes well. Similar to other Ford vehicles, the C-shaped LED headlights accentuate the front end. You don’t get matrix LED headlights, but in my experience driving the vehicle, it doesn’t take a toll at all even at night.

Over to the side, the 2023 Ford Everest Sport is fitted with the same alloy wheel design as the higher-end variants. But as we’ve said earlier, the theme chosen by the design team is black. So you get a set of 20-inch black alloy wheels. These are an upgrade over the 18-inch alloys available in the Everest Limited and Trend.

20-inch black alloys

The rear end has a striking appeal thanks to the unique-looking LED taillights interconnected by a blacked-out bar. Perhaps my only concern is the hands-free function of the power tailgate. It’s not as, for the lack of a better term, sensitive as others but at least you have that. Or maybe I just needed more time to find the sweet spot.

But for what it is, it’s a huge plus that even the mid-spec variant can arguably be the best-looking in the range, especially in the Sport-exclusive Blue Lightning color. I just find it odd that the variant designed to be the sportiest happens to be available in 4x2 only, while the variant deemed to be most luxurious has the 4x4 drivetrain. We’ll get to more of this in a minute.

Stepping inside the Ford Everest for the first time, I felt like in an interior of a full-size SUV. The straightforward dashboard, large aircon vents, tall ride height at 223mm, massive side mirrors with power folding and power adjusting functions, and good head and leg rooms all come together to bring that feeling.

Interior of the 2023 Everest

But despite the roomy cabin ambiance, the space in the third row is still something you would come to expect in a mid-size seven-seater SUV. Passengers standing at 5’6” and over should find it tight in the third row, especially during long drives. The materials used on the third-row seats could be improved such as having softer cushioning. Legroom for third-row passengers could increase a bit as the second-row seats can be moved forward.  

The first-row seats come with an 8-way power adjust function, available for both the driver and front passenger. Regardless of the variant, the next-gen Ford Everest comes standard with seats in a combination of leather and synthetic leather.

Third-row seats

The ride comfort is fairly good for a vehicle underpinned by a ladder frame chassis. So much so that overtaking on the highway doesn’t make me feel like I was driving fast. It felt stable that I had to monitor my speed on the vehicle’s eight-inch digital instrument screen to make sure I’m within limits.

Considering that this model breached the P2-million mark, I kind of wish that the mid-spec Ford Everest Sport already has a panoramic moonroof and ambient lighting made available in the higher-end trims. What you do get in this variant is a smart keyless entry with a push start button, dual-zone climate control, and a wireless charger.

If you have been keeping up with the latest from the Blue Oval company, a touchscreen in a vertical or portrait orientation is being integrated into more of its models, and the Everest isn’t an exception. The Sport variant is equipped with a 10-inch colored portrait touchscreen flanked by huge air vents with a quirky design.

10-inch vertical head unit

The Ford Everest Titanum+ does get a larger 12-inch infotainment touchscreen. But in my opinion, the 10-inch head unit looks to be the ideal size considering the dashboard layout and controls below it. Also, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and eight speakers come standard across the Everest line.

As always, the wireless charger and wireless Apple CarPlay combo give a more convenient and more fun drive. You don’t have to opt for any of the two Titanium+ variants to enjoy this combination. For an even more hands-free experience, the steering wheel comes standard with audio and function controls.

Black leather seats with the Sport badge

In the safety department, this is perhaps where you will feel like you should’ve gotten the top-of-the-line variant. You miss out on 13 Advanced Driver Assist Technologies by going for the Sport variant. It only has three from its advanced assist tech: an adjustable speed limiter, cruise control, and blind spot information system.

Even during my experience with the SUV, given the upscale ambiance driving it, there were times I was caught off guard and expected an audible warning when hazards were nearby. The 360-degree camera would also be handy for a vehicle of its size but you have to work with a rear-view camera instead.

The powertrain is one of the most disputed aspects of the Ford Everest. Under the hood of the Sport model is a 2.0-liter single-turbo diesel engine capable of generating 168 horsepower and 405 Nm of torque. For the next-gen iteration, the said power unit is tuned to make around 10 horsepower and 15 Nm of torque less.

2.0-liter single turbo diesel mill

Some say that the single turbo engine is underpowered, especially now that it is down on power numbers-wise. But those don’t really translate big-time driving the Everest Sport. It provided a good amount of torque at low speeds, then gets less notable once you hit highway speeds.

I didn’t mind, though, as going fast in a heavy mid-size SUV isn’t the most logical and safest idea. It’s easy to point out that the single turbo lacks power when the 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel mill is in the range. Under power is a big word that usually means the car cannot get the job done, but the Everest with the single turbo took me to places without performance concerns.

Boxy body

I’m not going to lie, I hadn’t had the opportunity to take it off-road. But I did drive the Everest on uphills around Angono at full capacity. That was when I felt like the SUV was challenged but at least no one had to get out of the vehicle to perform the climb.

Do note that the Everest Sport only comes with a 4x2 drivetrain so proceed with caution if you plan to take on challenging terrains. The Everest Titanium+ is the sole variant to be offered with a bi-turbo engine and 4x4 system. In city and highway driving, the engine should perform just fine.

It got beefier

The six-speed automatic transmission impressed me with its smooth shifting. It is paired with steering that feels slightly heavier as compared to the previous model. I’m not complaining as I like my pickup-based SUVs with firm steering input. Suspension, NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness), and body roll – all these didn’t give me major concerns during my time with the vehicle.

The Ford Everest Sport returned 8.3 km/l in the city, including stop-and-go traffic. As compared to rivals such as the Toyota Fortuner, the said fuel efficiency rating is well within the average of midsize SUVs. Keeping track of fuel efficiency was fun thanks to the Everest’s comprehensive instrument cluster.

8-inch digital cluster screen

Meanwhile, on the highway, the rating is also fairly at par with rivals as the Everest achieved 15.6 km/l. As said earlier, I drove the SUV with seven people on board. Considering that weight affects the overall efficiency of a car, you might get better fuel consumption, especially if you will ride solo on the highway.

At Php 2,089,000, the only compromise I see if you decide to opt for the mid-spec Ford Everest Sport is the absence of the complete Advanced Driver Assist Technologies. I can let go of the bi-turbo fitted in the same engine and 4x4 drivetrain in the top-spec Everest Titanium+ in exchange for saving Php 406,000.

Finished in an exclusive Blue Lightning exterior color

I know a lot of people who own a 4x4 vehicle but have it in two-wheel drive most of the time. So having my Everest run on four wheels with extra power is just a bonus for me but could be essential for you. Despite sitting in the middle of the hierarchy, the 2023 Ford Everest Sport is already built like a boss of its own.

See more car reviews at Philkotse.com.