WAGON WHEELS

IS THE NEW FORD EVEREST THE VEHICLE THAT CAN GENUINELY CHALLENGE THE DOMINANCE OF THE TOYOTA PRADO? WE LINE THEM UP IN TOP SPECIFICATION TO FIND OUT

-  MATT RAUDONIKIS

FORD’S 2022 Everest 4x4 wagon is all-new and could be the vehicle to finally challenge the decades-old dominance of the Toyota Prado in the mid-size 4x4 wagon segment. The aging Prado has really had this segment to itself for so long, while even the second best-selling vehicle in the segment, Isuzu’s MU-X, hasn’t come close to matching the Prado in sales numbers. Other vehicles in the class such as the previous generation Everest, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, the SsangYong Rexton, Haval H9 and even Toyota’s Fortuner haven’t had a look in for many years. Ford Australia is hoping to break that hoodoo.

The 2022 Ford Everest has the potential to turn the segment on its head. With a bigger, bolder appearance, new levels of features and safety equipment, the choice of V6 or four-cylinder diesel engines and new models in the line-up – could this be the 4x4 wagon to take it to the Prado’s popularity?

Toyota was only able to offer us its top-of-the-range Prado Kakadu for the review, so we selected the Everest Platinum to pitch against it here. Price for price, we would have preferred a $76,348 Prado VX.

The 2022 Ford Everest Platinum starts at $76,880 plus on-road costs and is only offered with the 3.0litre V6 diesel engine. The 2022 Toyota Prado Kakadu starts at $86,998 plus on-road costs and comes with the only engine offered across the Prado range, the 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel engine.

It’s also worth noting that prices of Ford Everest will go up when the 2023 production starts in February. For the Platinum model, this will mean a $649 increase to $77,530, while the steel underbody protection and a black-painted roof will be standard equipment.

FORD EVEREST PLATINUM