2023 Ford Everest Titanium 4x4 Review | Philkotse Philippines

One always has to give their best to stand out from the rest. You need to put in hours of training or practice to improve your craft significantly. Whether you’re an athlete, an artist, or anyone you choose to be, you need to be consistently striving to be the better version of yourself.

The same analogy can hold true when you talk about cars. The engineers and designers need to come up with ideas on how to take the current model to new heights. Constant improvement is one of the keys to keeping up with the competition.

Ford has done the same with the next-generation Everest. Launched in the Philippines last July 2022, the next-gen Ford Everest is a testament to how a next-gen model should be. The question is, does it has what it takes to stand out in the seven-seater midsize SUV battle royale? Here’s Philkotse’s 2023 Ford Everest Titanium 4x4 full review.

The Everest is back

The next-gen Ford Everest Titanium 4x4 comes with an all-new look, leaving no hint of its predecessor’s design. It has a more composed and confident stance thanks to the massive grille that’s complemented by the LED headlights, resculpted hood, and bold-looking bumper. You also can’t miss the C-shaped daytime running lights (DRLs) that add accent to the Everest’s fascia. The DRL design is a nod to other Ford vehicles such as the new Ranger.

It has a bold and composed stance

The side profile of the Everest has also been heavily revamped. It has veered away from its old rounded shape as it is now more ripped, which is more appealing to my taste. The fender flares are less bulging compared to the old model but I prefer it like that – ripped and chiseled. It is also fitted with step boards, roof rails, and 20-inch alloy wheels.

The design update continues to be seen at the rear. In fact, the back end is one of the distinctive features of the next-gen 2023 Ford Everest. The design of the LED taillights gives the vehicle a modern-looking aura while maintaining an assertive demeanor.

Look at that taillights

The LED taillights are connected by a black bar accent that runs along the powered tailgate, making the Everest one of the most stylish in its segment. It also has a spoiler with third brake light, black cladding, and reflectors.

The next-gen Everest’s all-new look is not shying away from the task at hand, which is to be among the stand-out midsize SUVs in the Philippines. Ford did a great job in transforming the Everest into a bolder and more confident-looking vehicle. Although, I prefer the overall look that the Sport variant offers since it has black exterior accents instead of chrome.

You’ll be greeted with a modern-looking cabin once you hop inside the next-gen Everest. It now has more screens, and fewer buttons, making the top-spec Everest a tech-savvy midsize SUV.

The next-gen Ford Everest has a modern-looking dashboard layout

The modern-looking interior goes along with the promise of giving passengers a premium-like cabin feel. Ford was able to do such by integrating a generous amount of soft-touch materials throughout the cabin. Drivers are treated with leather padded arm- or elbow-rest on the door panels. The center glove box cover also has the same material, adding to the overall drive comfort.

It also has a tilt & telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel. The steering wheel is also integrated with several buttons such as vehicle and audio controls. I appreciate that the driver and front passenger seats both come with an 8-way power adjustment. This allowed me to set my most preferred driving position. Although, I do wish that the driver’s seat comes with a memory function so that you can save your pre-set seating position – something that can be expected at this price point.

It also comes with a fully digital instrument cluster

The modern-looking interior continues to be seen in the Everest’s fully digital instrument cluster, massive infotainment system, and electronic gear shifter. I like its computer or laptop mouse-like design as it offers a nice grip. I also appreciate the fact that it comes with an orange-colored indicator, allowing you to instantly see what gear is engaged. This is something that I wished Ford integrated into the lower-spec Everest Titanium 4x2 trim as it’s exclusively available on the top-spec Everest trim only.

Another I like about the 2023 Ford Everest is the decision to have separate buttons for climate control. It’s not infused into the touchscreen, giving you an easier way to adjust the temperature and fan speed.

The Everest’s front cabin also comes with several storage spaces. It has an upper glove box, which can store purses, wallets, or other handy items. The foldable bottle holders placed in front of the side aircon vents are also a nice touch.

Aside from generous legroom, the next-gen Ford Everest comes with a panoramic sunroof

Second-row passengers get generous leg- and head-room. It also has a slide function that can help in giving additional leg- and knee-room for third-row passengers. The second-row seats can accommodate up to three individuals. Although, the one seated in the middle could have a tight seating position since the Everest has a high-center tunnel. Cooling the cabin is made efficient via ceiling-mounted aircon vents.

Third-row seats

Two average-size adults standing 5’5” can be seated in the third row with enough wiggle room. But, I noticed that the cushioning on the third-row seats can be improved, which could be a slight compromise, especially on long road trips.

You can load an assortment of items even with the third-row seats up

The 2023 Ford Everest offers notable cargo space even when the third-row seats are up. You can load four to five overnight bags without a problem, and still have room to spare for other items. Of note, the third-row seats on the top-spec Everest come with a power-folding function.

The amount of tech and safety features are what separates the top-spec Everest from its variant lineup. It is fully loaded when it comes to this department, offering the best it has.

No more analog gauges in the next-gen Ford Everest Titanium

It has a 12-inch digital instrument cluster that comes with crisp resolution. Toggling through the digital screen is easy. It responds well to every input and does not lag when accessed through the steering wheel-mounted buttons.

The chunk of the next-gen Everest’s dashboard is occupied by the 12-inch infotainment touchscreen that comes in a vertical orientation. Most of the vehicle functions are integrated into the touchscreen, where you can access the auto brake hold function, rear differential lock, and 360-degree camera, among others.

The touchscreen’s resolution is one of the best in its class, and it is also responsive to every touch. Its massive vertical orientation also results in fewer physical vehicle buttons, reducing clutter in the dashboard.

Wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless charger is a solid combo

It also has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which complements well to the wireless mobile phone charger. The initial process of connecting my iPhone wirelessly to the screen is no problem. But, the Apple CarPlay disconnects from the system from time to time. It does connect again after some time though. The intermittent Apple CarPlay connection also happened when I opted to use a wired cable.

However, there was one instance when the Apple CarPlay can’t reconnect at all. This happened when I was cruising along NLEX. I asked the front passenger to try and reconnect my phone once again but to no avail – wirelessly or wired. I was able to reconnect again when I restart the engine.

Other tech features found on the Everest Titanium 4x4 are the following: adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping tech, pre-collision assist, forward collision warning, hill descent control, and tire pressure monitoring, among others. And oh, it also comes with seven airbags as standard.

The Ford Everest Titanium 4x4 returned 8 km/l when I drove it around the city at an average speed of 18 km/h. On the open highway, it registered 16 km/l while cruising at speeds of 80 km/h with five people onboard the vehicle.

The Everest 4x4 registered relatively the same fuel efficiency as compared to the Titanium 4x2 trim. Of note, the 2023 Ford Everest Titanium 4x2 is powered by a single-turbo diesel engine. It returned 7 km/l at an average speed of 17 km/h while it showed 14.5 km/l while cruising at speeds of 80 km/h on the open highway with five people onboard.

The top-spec Everest also posted a similar fuel efficiency rating when compared to the mid Sport variant, which posted 8.3 km/l in the city and 15.6 km/l on the highway.

The top-spec Ford Everest Titanium 4x4 is the only variant that’s equipped with a 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel engine. It puts out 207 hp and 500 Nm of torque while the engine is connected to a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The top-spec Ford Everest is the only trim with a 2.0-liter bi-turbo engine

The top-spec trim also comes with the following drive modes: Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, and Sand. I used the Normal drive mode for the duration of my test drive.

The top-spec Everest’s power delivery is on point, giving you enough pull when you asked for it. The throttle response is also good, which helps a lot in overtaking slower vehicles. Its 10-speed automatic transmission offers smooth shifting with minimal to no shift shocks. These characteristics make the Everest a fun-to-drive vehicle, especially when you take it on out-of-town road trips.

That C-shaped daytime running lights add swag to the Everest's front end

The Everest’s overall ride comfort has also improved. Compared to the old model, it is now more stable and planted on the road. I appreciate how Ford tweaked the Everest’s suspension as it now absorbs road imperfections better. It’s not as soft as before as the suspension is now a tad firmer, resulting in a more pleasant ride. The outside noise is also reduced to a minimum but I was kind of expecting it to be a bit better.

Weaving your way through traffic and tight city roads is no problem as the Everest’s steering wheel gives enough feedback. The steering is not as feather-like as the old model but that’s not an issue on my end. In fact, the more weighted steering feel offers more control over the vehicle. A hint of body roll can be felt when you’re tackling sharp turns but it’s not that bothersome.

Ready to go on an adventure

I also got the chance to take the top-spec Everest on an off-road adventure in Zambales, a media drive event organized by Ford Philippines.

Slow-moving EDSA traffic can also be more manageable or even less tiring with the Everest’s Stop & Go tech, which is like adaptive cruise control for slow speeds. When you activated it, the Everest will automatically adjust the vehicle speed depending on the slow-moving traffic ahead. It can also bring the vehicle to a halt when the car you’re following comes to a full stop.

The Everest's overall look has been refined

The said tech is responsive and does its job but you might be discouraged to use it as it performs sudden braking when it has detected a motorcycle rider that’s lane splitting. This gives a jarring feeling as the system reacts accordingly to what the sensors detect.

But with the exception of lane-splitting riders, the Stop & Go tech works fine. However, this tech doesn’t promise to give a fully autonomous drive, which is why you still need to be alert at all times when behind the wheel.

Priced at Php 2,495,000, the next-gen Everest has all the tools needed to square up with its segment rivals. Its all-new looks inside and out make it one of the most stylish SUVs in the Philippines right now.

2023 Ford Everest

Add to that the improved ride comfort, as well as the abundant safety and tech features, and the five-year vehicle warranty, and it’s clear to see that Ford wants to make a solid statement in the seven-seater midsize SUV class. Although, only time can tell if its tech-savvy or touchscreen-integrated vehicle controls are the right way to go. But for now, the Ford Everest is indeed back in the game.