The base-spec Ford Everest Ambiente has a standard features list that includes 10.1-inch portrait-style touchscreen multimedia system (with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), 17.0-inch alloy wheels, C-Shaped LED daytime running lights, dual-zone climate control, five seats cloth trim, smart keyless entry with push button start, electric parking brake and much more.

It also has e-shifter gear shifter (only on 4×4 variants), locking rear differential (only on 4×4 variants), and push-button selectable drive modes.

Boosting the Everest from a five- to seven-seater costs $950 and Ford's optional factory-fitted tow pack costs $1700.

The optional 18.0-inch alloys and Goodyear Wrangler Territory all terrain tyres (rather than the standard 17-inch wheel-and-tyre package) and an alloy spare cost $1100.

The interior is very well designed and functional, and supremely comfortable.

There are plenty of storage spaces (cupholders everywhere you’d expect, as well as map pockets and bottle holders in the doors) and charging points (USB-A, USB-C and 12-volt ports), and everything is easy enough to find, access and use.

The large portrait-style touchscreen dominates upfront and can be used to control most everything onboard – except your kids.

All seats are comfortable, with that level of comfort – as well as space – dropping as you move from the front seats to the second row to the squeezy back row.

All rows have adjustable air vents.

The second row has ISOFIX child-seat anchors in the two outboard seats, and three top-tether points. The third row has two top-tether points.

As standard, the Ford Everest Ambiente have five seats, but you can option up to seven seats at a cost of $950.

Seats are cloth, and comfortable, although space and comfort, as always, declines in increments from the front seats to the second row of three seats, through to the rear two seats.

The 4WD V6 Ford Everest has a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 (producing 184kW at 3250rpm and 600Nm from 1750rpm-2250rpm) and a 10-speed automatic transmission.

It has a full-time 4WD system with selectable two-wheel drive (2H), four-wheel drive high-range (4H), four-wheel drive low-range (4L) and four-wheel drive automatic (4A = 4Auto) that can be used on high-traction surfaces.

Official fuel consumption for the V6 Everest is 8.5L/100km on a combined cycle.

Its real-world fuel figure on this test, recorded from pump to pump, was 15.7L/100km, which was pretty decent especially considering a lot of our time was spent in low-range tackling some challenging 4WD-only terrain.

The Everest has a 80-litre tank, so, going by that fuel-consumption figure, you will have a touring distance of close to 510km.

The Ford Everest Ambiente is capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in about 10 seconds.