The latest Ford Everest is one of the most visible vehicles currently plying Philippine roads, as its winning combination of muscular charm and rugged performance seems to have won over families looking for a seven-seater SUV of this size.

We recently got a chance to road-test the top-spec 4×4 Titanium AT variant of the Ford Everest, and drove it out of town a couple of weeks ago. After spending enough time inside an Everest (and a bunch of other comparable mid-size SUVs), we can say without reservation that it is truly a contender in the big-car segment. It has been a crowd favorite for a reason — it is a great package.

This SUV feels incredible behind the wheel, excellent on and off the road. It’s more nimble than its size would suggest and can turn sharply with minimal body roll through corners. And though it seems hesitant to lend you its turbocharged muscle right away, the 3.2-liter, five-cylinder turbodiesel engine provides enough power at lower engine speeds. 

The Titanium model rides on big alloy wheels and offers high ground clearance to give you excellent visibility all around — and confidence to take on challenging terrains.

More on the Ford Everest. Our video can be found at the end of this article

The leather-appointed cabin is spacious and can seat seven adults across three rows. There’s plenty of storage space in the cabin and other comforts, such as a reverse camera, a 10-speaker sound system, and 12-volt outlets, which we found convenient for keeping our devices charged and ready to go.

We also like that the third row completely folds into the floor for extra cargo space. At one point, we had several bags, camera equipment, and a large baby stroller in the cargo space, and yet the Everest didn’t feel cramped at all for three adult occupants in the back. We’re told the car is designed to handle a class-leading payload of up to 750 kilograms.

The fuel consumption is surprisingly somewhat frugal on this one, especially considering what’s under the hood. We got around 8 kilometers on city roads and 13 kilometers on the highway.

The central console accommodates an 8-inch touch display that runs Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system, which can connect to your phone wirelessly to show notifications, navigation information, and other details. Its suite of safety features, meanwhile, includes seven airbags, electronic stability control, and blind-spot detection.

Watch our video to see the Ford Everest in action. For Ford Everest deals and more information about the SUV, visit this page.

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