At a time when fuel prices are skyrocketing, and hybrids and EVs are selling like hotcakes, why did Ford suddenly bring in a hungrier diesel powertrain for one of its most well-known nameplates? We took it out on a media drive from Metro Manila to Rizal and Batangas, along with the V6-powered Ranger, to find out why.
First, let’s add some context. The Everest Platinum is a new top-of-the-line variant in the Philippines, but its turbodiesel V6 engine has existed in other markets for a couple of years now—long before the fuel crisis.
The V6-powered Everest was launched in Australia back in 2022, where there’s a strong demand for powerful diesel SUVs. The model later made its way to New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand, and most recently, here to us.
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It’s hard to get a feel for the V6 when basing solely on the spec sheet. The numbers say 600Nm of torque. “The four-cylinder has 500Nm,” you think to yourself, ”is 100Nm really that much of a difference? 500 is enough, right?” It might be. But if you get a chance to drive the Platinum, I urge you to. Because the grunt in the V6 is quite different.
On the road, the acceleration didn’t just feel faster; it felt almost effortless. I never had to step on the accelerator more than 50% to overtake anyone. And when I did step on it all the way, the turbo wakes up, and all of a sudden the convoy we were chasing after being separated by a large truck was in our sights within a couple of seconds. While fuel economy won’t be as great as a four-cylinder, it’s confidence-inspiring knowing you have a lot of power and torque on hand.
Off-road, the SUV felt capable with 4H switched on. While the testing track for the Everest wasn’t as long as the route given for the Ranger, the rain gave us a chance to test out the SUV in the mud. Granted, performance in the mud isn’t solely about the amount of torque you have, but about the tires, 4×4 system, computer, and driver’s skill; but as far as the engine was concerned, it did its job like it was supposed to.
The Platinum has six driving modes: Normal, Eco, Tow Haul, Slippery, Mud/Ruts, and Sand. We mostly kept it on Normal for the pavement and Mud/Ruts on the dirt. Perhaps we can test out the other modes and more of the Platinum’s off-roading capability when we have the SUV for a longer period.
Glad you asked. We stepped into the Everest Platinum during one of the stopovers in Tanay, Rizal, just before entering the rough road that led to Riverside Ranch, where our off-road testing site was. Coming fresh from the Ranger, the comfort in the Everest was apparent. The suspension felt more plush, and it soaked up bumps and road imperfections with no problem. Even compared to the Ranger Raptor, the Everest felt more comfortable on-road.
Of course, being an SUV, we also had the luxury of cargo storage inside the cabin. In the Ranger, our video producer Aaron had to share the back seat with our bags and camera equipment. The Platinum isn’t any different from the other Everest variants in terms of storage and seating. There’s a third row if you want to fit seven occupants, and for maximum cargo capacity, just fold the rear seats down.
What does set the Platinum apart from other variants is its 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. Without even touching the equalizer, the sound was crisp and well-balanced while jamming to our tito playlist. The huge 12-inch touchscreen display was easy to use and housed various controls, including ventilated seats for the driver and front passenger. The large screen also helped display the front off-road camera along with the path overlay and differential lock all in one view. There’s also a 360-degree camera for trail use or navigating tight parking lots.
Overall, the interior felt premium. There are lots of soft-touch materials, the leather seats are soft and comfortable, and there are plenty of charging ports as well as a wireless charger for your devices.
As for the exterior, you can tell the Platinum apart from the other variants through the black ‘Everest’ lettering on the hood, the ‘Platinum’ lettering on the liftgate and doors, the V6 badge on the front fenders, and the 21-inch alloy wheels. The Platinum also comes in a classy Acacia Green colorway. While it is still capable of rugged activities, it’s definitely on the more executive side of things in terms of looks.
To answer the question from the first paragraph, we need to look at what led owners to the Everest in the first place, specifically the 4×4-equipped variants. Most owners liked the comfort, looks, and spaciousness of the Everest for daily use, while also looking at its capabilities for going off-road.
There’s a certain cachet to the Everest for a diesel SUV as well, and with the V6-equipped Platinum variant priced at P2,849,000, it’s definitely in a niche category, and one you wouldn’t be looking at if fuel economy were your number one priority. On our drive, we got around 6km/L, but that was because we were driving slowly off-road. Realistically, in mixed traffic and highway conditions, you’d probably achieve numbers closer to 11km/L.
The Platinum variant is here for those who want an Everest with more oomph; a V6-equipped, executive-looking SUV without getting into Toyota Land Cruiser territory. The powertrain gives you a more commanding feeling on the road, and while it may not be the most extreme off-roader right out of the box (especially with those 21-inch alloys and road tires), with a rugged set of wheels it’ll be more than happy to take you on more adventures.
