Ford Everest 2023 review: Platinum long-term | Part 1

You could make the argument that Ford Australia has struggled to find traction with fresh products since the demise of the Falcon.

With the departure of the Aussie-made model in 2016, the Mondeo, Focus, Fiesta, EcoSport and Escape have all followed suit, and the Blue Oval brand is now – more or less – propped up by the Ranger ute and its Everest SUV sibling.

And it is the latter that we have on test for three months to determine if this large SUV can help Ford regain its footing and scale the mountain that is Australia's cut-throat family car market.

What I have in my care is the top-spec Everest Platinum, which rings the till up at $77,530, before on-road costs.

This is a significant jump from the base Ambiente's $53,290 asking price, but there is a reason for that.

You see, the Platinum is Ford's attempt to polish off the rough and rugged edges the Everest might have carried over from sharing its underpinnings with the Ranger pick-up.

There are more upmarket touches like matrix LED headlights, quilted leather seats and a premium 12-speaker sound system, as well as bedazzled front grille that leans it more towards carpark chic than outback creek.

And, like the size of the Everest itself, the rest of the equipment list looks pretty stacked, including a heated steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats, heated second-row seats, a massive 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control and 21-inch wheels.

A massive 10.1-inch 'Sync 4' portrait-style touchscreen is also in the mix, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, backed up by a wireless smartphone charger and in-built satellite navigation.

But busy family buyers will be heartened to see keyless entry and a powered tailgate on the features list.

I'd argue however, the Everest's strongest suit – at least for family hauling duties – is its vast array of safety equipment.

There's the usual autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane keep assist, lane departure warning and blind-spot monitoring you would want in a family SUV, but there's also front and rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert and a surround-view monitor that makes navigating a driveway with kids much less stressful.

Luckily the big asking price has meant a big equipment list for the Ford Everest Platinum, but they're not the only things that are big.

Up front there is a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6, punching out a colossal 184kW/600Nm to all four wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission.

It's a big powertrain no doubt, but certainly lacks the refinement and poise of some diesels from European brands or even Mazda's delightful 2.2-litre twin-turbo unit found in the Mazda6 and CX-5.

Fuel economy comes in at 8.5 litres per 100km, officially, and it being a diesel means it is pricey to fill up.

In fact, my first fill rang the till up to about $120. Ouch.

I'm averaging 12.6L/100km in my first month with the car, but I'd like some more time behind the wheel to really get my thoughts down on this powertrain and whether is suited to day-to-day family life as much as it is out on the open road.

However, my initial thoughts are that this big, boxy SUV is much more suited to the open road than inner-city streets.

And of course, the Everest is big in physical size, measuring 4940mm long, 1933mm wide, 1841mm tall and with a 2900mm wheelbase – making it larger than some monocoque seven-seat SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-9 and Toyota Kluger.

In fact, so large is this car that it barely, and I mean barely, squeezes into my garage.

Part of this is due to the fact we have a dryer taking up some space, and this Everest is fitted with a tow kit, extending its length slightly.

Likewise, time will tell if the big dimensions are a hinderance or help in Melbourne's inner city, but certainly the flexibility of seven seats and a capacious 898-litre boot (with five seats up), mean it has been able to handle everything my family has thrown at it, including a full-size pram, balance bike, nappy bag, groceries and more.

I'm keen to dive a bit deeper into how the Everest has slotted into our family's life in the coming months, as the first impressions are that it's a little too big, bulky and brawny for my sensibilities.

Still, I'll endeavour to take the Everest on roads and settings where it will shine, so check back to CarsGuide for future updates.

Acquired: June 2023

Distance travelled this month: 568km

Odometer: 12,571km

Average fuel consumption this month: 12.6L/100km