Ford South Africa has quietly expanded its 2026 Everest range to offer more value to customers.
Just like South Africa’s bakkie sales war, it’s fierce out there when it comes to large go anywhere SUVs. Here, two names always crop up, Toyota’s Fortuner and Ford’s Everest.
But here, unlike Hilux vs Ranger, that at times gets a bit close, it’s very much one sided in favour of Toyota’s Fortuner.
Firstly, Fortuner outguns Everest with 12 derivatives to five, so you have more choice. And then you are dealing with the issue of pricing.
The Toyota Fortuner starts at R692 800 and goes to R1 019 100 for the top of the range GR-Sport. The Ford Everest starts from R825 000 and then jumps quickly all the way to R1 340 000 for the Platinum.
Now with the introduction of the Everest Active and upgrades to the Sport, Wildtrak and Platinum, as well as the upcoming arrival of the adventure-focused Tremor later this year, Ford is hoping to cater to a broader spectrum of SUV buyers.
The following Q&A provides an overview of the key updates:
A 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbodiesel (125kW/405Nm) and 10-speed auto do duty in the Ford Everest Active. Picture: Supplied
The introduction of the Ford Everest Active as the new entry-level model that replaces the previous XLT.
Customers can choose between:
Despite being the entry point to the range, the Active comes well equipped with:
The Ford Everest Active offers 12-inch touchscreen with SYNC 4, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Picture: Supplied
The Wildtrak builds on the Sport with a more adventurous design and additional premium features. Updates include:
The Platinum remains the flagship Everest, with luxury features including:
The Tremor is designed for customers who demand greater off-road capability without compromising comfort, refinement or towing ability.
This SUV will build on the success of the Ford Ranger Tremor and expands Everest’s appeal to adventure-focused buyers while still offering an impressive 3 500kg maximum braked towing capacity.
A range of dedicated upgrades include:
Bilstein Position-Sensitive Dampers
and unique off-road suspension tuning;
General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tyres;
an additional 26mm of ground clearance compared to the standard Everest; and
an exclusive Rock Crawl Drive Mode for improved capability on loose and rocky terrain.
The Tremor features several exclusive exterior enhancements, including:
Inside, the cabin combines rugged practicality with premium comfort through:
Despite being the entry point to the range, the Ford Everest Active comes well equipped. Picture: Supplied
Everest Active 2.0L 4×2 – R825 000
Everest Active 2.0L 4×4 – R875 000
Everest Sport V6 4WD – R1 149 000
Everest Wildtrak V6 4WD – R1 244 000
Everest Platinum V6 4WD – R1 340 000
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